Contract Writing System

The Contract Writing System (CWS) program, as outlined in Army budget line item 3009B66001, is designed to deliver the Army's next-generation, enterprise-wide contract writing, management, execution, and close-out software solution. The primary objective of this program is to standardize Army procurement business processes and streamline integration with Army Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. By serving as a comprehensive financial feeder system, the Contract Writing System aims to address the full spectrum of Army contracting requirements, including secure and non-secure environments. It also supports both combat and non-combat contingencies, as well as operations within and outside the continental United States.

A key goal of the Army Contract Writing System (ACWS) is to facilitate efficient contract management for a wide range of activities, including weapons systems acquisition, construction projects, installation services, specialized contracting, and compliance with the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996. The system is intended to support grants and agreements, ensuring that Army contracting operations are robust, transparent, and compliant with federal regulations. The ACWS will also enable the Army to decommission legacy systems such as the Standard Procurement System (SPS) and the Procurement Automated Data and Document System (PADDS), consolidating functionality into a modern, integrated platform.

The program leverages a portfolio approach, as directed by Army senior leadership, which maximizes the reuse and share-ability of existing technologies across the Department of Defense (DoD). This approach involves iterative design, development, and testing to deliver the remaining capabilities required for Army users. The Army is collaborating with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Enterprise Application Services, utilizing Interagency Agreements (IAA) to act as the system integrator. This partnership allows the Army to use proven resources and minimize new development efforts, thereby reducing cost and risk.

To meet its objectives, the ACWS integrates functionality from several existing DoD and federal systems, including the Air Force's Contracting Information Technology (CON-IT), the Army's Virtual Contracting Enterprise (VCE), the DoD's Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE), and the General Services Administration's System for Award Management (SAM). Additionally, the program incorporates Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technologies to enhance automation and efficiency. This integration supports the Army's transition to a more agile, data-driven contracting environment and enables advanced business intelligence and analysis capabilities.

The ACWS program has adopted Agile development methodologies, including Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD), to facilitate iterative development, testing, and deployment. This approach ensures that the system remains flexible and responsive to evolving warfighter needs. A discovery and risk reduction effort conducted in 2022 informed subsequent development and resource requirements. These efforts help to mitigate potential challenges and optimize deployment strategies.

For fiscal year 2026, the budget supports fielding, deployment, and training assets for the ACWS program. Funding is specifically targeted at completing the deployment to remaining PADDS users, enabling the full sunset of the legacy system by the end of the fiscal year. The decrease in funding from fiscal year 2025 to fiscal year 2026 reflects the reduced number of commands requiring deployment, as the majority of the Army will have transitioned to the new system by that time.