Movers for America is making sure D.C. hears our concerns! Our Executive Director Katie McMichael and several coalition members are in D.C. this week to discuss GHC concerns with members of Congress and key staffers. We’re extremely grateful to the offices that have reserved time to discuss this important issue affecting American moving and storage companies, professional movers, independent contractors, and – most importantly – military families.
Please submit any questions or concerns you’d like us to include in our discussions to [email protected].
Transport Topics: Military’s $17.9 Billion Moving Contract Off to Slow Start
TRANSCOM’s $17.9 billion GHC program has finally conducted the first 100 moves (all local), but several moving professionals are sounding the alarm that they’re still in the dark about federal compliance. The article includes the following quotes from seasoned military movers:
“From my perspective, the concept was never properly vetted by Transcom to begin with,” said Scott Kelly, president of Suddath Cos. “We had a couple of industry meetings, talked through it, [but] I don’t think the industry had a full understanding of all the requirements. That was back in the fall of 2018.”
“The focus of our efforts is on providing the best service to our military families,” said [MSC] Executive Director Dan Hilton. “We are working on behalf of our members to ensure that goal is attained.”
Allied Van Lines vice president Steven McKenna added, “We engaged legal support and guidance from folks that do [Service Contract Act] for a living, and they just can’t get their heads around the nature of our business. We cannot get good direction even from that group.” McKenna continued, “We’re left to our own devices, and there’s too much risk associated with that.”
“The biggest issue right now is that Transcom is finally coming to the realization that they need to work with the Department of Labor about how to comply with the SCA,” said Oded Carmi, president of DN Van Lines. “The big question is right now how can these government agencies be OK with work proceeding on a contract that is required to be SCA compliant when they haven’t given us the details of how to be compliant.” READ MORE
Federal News Network: DoD set to start ramping up new military moving contract
Our efforts are getting noticed! The Federal News Network’s recent article had this to say about ongoing efforts to get Congressional oversight of the GHC: “Earlier this summer, industry groups, including the American Trucking Association’s Moving and Storage Conference succeeded in persuading members of the House to add language to its version of the 2025 Defense authorization bill that would mandate a Government Accountability Office review of the new contract. A newer coalition, called Movers for America, had also been calling for the GAO examination.”
A Congressional evaluation of the GHC is important, especially when the article points out that the goal of conducting all domestic moves under the GHC by Spring 2025 “appears ambitious,” and includes KBR’s sentiments that their capacity seems OK “for the next little while.” READ MORE
