An additional system has been added to the tracking of government purchasing cards. All approving officials and supervisors will soon be required to track information through the Purchase Card Online System, or PCOLS. PCOLS is a Department of Defense-wide, DoD-operated electronic system that GPC officials will use to improve the management and accountability of their GPC Program organization. Once the system is up and running sometime before the end of March, any unit or branch not using the new system won't be able to use their GPC cards.
"This is an accountability issue. We must be responsible and remain accountable for how we manage and use the money provided to us by the taxpayers," said Joy Dupin, 75th Contracting/Plans and Programs chief.
Cheryl Simmons, GPC lead and Agency Organization Program coordinator, is conducting several training sessions for supervisors and approving officials. "This will help safeguard the taxpayers' dollars and helps to cut down on fraud and prevent misuse," she said.
Simmons reports the advantages to the system are that it will enable supervisors and AOs to access information to capture, define the increased accuracy of GPC data that supervisors and AOs will be able to access at any time when the system is up and running -- just as you would from a central processing system for as far back as has been entered into the system for their areas.
"It will help them manage their accounts," she said.
There are more than 1,800 accounts that must be entered. The GPC office at Hill Air Force Base does more than serve the base, it serves all areas other than the continental United States, and for all recruiting personnel from Nebraska and all points west.
"It's a massive undertaking," Simmons said.
The new GPC system is in addition to the bank system ACCESS online. It's meant to work hand-in-hand with ACCESS online and there are extra steps involved.
"We are here to help," Simmons said. In addition to all the scheduled classes being set up for AOs and supervisors, there will be teleconferences for the different areas, and she urges anyone with questions to contact their GPC officer.
"This is important," Simmons said, as she pointed out that the use of taxpayer dollars is what is used to keep DoD operations moving forward. "It's theirs (the taxpayers') as much as it is ours."
The GPC office will help anyone who requests it, although there may be delays in getting to everyone who needs help. She and Dupin indicate they are willing to help anyone who is having difficulty or needs help with some aspects of learning the system.
"We've even had people come in and sit at our desks, and we've gone over it," Simmons said.
"Just call ahead," said Dupin, because they may be out teaching classes, in the pursuit of other designated duties which require they leave the office on a regular basis, or they may be helping someone else.
"We are eager to help," said Simmons, "All that we ask is that you are patient with us. We will get back to you."
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