DOT&E FY2000 Annual Report
DEFENSE MEDICAL LOGISTICS STANDARD SUPPORT
AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEM (DMLSS AIS)
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| ASD(HA) ACAT IAM Program | Prime Contractor | |
| Total Number of Systems: | 110 Sites | EDS |
| Total Program Cost (TY$): | $456M | |
| Average Unit Cost (TY$): | $4.1M | |
| Full-rate Production (R1.0): | 4QFY96 | |
| Full-rate Production (R2.0): | 4QFY00 | |
| Full-rate Production (R3.0): | TBD |
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2020
The Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support (DMLSS) program defines and implements a more efficient medical logistics capability for military medical treatment facilities (MTFs) and field units to support health care operations. The DMLSS Automated Information System (DMLSS AIS) is intended to enhance operations by automating manual processes, improving processes already automated, and eliminating existing processes that add no value. Eventually, it will replace eight legacy systems operated by the individual Services. The system will support four major functional areas: (1) materiel management; (2) facility management; (3) equipment and technology; and (4) wholesale. The first three of these are retail medical logistic functions that will be supported by DMLSS AIS at MTFs and field units worldwide; the wholesale functions are supported by DMLSS AIS at only one site¾ the Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia.
DMLSS AIS is being fielded incrementally, with each release containing both new functions and enhancements to existing functions. The required applications are installed on the user's personal computer and the server software is accessed via existing MTF local area networks. DMLSS AIS supports the Joint Vision 2020 concept of focused logistics by integrating the medical logistics systems of the Services, reducing MTF inventories of medical and pharmaceutical items, and decreasing the medical logistics footprint. This integration decreases the vulnerability of logistics lines of communications to deployed forces.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
DMLSS AIS wholesale and retail systems were first deployed to test sites in 1995. Following successful OT&E and correction of a few deficiencies in early 1996, the first major retail increment, DMLSS AIS Release 1.0 underwent OT&E in August 1996. This release began the automation of both the materiel management and facility management processes. OPTEVFOR, the independent OTA, subsequently reported that the system was "potentially" operationally effective and suitable (not all required capabilities were available for testing). Based on the test results, DOT&E recommended the worldwide deployment of Release 1.0. Following successful OT&E of the wholesale system, OPTEVFOR performed a risk assessment, which determined that there was little risk in fielding future enhancements at the single wholesale location. The impact of wholesale operations on DMLSS as a whole would be addressed as necessary during OT&E on the retail portion. DOT&E concurred.
DMLSS AIS Release 2.0 contained upgrades to both the materiel management and facility management modules, and replaced two materiel management legacy systems. In March 1998, DOT&E approved an updated DMLSS AIS TEMP for Release 2.0. Beginning in March 1999, the DMLSS AIS PM installed and tested DMLSS AIS 2.0 at nine developmental testing sites in the United States and overseas. To mitigate risk, OPTEVFOR conducted an OA of a pre-production version at two DT&E sites in August 1999, and determined that Release 2.0 was potentially operationally effective and suitable, and that all of the major deficiencies noted in previous tests had been corrected. A major performance deficiency was noted in the transmission and processing of prime vendor orders, but the problem was quickly corrected by the PM and the Defense Information Systems Agency.
TEST & EVALUATION ACTIVITY
During January 10-21, 2000, OPTEVFOR conducted OT on live DMLSS AIS 2.0 systems at three test sites: Fort Knox, KY; Great Lakes Naval Training Center, IL; and Yokota Air Base, Japan. The general test concept was to: (1) observe users performing typical actions in an operational environment; (2) distribute user questionnaires and conduct user interviews; and (3) review relevant reports, logs, and other documentation. OPTEVFOR satisfactorily resolved 11 of 13 COIs, and partially resolved the remaining two (reliability and facility management performance). The OTA concluded that DMLSS AIS 2.0 is operationally effective and operationally suitable, and recommended that its deployment continue. In June 2000, in San Antonio, TX, OPTEVFOR performed OT on an enhancement to DMLSS AIS 2.0 known as Customer Support on the Web (CSW). CSW enables customers to receive certain medical logistics support by accessing web-based applications. The OTA found that CSW was operationally effective and suitable, and recommended its worldwide deployment. DOT&E concurred.
TEST & EVALUATION ASSESSMENT
DMLSS AIS 2.0, including the recent CSW enhancement, is clearly an improvement over the previous version, and the sooner it is fielded worldwide, the more user data will be available to improve the final increment-DMLSS AIS 3.0. DMLSS AIS is operating successfully and appears to have excellent potential, but several issues need to be addressed. For example, the facility management module, despite its potential as an effective tool for managing facility maintenance, materiel, and construction projects, is not being used extensively or effectively. Based on the OT&E of DMLSS AIS 2.0, DOT&E made recommendations to the PM and the medical logistics functional community for improving DMLSS AIS and the criteria used to evaluate it. Work is now in progress to update both the ORD and the TEMP in preparation for OT&E of DMLSS AIS 3.0, now scheduled for 2001.
FY00 DEFENSE MEDICAL LOGISTICS STANDARD SUPPORT AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEM (DMLSS AIS)
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