Smart Procurement

Written by Kathy S. Bratsch

MAE 2010 Volume: 5 Issue: 2 (March)

By maintaining the management of publication purchasing for education references, we can save servicemembers anywhere from 50 to 70 percent on purchases, because we are able to buy publications in bulk for all the military education centers around the world. DANTES often purchases thousands of copies of one item and facilitates distribution throughout all branches of the military.

By buying such large quantities, costs per item can be cut by more than half. We also assist by offering standardization within military education centers to ensure items are of the highest value in regard to cost and accurate information. Maintaining a centralized procurement and distribution system for education materials allows for significant cost savings. There is no cost associated with these benefits to military education centers.

ASSORTED PUBLICATIONS

Reference materials consist of books, catalogs, CD-ROMs, magazines, online information, pamphlets, brochures, pocket guides and eBooks. The publications provide valuable information to servicemembers about voluntary education, financial aid for college and other related topics. Many of the reference materials are now accessible via online or eBook format.

To address issues related to utility and accessibility, DANTES plans to continue purchasing various items in print to address for the foreseeable future.

Our reference materials contain information on such topics as financial aid for college, grants, scholarships, choosing a college major, graduate schools, Veterans Affairs education programs (Post 9/11 GI Bill, MGIB, REAP), college costs, student loans, distance learning, college success tips and much more.

The latest publication purchased by DANTES is the Post 9/11 GI Bill—Quick Series, which is a pocket-size booklet providing information on this VA education program and the “Yellow Ribbon” program—DANTES Stock #2414. Other publications recently added to the reference publication listing are two new eBooks.

FYI

DANTES distributes over 170,000 publications per year to over 540 military education centers worldwide. Last year DANTES purchased over 150,000 educational resource items. These statistics represent our Counselor Reference Publications Materials unit. Many of the items are procured at no cost from various organizations, including Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Education and other agencies.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

• http://www.dantes.doded.mil/dantes_ web/distribution/refs.htm#sss

• http://www.dantes.doded.mil/Dantes_ web/distribution/refs .htm#sgoe

This year we expect to include more eBooks in DANTES’s reference publication listing. Some of the eBooks relate specifically to military information. For more information, please visit: http://www.militaryhandbooks.com.

Also, if you are a representative at a military education center and would like to order DANTES reference materials, please contact our distribution center at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please note that you will need to provide your DANTES ID number, DANTES stock number for each item ordered and the quantity you would like to receive.

The following Website includes information about DANTES testing, interest inventories, certification, SOC, AARTS, SMART and other areas of interest for the military education centers: http://www.dantes.doded.mil/Dantes_web/ distribution/catindex.htm.

For further information about DANTES military education counselors’ reference publications, please call 850- 452-1111 x3131 or DSN 922-1111 x3131 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Kathy S. Bratsch is the reference publications manager for DANTES.

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