by Charlotte Williams

On April 8, 1996, NASA-8 began providing shuttle services, on a trial basis, between the Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), Langley Research Center (LaRC) and the Washington National Airport (DCA) every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This was in addition to the normal runs from WFF to Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) occurring on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These additional flights provide for improved planning and scheduling of meetings and reduced travel time over commercial air or motor vehicles. This trial period ends September 30, 1996.

For the period August 29 through September 30, the flight schedule was changed to provide daily trips from WFF to LaRC to DCA. Shuttle bus service was made available from DCA to Greenbelt. Cost data will be analyzed so that a final decision on the future of the shuttle service can be made by the end of the fiscal year. Usage has increased, but the actual cost data will determine if the service is cost effective.

by Ed Stuckrath

In December 1995, the Logistics Management Division (LMD) initiated a JIT delivery program for office supplies in support of NASA Headquarters and Goddard (both Greenbelt and WFF locations). The Code 230 logistics services contractor, Cortez III, along with its subcon-tractor, ANSTEC, entered into a contract with Office Depot of Savage, Maryland, to provide an inventory management service, including next-day desktop delivery, for the most commonly used office supplies. Requests for supplies not carried in Stores Stock are faxed every evening to Office Depot for next-day delivery. It is anticipated that by October 1, 1996, Code 230 will be using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) technology to transmit orders directly to Office Depot’s computer in Florida.

Through July 1996, Office Depot processed over 6,000 requisitions valued at $577,000 and achieved a 92.4% next-day delivery performance. From the 200 JIT Customer Service Summary cards received so far, over 98% of the responses are good to excellent. We will continue to expand the number of items to be provided through Office Depot as we continue to deplete Stores Stock material. Additionally, we are exploring the possibility of expanding the JIT concept to other commodity groups such as lumber, janitorial supplies, packing and crating material, and hardware.

An office supply catalog for the JIT Program is in the works and should be available to center customers by the end of September.

by Kelly Carter

The LMD hosted the Code 200 Awards Ceremony on July 25, 1996. The planning committee, consisting of representatives from both the government and Cortez, took advantage of the fact that the 1996 Summer Olympics were happening during the same week as the awards ceremony, and planned the Code 200 event with an Olympic theme. Besides having some hilarious Olympic "events," the ceremony also featured 35 awards given to individuals and groups in the directorate for their "gold-medal" performances during the past year. If you missed the awards ceremony, or if you are just dying to see it again, you are in luck -- the ceremony is on videotape! If you would like a copy of the videotape, call Kelly Carter at extension 6-8899. All you have to do is give her a blank tape and she will make you a copy, or you can borrow Code 230’s copy for a couple of days. Don’t miss this opportunity to see some logistics folks (and others) as you have never seen them before!

by Jack Cronise

In response to the DOD downsizing, GSFC developed a program in 1992 to take advantage of equipment no longer required by DOD. We have obtained equipment in various categories, such as gas turbines, street sweepers and aircraft. Requestor is responsible for paying freight charges. If your organization has a requirement, fax your request, including all specifications, to Art Wade at 301-286-1644. For more information, contact Art Wade at Greenbelt, extension 6-9005 or Terry Ewell at WFF, extension 7-1133.

by Marilyn Tolliver

Looking for a nicely refurbished wood desk or a reasonably priced con-ference table? Maybe you need a reupholstered chair or some systems furniture? If the answer is yes, then look no further. The LMD has an agreement with the U. S. Department of Agriculture in Landover, Maryland, for GSFC customers (civil servants and contractors) to screen and purchase refurbished furniture, affectionately known as "Rehab." Rehab furniture generally consists of conventional wood or metal desks, tables, credenzas, files, reupholstered chairs, sofas, lounge furniture, and some systems furni-ture. The cost of this furniture is approximately 40% less than the cost of purchasing new office furniture.

For more details, please contact Ms. Sylvia Parker, Code 231, at extension 6-3407. Arrangements to screen and/or purchase are by appointment only.

by Art Wade

Here is the latest schedule for surplus property sales at Greenbelt. All dates are subject to change. For additional information, please contact the Sales Hot Line at 301-286-5517, Art Wade at extension 6-8740, or surf the Internet: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codej/codejlg/nasaproperty.html.

by Larry Parsons

Under the terms and conditions of most contracts, Government property provided to off-site contractors will normally be disposed of through a Plant Clearance Officer when identified as excess. However, contractors will sometimes ask their Government counterparts to let them return their excess equipment to the custody of the project office and then subsequently to the Code 230 excess operation. This should not occur. Disposal services have already been paid for through the Defense Contract Management Command.

Therefore, do not allow off-site contractors to return Government property to GSFC for disposal unless there is a known and defined requirement for that property. If the property is excess, it should be processed through the Plant Clearance Officer assigned to that contract. On occasion, there are exceptions to this policy, princi-pally in circumstances where the Government can benefit from the return of the excess equipment. Those occasions must be approved, in advance, by Goddard’s Property Disposal Officer, Ms. Sara Jensen, Code 235, who can be reached at extension 6-3319.

