Bureau of Supplies and Accounts
Encyclopedia
The Bureau of Supplies and Accounts (BuSandA) was the United States Navy
's supply organization between 1892 and 1966. Established in 1842 as the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, the bureau was responsible for the procurement, receipt, storage, shipment, and issuance of food, fuel, clothing, general stores, and other materials. BuSandA also maintained and operated naval supply depots and similar units, and supervised activities of the Navy's Supply Corps officers. Duties also included the procurement, allocation, and disbursement of funds, and the holding of money and property accounts.
BuSandA was disestablished in 1966, as part of the Navy's general restructuring of its procurement system, and replaced with the Naval Supply Systems Command
(NAVSUP).
's five original procurement bureaus replacing the Board of Navy Commissioners
. The bureau was renamed the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts by the Navy Appropriation Act, July 19, 1892 (27 Stat. 243). This name carried BuSandA through World Wars I
and II
, and the Korean War
.
During the 1960s, as part of Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara's emphasis on "systems engineering
," the Navy essentially abolished the traditional "bureau system
" of procurement and replaced it with a structure known as "systems commands." Effective May 1, 1966, BuSandA was replaced by NAVSUP, by Department of Defense
reorganization order, March 9, 1966.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
's supply organization between 1892 and 1966. Established in 1842 as the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, the bureau was responsible for the procurement, receipt, storage, shipment, and issuance of food, fuel, clothing, general stores, and other materials. BuSandA also maintained and operated naval supply depots and similar units, and supervised activities of the Navy's Supply Corps officers. Duties also included the procurement, allocation, and disbursement of funds, and the holding of money and property accounts.
BuSandA was disestablished in 1966, as part of the Navy's general restructuring of its procurement system, and replaced with the Naval Supply Systems Command
Naval Supply Systems Command
The Naval Supply Systems Command is a command of the United States Navy. Its primary mission is to provide the Navy with quality supplies and services....
(NAVSUP).
History
The bureau was established by Act of Congress on August 31, 1842 (5 Stat. 579) as the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, one of the Navy DepartmentUnited States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
's five original procurement bureaus replacing the Board of Navy Commissioners
Board of Navy Commissioners
The Board of Naval Commissioners was a United States Navy administrative body in existence from 1815 to 1842, with responsibility for the Navy's material support. The three-member Board was created as part of an expansion of the U.S. Navy Department at the end of the War of 1812. The system was...
. The bureau was renamed the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts by the Navy Appropriation Act, July 19, 1892 (27 Stat. 243). This name carried BuSandA through World Wars I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
During the 1960s, as part of Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara's emphasis on "systems engineering
Systems engineering
Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed over the life cycle of the project. Issues such as logistics, the coordination of different teams, and automatic control of machinery become more...
," the Navy essentially abolished the traditional "bureau system
United States Navy bureau system
The "bureau system" of the United States Navy was the Department of the Navy's material-support organization from 1842 through 1966. The bureau chiefs were largely autonomous, reporting directly to the Secretary of the Navy and managing their respective organizations without the influence of other...
" of procurement and replaced it with a structure known as "systems commands." Effective May 1, 1966, BuSandA was replaced by NAVSUP, by Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
reorganization order, March 9, 1966.
External links
- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Website (Official U.S. Navy website)