Navy receives flood of e-business proposals

The Navy's e-business operations office is off to a running start in its effort to apply e-commerce strategies to Navy operations. Since its establishment in late October, the new office has received more than 300 proposals from across the department to improve Navy activities. The office has a $20 million budget for funding e-business pilot projects. "We are very excited ... to immediately begin projects that have the potential to improve the worklife of our people," said Rear Adm. Linda Bird, director of the e-business office and vice commander of the Naval Supply Systems Command based in Mechanicsburg, PA. The office plans to evaluate the best e-business practices in industry and government for their potential application to Navy operations. It is also soliciting project proposals from within the department in an effort to bring the latest technology into the Navy. The office will evaluate proposals for their ability to have a far-reaching impact across the Navy and to be successfully implemented within 90 to 120 days. The projects must also cost less than $1 million. The office will select proposals to fund by January. One proposal received so far is a "Smart Web Move" project, which would enable sailors and Marines being transferred to fill out all of the paperwork required online. The office itself is an example of the Navy's increasing efforts to integrate civilian personnel into its operations. When hiring is completed, the office staff will consist of four service personnel and nine civilian employees. Contractors will supply additional temporary staffing as needed. Besides evaluating best e-business practices, the office will also manage all of the credit card programs offered by the Navy. The office is accepting pilot proposals for funding to be awarded next year.