As of Dec. 18, this form will likely be no longer necessary because draft-eligible males should start to be automatically registered.

As of Dec. 18, this form will likely be no longer necessary because draft-eligible males should start to be automatically registered. Gettyimages.com / Douglas Sacha

Selective Service System seeks software to aid the military draft

The independent agency wants better tools to evaluate staffing and resource requirements.

The agency that keeps lists of draft-eligible men is looking for software to help simulate the personnel needs it would work to fill if a draft were reinstated.

While the U.S. military is all-volunteer, the independent Selective Service System still maintains a registration list of men aged 18 to 25 and a second special-skills database based on professional licensing lists of workers in certain health-care occupations. 

By launching this request for quotes on Wednesday, SSS is looking to prepare for emergencies that require it to quickly evaluate staffing and resource requirements through the use of readiness simulation software.

SSS also is tasked with comparing different mobilization and policy scenarios, assessing the operational impacts of surge conditions, identifying potential risks and bottlenecks, and support executive planning and reporting obligations.

The RFQ lists these requirements for the software:

  • Model the full end-to-end mobilization pipeline
  • Support configurable scenarios
  • Provide decision-support analytics for leaders, planners and operators
  • Operates within an SSS-designated cloud environment
  • Use anonymized aggregate data
  • Support complete government ownership and sustainment

SSS is embarking on this search for software ahead of Dec. 18, when the requirement for male U.S. residents aged 18 to 25 years old to register themselves in the system will be replaced with a requirement for SSS to automatically register them by relying on other federal databases.

Quotes are due by 2 p.m. Eastern time on Aug. 14. The window for questions to SS closes at 2 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, July 28.