Transforming Army contracting: ACWS gains momentum in FY25

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Army’s efforts to automate and simplify how contracting officers write and manage contracts has achieved remarkable progress this year, marking a transformative leap in contract management efficiency, user adoption and mission support across the Army enterprise.

This modern contracting solution, known as the Army Contract Writing System (ACWS), is managed by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office Enterprise and the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Procurement (ODASA(P)). From exponential growth in contract transactions to significant reductions in service desk backlogs, ACWS continues to demonstrate its value as a modern, agile solution for Army contracting professionals.

Over the past three fiscal years, ACWS has experienced explosive growth in both contract awards and modifications. In FY23, ACWS processed 95 actions, which surged to 3,022 in FY24 and then skyrocketed to 45,324 in FY25. This dramatic increase highlights the widespread adoption and trust in ACWS as the Army’s preferred platform for managing contract actions.

As usage has increased, the total obligated value processed through ACWS also has grown significantly. Starting at $39 million in FY23, obligations rose to $243 million in FY24 and reached $17 billion in FY25, underscoring ACWS’ expanding role in handling high-value contracts across the Army.

A major driver of increased ACWS usage has been ODASA(P)’s ongoing customer engagement ─ through initial and release-specific user training, as well as continuous support via interactive forums. Another key factor is the program’s quick response to trouble tickets. Lt. Col. Camille Morgan, product manager for ACWS at PEO Enterprise, credits the collaboration among the program office, functional sponsor, system integrator and field user champions for improving the user experience.

“ACWS enhanced its architecture to handle surges, improve interface performance and support service desk needs with targeted functional and technical expertise,” said Morgan. “When users are able to get their mission done faster and easier in ACWS, they promote that capability to others.”

User Spotlight

The Army Contracting Command – New Jersey, based at Picatinny Arsenal, has demonstrated notable growth in its use of ACWS. From FY24 to FY25, the number of users increased from three to 50, while transactions rose from four to 1,160. Obligations saw a substantial rise over that same timeframe, jumping from $2.4 million to $348 million. September 2025 was particularly active, with 230 transactions processed, totaling $727 million in contract value and $104 million in obligations. This surge represents more than double the average monthly transaction volume, showcasing ACWS’ ability to effectively manage end-of-year contracting demands.

The Nebraska National Guard (NGNE) has also shown increased engagement with ACWS, maintaining a consistent user base of four while significantly expanding its activity. Transactions rose from 55 in FY24 to 99 in FY25, and obligations jumped from $1.5 million to $2.5 million over the same period. In September 2025 alone, the NGNE processed 11 transactions totaling $1.1 million in both contract value and obligations. This growth shows ACWS’ scalability and effectiveness in supporting both large commands and smaller units.

Service Desk Excellence ​

ACWS’ Agile development model prioritizes rapid capability delivery and continuous user feedback, with the service desk playing a crucial role in sustaining system performance and ensuring user satisfaction. Significant progress has been made in backlog reduction, with Tier 3 (critical) incidents dropping from 808 to 133 from February through September 2025 — an impressive 83% decrease. In terms of mission-critical support, the team backed $10 billion in task orders for the Mission and Installation Contracting Command, resolved 68 high-priority contract actions and ensured 100% of Korea’s and Germany’s end-of-fiscal-year contract actions were released ahead of schedule.

During that same timeframe, customer engagement saw marked improvement, with communication and response rates increasing from 35% to 80%, direct support provided to over 150 end users, and timely analytics and reporting delivered to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The scale of support was substantial, with over 10,000 incidents resolved in FY25 and more than 6,000 ACWS users supported globally.

Expanding Impact

Across diverse commands spanning the continental United States and other regions like Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South America, ACWS now supports 7,273 users. From the U.S. Army Contracting Command to the U.S. Army Medical Command, user testimonials consistently affirm that ACWS is transforming the contracting community ─ driving faster execution, greater efficiency and a new standard of excellence in Army acquisition:

• “ACWS automates several functions previously done manually in SPS/PD2. It helps prevent overuse of ACRNs/LOAs by showing fund depreciation.”
• “Its modern design and intuitive interface make ACWS more user-friendly and accessible for all users.”
• “ACWS offers advanced features and seamless integration, enhancing productivity and efficiency.”
• “ACWS is a true advancement for Army contracting.”

FY25 has been a landmark year for ACWS, demonstrating its scalability, reliability and mission-critical value. With continued user adoption, enhanced support capabilities and commitment to Agile development, ACWS is well-positioned to lead and achieve mission success as it embraces the transformational shift in Army contracting.