PEO EIS uses Agile methods to develop prototypes for future enterprise business systems

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - On Aug. 15, 2023, U.S. Army Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS) and Army Contracting Command-Rock Island entered into Other Transaction Authority agreements with three vendors that were selected to develop software prototypes that converge multiple Army business systems into one, known as the Enterprise Business Systems – Convergence (EBS-C). These agreements are the first step in developing prototypes to modernize the Army’s finance and logistics systems, making it easier for Soldiers and civilians to manage the Army’s daily business.

EBS-C is a modernized EBS suite centered around a common business operational environment that is as “commercial-as-possible and military-as-necessary.” It will simplify and automate supply chain processes, increase agility to support emerging needs and ensure a resilient and secure infrastructure that is less vulnerable to adversary attacks. When fully operational, it will consolidate five systems (Logistics Modernization Program, General Fund Enterprise Business System [GFEBS], GFEBS –Sensitive Activities, Global Combat Support System – Army and Army Enterprise Systems Integration Program) into a single platform that will support scalability to meet future demands and allow greater transparency to the taxpayer through increased ease of audit. 

“EBS-C will be the largest DOD ERP implementation ever, converging critical logistics and finance systems into a single modernized solution and enabling the Army with 21st century, state-of-the-art business capabilities,” said Lee James, acting project manager for EBS-C. “Following suit of other defense business systems, EBS-C will leverage the software acquisition pathway and Agile delivery methods to rapidly put working software in the hands of Soldiers.”

“The secret sauce of Agile is to keep making it simple,” said Bill Hepworth, deputy PEO, during a program increment planning session in early August.  “We don’t need to know everything to start converging the systems; we need to know enough to progressively decompose our requirements, determine the value of each, prioritize them and move that work to the front of the line. The sooner we start, the sooner we deliver, and the sooner we start making a difference for Soldiers and users.”

As is the case when using an Agile approach, EBS-C will utilize user stories to determine detailed requirements, prioritization and duration of product sprints. Through the prototyping phase, vendors will begin to build solutions based on those user story requirements and demonstrate how their innovations will answer the challenge of the converged system.

The prototyping phase is expected to last approximately nine months, through May 2024. Following oral and technical demonstrations, and detailed government review, the Army will then select the best solution to deliver the EBS-C capabilities.