U.S. Navy Working Capital Fund

NWCF

BACKGROUND

The Navy Working Capital Fund (NWCF) is a revolving fund that oversees a range of critical activities for the U.S. Department of the Navy (DON), including Supply Management, Depot Maintenance, Transportation, and Research and Development. The NWCF operates the Fleet Readiness Centers and Marine Corps Depots for maintenance on aircraft, weapons systems, and support equipment, and the Military Sealift Command for over-ocean transportation of supplies and provisions. The NWCF operates as a shock absorber and provides stable pricing of products and services for customers and recovers any fluctuations in prices in the following years through a change in rates. The NWCF is housed in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management & Comptroller) (ASN (FM&C)) under the Office of Budget (FMB).

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller) (ASN (FM&C)) commissioned the National Academy of Public Administration (Academy) to evaluate how resource management decisions impact the NWCF and identify strategies for improving decision-making processes to safeguard the fund's integrity and DON’s operational efficacy.

This report of an Academy Panel of Fellows (Panel) examines the effect of resource management decisions—including programmatic, budgetary, and execution—on the NWCF. Furthermore, it assesses whether program and budget development decision-makers consider the potential impacts of their choices on the NWCF. Finally, it provides actionable recommendations to enhance and improve DON's resource management decision-making processes, delivery methods, organizational support structures, and forecasting (near-, mid-, and long-term), as well as guidance for their effective implementation.

Study Fellows