An experimental off-base supplies acquisition system launched by the navy two years ago is scheduled to be expanded to the army and air force because of the navy's successful implementation of the program, defense officials said yesterday.
The system features the purchase of certain supplies worth less than NT$100,000 at four shopping malls that have signed contracts with the navy to provide the services.
The supplies that the navy can buy at the four shopping malls range from paint to mechanical tools to screws to water buckets.
The purpose for the navy to buy these items at shopping malls is to cut red tape that exists in the military's logistics system and to expedite the process of acquiring supplies that are needed on a daily basis.
A naval official, who declined to be identified, said according to past practices, the navy's units at all levels had to fill in a variety of application forms to request the supply or re-supply of small items such as paint and tools from the service's logistics command.
"Now there is no need for the paperwork. We just need to go to the contracted shopping malls, where we can get all the items listed in the contract," the naval official said.
"We have saved not only through the paperwork, but also the warehousing expenses for the items that we can get from the market," he said.
The experimental system was launched by the navy at the beginning of 2000. It has been claimed a success by the military.
The successful experience has prompted the military leadership to expand the system to the army and air force.
There is currently no timetable for the army and air force to join in the system since the whole plan is still being drawn, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said.
The army and air force might not necessarily be willing to join in the program since their conditions are different from the navy's.
The army, for instance, might not be able to buy supplies from the market since it has too many units, which are mostly scattered around the island, unlike the navy's concentrated bases, an official with the MND said.
"The navy's bases are mostly concentrated in military ports around the island. It is easier for them to buy supplies from shopping malls since their bases are mostly close to the city center," the official said.
"But the army is totally different. It has so many units islandwide. Some units are located far away from the city or town center. How can you expect them to travel a long distance to buy things from a shopping mall?" he said.
"Given that the army has far too many types of units, their demands for supplies vary greatly. No civilian wholesaler is willing to take the risk of storing a large variety of supplies for the army," he said.
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