when it is precisely in the area where supplying energy
puts personnel at risk. Army Materiel Command has
been developing an automated web-based tool called
“Contingency Acquisition Support Module” or cASM.
The Commission on Wartime Contracting (COWC) in
Iraq and Afghanistan specifically noted the potential
of the “cASM” tool to facilitate improvements with life
support contracts. They note that, “this tool will assist
with translating a combatant commander’s require-
ment into a procurement package that includes all
the required documents and approvals, a responsive
contract statement of work, and any ancillary data or
information for acquisition approval and contract ac-
tion” (DOD Task Force 2009, C-1). This is precisely
where sustainability considerations need to be inte-
grated to ensure that energy efficiency, sustainable
waste management and other life support measures
are appropriately addressed in the contracts. Natural-
ly, the options for host nation support will be limited
as far as being able to provide advanced technologi-
cal support. But U.S. companies that are involved in
the LOGCAP subcontracts should be able to adhere
to such sustainable considerations by using their ca-
pacity to reach back to the U.S. industrial base for in-
novative solutions in order to win a contract. This is
an excellent driver for private industry to aggressively
pursue sustainable life support products. Further, if
the life support products are simple, interoperable
and interchangeable they then become transferable to
host nation personnel – thus making them a very com-
petitive product for the military to invest in.
In Oct 2009, USD(AT&L) Dr. Carter signed a memo
designating cASM as a Special Interest program (Cart-
er 2010b). The cASM system is currently in the “Lim-
ited User Evaluation and Initial Deployment phase.”
sharon
(sharon)
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