TGC 46-43-Feature Comment.pmd

This material reprinted from THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR appears here with the permission of the publisher,West, a Thomson business. Further use without the permission of West is prohibited.THE GOVERNMENT®CONTRACTORInformation and Analysis on Legal Aspects of ProcurementVol. 46, No. 43 November 17, 2004 years. Originally a five-year pilot program, the MHPIhas been extended to 2012. (Expiration of the programwill not affect completed transactions.) The Govern-Focusment expects to privatize more than 70 percent of ex-isting DOD-owned housing units and, to date, DOD¶ 449 has closed MHPI transactions for more than 35projects involving over 69,000 total units. In addition,there are at least 37 projects, involving more thanFEATURE COMMENT: The Military66,000 total units, currently in the MHPI procure-Housing Privatization Initiativement pipeline.By attracting private-sector financing and exper-The quality of military family housing is crucialtise, the MHPI facilitates quicker, cheaper, and betterto the morale and retention of U.S. militaryrenovation and replacement of on-base housing units.servicemembers. The primary source of housingFor example, a June 2002 U.S. Government Account-for military families is privately owned housingability Office report estimated that, by investing aboutlocated in communities surrounding military in-$185 million in the first 10 MHPI projects, DOD shouldstallations. This reliance on the commercial sec-obtain housing improvements ...