FORT BELVOIR, Va. - The Army completed two major milestones in its effort to modernize procurement operations: the retirement of the Standard Procurement System (SPS) and the migration of users and contract actions from the Procurement Automated Data and Document System (PADDS) to the Army Contract Writing System (ACWS).
These accomplishments strengthen the foundation for a more integrated acquisition ecosystem, and they move the Army away from legacy technologies toward capabilities that can adapt to evolving mission and policy requirements. By streamlining procurement processes and modernizing the contract-writing environment, ACWS helps the acquisition workforce better support Army requirements and the warfighter.
Earlier in Fiscal Year 2026, the Army completed the retirement of SPS. That milestone marked a significant step away from legacy procurement technology that supported Army contracting operations for decades.
Over time, maintaining separate systems increased administrative burden and fragmented enterprise data, limiting the Army's ability to standardize contracting processes across the enterprise.
The Army developed ACWS to address those challenges. The platform brings contracting activities into a single secure environment and replaces fragmented legacy workflows. It also creates a foundation for future modernization through agile development practices, a modular open-system architecture and enhanced interoperability.
“ACWS has strengthened the Army’s ability to efficiently acquire and deliver critical capabilities to the force,” stated Mr. Doug Haskin, project manager for Acquisition, Training and Readiness at Capability Program Executive Enterprise Software and Services (CPE ES2). “This modern enterprise platform is a key enabler of mission readiness, empowering the Army to respond more rapidly to emerging requirements, accelerate acquisition outcomes and provide the resources needed to support the warfighter worldwide.”
ACWS delivers benefits beyond technology modernization. By reducing manual data entry and administrative tasks, it allows contracting professionals to spend more time on critical acquisition activities, including market research and contract negotiation.
Migrating defense contracting operations away from legacy systems requires close coordination across the acquisition community. Program teams executed the transition through phased deployments, rigorous testing and continuous engagement with users around the world.
During the fiscal year-end procurement surge, ACWS migrated over 20,000 contract files in 90 days and trained over 1,100 users in the fourth quarter. As of Oct. 1, 2026, more than 9,600 contracting professionals worldwide have access to ACWS.
“Since the launch of the Minimum Viable Product in August 2023, the ACWS platform has successfully supported continuous contracting operations and critical mission execution throughout this complex transition,” noted Lt. Col. Camille Morgan, product manager for ACWS at CPE ES2. “By migrating thousands of legacy files, we have protected warfighter procurement needs while building an audit-ready enterprise.”
As final PADDS decommissioning activities continue through late 2026, the Program Management Office and the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Procurement remain focused on continuous improvement. User feedback, operational requirements and governance processes will guide future enhancements to the ACWS platform.
The Army is doing more than retiring legacy systems through ACWS. It is building a modern, adaptable contracting capability that empowers the acquisition workforce and transforms contracting operations to better support warfighter readiness. The FY2026 transition milestones mark a defining step in that transformation and position Army acquisition for continued modernization in the years ahead.
Social Sharing