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Enhanced Freight Tracking System (EFTS)
Information Paper
Enhance Freight Tracking System (EFTS): EFTS is a secure web-based application that will provide end-to-end in-transit visibility of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) shipments to the Security Cooperation community. EFTS is resident in the Security Cooperation Information Portal (SCIP) and serves as a consolidated source for FMS in-transit information. Ultimately, EFTS intends to provide visibility of the FMS distribution pipeline for all classes of supply and modes of transportation either outbound from the U.S. to the Purchaser's country or materiel returning to the U.S. or U.S. facility overseas. In addition, EFTS will:
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Collect, process, and integrate transportation related information generated by the Military Departments (MILDEPs); Defense Logistics Agency (DLA); U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM); and participating carriers, freight forwarders, commercial sources (e.g., contractors, vendors), and FMS Purchasers.
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Provide FMS Purchasers and U.S. entities with proof of shipment and proof of delivery for FMS shipments.
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Retain transportation information in SCIP.
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Provide the capability to monitor the distribution pipeline, providing FMS Purchasers directed materiel movement alerts.
Phased Implementation of EFTS: EFTS implementation is currently planned in three phases.
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Phase 1: Establish EFTS program, develop requirements and documentation, and deploy the production version of EFTS application.
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Phase 2: Capture transactions from point of origin in U.S. through freight forwarders to receipt acknowledgement in-country.
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Phase 3: Develop interface applications for End Use Monitoring, discrepancy reporting, and capturing retrograded materiel moving from the FMS Purchaser back to the U.S.
Hardware and Software Requirements: Participants must be registered SCIP users with either a SCIP token or Common Access Card (CAC) to gain access to EFTS.
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Hardware: There is no required hardware configuration, but participants must have a system that has a web browser and access to an Internet Service Provider.
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Software: There are no software requirements to operate or participate in EFTS, it is designed to use the existing systems operated by the FMS Purchaser and its freight forwarder. EFTS will use Defense Information Systems Agency approved transfer methodologies, carriers, and data sources, which includes, but are not limited to Web Services, Application Program Interface Calls, Electronic Data Interchange, File Transfer Protocol, Sybase clients, and Oracle clients to capture the necessary transactions.
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Optional Equipment: EFTS is designed to interface with existing systems. EFTS has developed a Hand Held Computer (HHC) application that provides basic receiving, inventory, and shipment capability. The EFTS HHC information is passed directly to and from EFTS on SCIP. Costs associated with this option depend on specific FMS Purchaser requirements and will be funded via an FMS case.
Cost to the FMS Purchaser: The use of a freight forwarding agent is at the discretion of the FMS Purchaser and negotiation with the agent. EFTS has been designed to incur minimal or no cost to this arrangement. Any costs will be recovered via an FMS case.
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System access and file transfers are included as part of implementation. However, some costs may be incurred to develop file transfer capability.
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Should a FMS purchaser desire to pursue optional equipment and capabilities, costs will be incurred depending on the HHC model and source. In addition, there may be costs for transferring EFTS software to the HHC.
Note: EFTS participants must make subject matter experts (SMEs) and IT professionals available for a negligible period of time to prepare and test system interfaces. The EFTS Program Office will assist the FMS Purchaser and/or its freight forwarder in establishing the required interfaces.
Benefits to the Security Cooperation Community:
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Provides a single, tri-service, consolidated, authoritative source for FMS shipment tracking
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Provides the capability to monitor transportation compliance and performance
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Leverages the SCIP database to serve as a source for FMS in-transit shipment related information
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Assists in resolving supply discrepancies by being able to identify each leg of the distribution pipeline
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Provides additional case execution (order fulfillment/material delivery) tools
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Assists with in-country reception, staging, onward movement, and integration planning
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Actively tracks items through the distribution pipeline
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Provides advanced notification of FMS shipments
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Increases efficiency by identifying misdirected shipments using any web browser
Points of Contact:
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DSCA Program Sponsor representative for EFTS: Mr. Kidd Manville, DSCA STR/POL, at 703-604-6594 or kidd.manville@dsca.mil
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NAVICP Executive Agent representative for EFTS: Mr. Terrence O'Connor at 215-697-5003 or terrence.o'connor@navy.mil
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