On September 19, ALA announced that the Defense Commissary Agency has issued a “Request for Information” soliciting commercial interest in operating commissary programs in the United States. This comes after the Deputy Secretary of Defense issued guidance stating that privatization is the preferred option for operating retail programs within the Department of War. The commissary effort also seeks input on commercial remedies for its $2.4 billion construction and maintenance backlog. The Department of the Air Force is moving forward with plans to transition on-base lodging at 58 installations across the U.S. and its territories to a commercial partner through the Commercial On-Base Lodging initiative. The Army has already privatized their stateside lodging.

Join ALA President Steve Rossetti for a one-hour discussion on this effort, the looming government shutdown and congressional action on on-base retail programs this Friday, September 26, at 11:00 a.m. (EST). The webcast will feature discussion of the commissary effort and other privatization initiatives. The discussion will include:

• Government shutdown update and implications for industry.
• Action on on-base retail programs in Congressional policy and appropriations bills.
• The scope of the commissary privatization review.
• Perspective on privatization of Federal services.
• The process and timetable for the commissary privatization review.
• Overall Federal privatization initiatives.
• Implications for industry.
• Implications for patrons.
• Implications for other on-base programs.
• Legislative, regulatory, scoring, and contracting considerations.
• Differences between current on-base concession operations and privatization.
• Commissary functions already operated by commercial providers.
• Current mix of commercial and government retail programs on military bases.
• Past efforts to privatize or eliminate commissaries.
• The state-of-play on Congressional views regarding privatization.