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	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
	FY99 Annual Report

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The TRANSCOM Regulating and Command & Control Evaluation System (TRAC²ES) combines transportation, logistics, and clinical decision elements into a seamless patient movement automated information system. It will be capable of visualizing, assessing, and prioritizing patient movement requirements, assigning proper resources, and distributing relevant data to deliver patients efficiently. The system automates the processes of medical regulation (assignment of patients to suitable medical treatment facilities) and aeromedical evacuation during peace, war, and contingency operations. TRAC²ES will automate Global/Theater Patient Movement Requirements Center operations at Headquarters, United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM); Headquarters, United States European Command; and Headquarters, United States Pacific Command. TRAC²ES will also provide deployable Patient Movement Requirements Center capabilities to support CINC or JTF requirements on a global basis. It will replace two existing legacy systems: the Defense Medical Regulating Information System and the Automated Patient Evacuation System. Neither of these systems can be economically modified to provide the functionality that can be an integral part of the Global Transportation Network (DoD's transportation automated information system) and the Theater Medical Information Program (DoD's deployable medical automated information system). TRAC²ES supports the Joint Vision 2010 concept of focused logistics by fusing information, logistics, and transportation technologies to provide rapid medical regulation and patient evacuation during crisis situations. It enables a deployed force to be more efficient in protecting lives.

TRAC²ES was originally planned to be a module of the Global Transportation Network system. However, in late 1996, DoD decided to develop TRAC²ES as a separate system. Functional and technical responsibilities were assigned to the USTRANSCOM Surgeon General, with input from the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). In August 1997, technical program responsibility was transferred to the Air Force, and AFOTEC was assigned as the independent OTA. In July 1998, TRAC²ES was granted Milestone I/II, which included the authority to award a development contract to Booz, Allen & Hamilton of McLean, Virginia.

A TEMP is in final draft and is expected to be submitted to OSD for approval soon. Meanwhile, AFOTEC continues to work with USTRANSCOM and other user representatives to develop mission level requirements that can be tested comprehensively during independent OT&E (currently scheduled for May 2000). With DOT&E endorsement, AFOTEC has developed a Combined Test Force concept to integrate OT&E into the early stages of the acquisition process to facilitate testing for learning. Early deficiency identification and resolution, as well as incremental requirement refinement, can be achieved as a result.

Since TRAC²ES is both a medical and a transportation system, the operational testers will need to be qualified in both fields. The system must meet the needs of the transporters, the medical providers (at both ends), and most importantly the patients. The testers will have to deal with the technical challenges inherent in a new system with numerous interfaces, as well as the operational challenges of a system that crosses different disciplines. It has been a challenge to refine mission level requirements that consider the needs of all users, including the USTRANSCOM proponent and the warfighting Commander-in-Chiefs. DOT&E is working closely with the medical and transportation functional communities, AFOTEC, and TRAC²ES Program Management Office to address these issues in order to develop a more comprehensive and effective test and evaluation plan.