For additional information on policies and regulations concerning contract property, please call Denise Duignan at extension 6-8965 or Larry Parsons at extension 6-3265.

by Dave Maxwell

"Value comes from doing the right things well." Using this quote by Harry Furukawa of the Maryland Center for Quality and Productivity as a starting point, a Customer Value Process Action Team (PAT) of 12 LMD members embarked on an 8-month study to investigate Code 230’s performance and value from a customer’s point of view.

by Bob Clark

Code 230 continues to purchase EEE parts and metric flight fasteners for customers at GSFC and other NASA centers. The Project Parts Section is working with HST, XRS/XDS, TRACE, WIRE, and SMEX LITE for EEE parts support. They are also providing metric flight fasteners to SMEX LITE and to three other NASA centers that are working on various Space Station projects. For more information, please contact Patricia Gilbertson, Code 239, at extension 6-9556.

by Marilyn Tolliver

Center reorganizations and moves are happening at a fast and furious pace. To help the MSC provide the most timely and accurate service possible, there are a few "Do’s" and "Please Don’ts" that can help facilitate the process.

by Connie Higgs

BAD NEWS! The Center's equipment loss rate is on a steady increase and will exceed the Agency .5% loss rate standard by the end of FY96. All equipment users must become more accountable in keeping track of their equipment assets. The property custodian cannot do it alone. At the direction of the Center Director, the LMD will pursue new initiatives to facilitate improvement of property accountability awareness and processes with all of the center’s line management organizations.

One of these initiatives will be mandatory Property Custodian training classes for all current Property Cus-todians to better equip them with the tools to perform this important Center function. A totally revised Property Custodian Handbook will be provided during this training. Additionally, on an on-going basis, new Property Custodians will receive the training as soon as they are appointed. Over the next several months, Property Custodians will receive notices of the training dates and times.

by J.R. Hedgpeth

The Vehicle Dispatch Office is now located in building 27, room 190, which is in the transportation complex. The purpose of the move is to enhance customer service by consolidating resources and improving the cosmetic appearance of the customer service area. The telephone number for vehicle reservations remains the same (extension 6-6977).

by Glenn Harris

The GSFC Stores Stock Catalog is now on-line via the Internet. This computerized catalog contains all items currently available through the LMD, Code 230, stores stock system and is updated daily. The On-Line Stores Stock Catalog Internet address is: http://logs-web.gsfc.nasa.gov. For additional information, please call Bob Clark at extension 6-7740.

by Mike Taylor

In 1991, the federal government instituted a Public Mass Transit Subsidy Program, which would allow agencies to compensate their employees for using public transporta-tion (e.g. Metro, MARC) in commuting to work. Several agencies have implemented the program since that time, but so far it’s been limited to those agencies located in urban areas. Last fall, GSFC formed a center team, led by LMD, to look at the feasibility of implementing a Mass Transit Subsidy Program at Greenbelt, Wallops, and our GISS facility in New York City. The study results were presented to Management Council in July 1996, but they concluded that the number of people the program would benefit is relatively small (estimated at less than 100 total for all of GSFC). In addition, it was felt that offering a subsidy would not achieve the intended goal of increasing the number of people who use public trans-portation to get to work. As a result, the Management Council decided not to implement the program at this time. However, if future changes in the local public transportation system increase the GSFC employee ridership, and if there’s enough interest in the program, then we will reexamine the benefits and costs, and pursue it further with GSFC management. If you have any questions about the program, please call Mike Taylor at extension 6-2607.

1. Which of the following services are offered by Code 230? (may have multiple answers)

    a) hardware instrumentation

    b) travel services and reservations

    c) equipment/furniture "want list"

    d) interior design services

    e) shipping container fabrication

2. Which of the following supplies and services are purchased by Code 230?

    a) office supplies and cryogenics

    b) EEE parts and metric flight fasteners

    c) off-site storage facilities

    d) "anything you have the money for"

    e) all of the above

3. I’m lonely and want to talk "logistics." What should I do? (may have multiple answers)

    a) send an e-mail message to logistics@pop200.gsfc.nasa.gov

    b) access the World Wide Web at http://logistics.gsfc.nasa.gov

    c) dial 1-800-logistics on your telephone

    d) speak with GSFC’s logistics guru

4. Who is GSFC’s logistics guru?

5. Identify at least seven of the ten Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) elements.

6. Which items of information are required on prompt mail? (may have multiple answers)

    a) "PROMPT"

    b) name and code

    c) building number

    d) room number

    e) all of the above

1) a-e,  2) e  3) a, d  4) Tom "Chief Logie" White  5) supply support, PHS&T, maintenance planning, design interface, technical data, computer resources, support equipment, facilities, training and training support, manpower and prsonnel  6) a-c

by Lil Fleenor

By statute, government vehicles may only be used for official purposes. This statute provides that...An officer or employee who willfully uses or authorizes the use of a passenger motor vehicle or aircraft owned or leased by the United States (except for an official purpose authorized by section 1344 of this title) or otherwise violates section 1344 shall be suspended without pay by the head of the agency. The officer or employee shall be suspended for at least one month, and when circumstances warrant, for a longer period or summarily removed from office. (31 U.S.C. 1349).

If you would like to provide comments to our Logistics News-letter or if there’s a specific topic you would like us to address in a future publication, please notify Kelly Carter at extension 6-8899 or Maureen Barber at extension 6-4494.

Author: Maureen Barber
Last Revised: March 2, 1998
NASA Official: Thomas M. White