The Need To Consolidate Military Exchange Catalog Operations

Gao ID: FPCD-79-60 May 22, 1979

The two major military exchange systems, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and the Navy Resale System Office, operate separate mail-order catalog systems to serve authorized patrons, primarily overseas. In fiscal year 1978, these systems generated sales of $58.5 million and produced profits of about $12 million, which were distributed to support other programs.

GAO concluded that consolidation of the systems would reduce operating costs significantly. Department of Defense (DOD) officials have been aware for years that savings were possible, with only the Navy in disagreement, and announced a new feasibility study involving consolidation, planning no further action until the study was completed. GAO believes that the feasibility of consolidation has been demonstrated and that further delays would only waste precious resources. Consolidation could increase profits, lower prices to patrons, and save taxpayers about $500,000 annually.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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