Defense Technical Information Center
Abstract
The Defense Technical Information Center’s (DTIC) unique mission is to aggregate and fuse science and technology data to provide rapid, accurate, and reliable knowledge to researchers and developers of the next generation of technologies needed to assure our national security. DTIC, a DoD Field Activity under the authority, direction and control of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)), is the DoD’s singular executive agent and designated source for DoD-funded scientific, technical, engineering, and industry-related information. DTIC provides USD(R&E) the capability to develop and deliver new information products and tools to share knowledge and enhance decision making. This Program Element (PE) provides for DTIC mission operations, which are focused on three core efforts: Collection, Dissemination, and Information Analysis Centers (IACs): 1) Collect, curate, and preserve science and technical information resulting from DoD’s $14B annual investment. Build upon past work to avoid costly and time-delaying rework. 2) Share and disseminate information as required by statute; provide access to more than 4.4 Million technical records. Provide DoD users improved situational awareness. Simplify and reduce expertise needed to discover the most relevant of information - provide role based content, research results, budget investment, where work is being done, by who, and what level of maturity. 3) Operate the DoD Information Analysis Centers (IACs), centered on Defense Systems; Cyber Security and Information Systems; and Homeland Defense and Security. The IACs provide the Department with an R&D contracting vehicle to support PEO and PM insertion of technical innovation into systems of record. Other priority DTIC mission activities are described below: 1) Foster collaboration across communities, researchers, warfighters, industry, academia, Federal agencies, and Allies. Increase collaboration between S&T/RDT&E and warfighters. 2) Ensure information protection, document marking, authenticate and validate users, enforce access controls. 3) Develop and manage DoD’s Science Technology Information Policy (STIP). 4) Agile software development, secure (cyber), and host applications supporting R&E initiatives and activities. 5) Maintain compliance with existing public law, regulations, and guidelines. 6) Implement congressionally-mandated programs, as directed within the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): - Innovators Information Repository (IIR): increase awareness of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/ Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) and other small business innovative technology capability and improve transition to systems of record. DTIC is creating a database with reports, proposals, and vendor information. - Global Research Watch (GRW) Program: provide decision quality analysis of open source information. The Strategic Intelligence & Analysis Cell (SIAC) program is evaluating potential algorithms that will analyze journal literature and other open source information from both allies and competitors. DTIC will manage and host in the cloud a tool based on promising algorithms. - Datasets and Data Repositories: establish database of datasets created during research activities to support reuse; encourage data management planning with each research project. DTIC is creating a dataset directory to direct users to organizations holding relevant datasets. In support of these mission operations, DTIC purchases space and critical shared services (e.g., human resources (HR); financial management; contracting; common-use IT services and security; communications; and civilian payroll services) from expert and efficient DoD service-providers. DTIC MISSION RESULTS The Department invests over $90 Billion annually in Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) needed to protect and defend our nation. DTIC preserves the fruits of these costly labors for reuse across the enterprise. As an efficient and cost-effective steward of technical information, DTIC collects data and provides answers to researchers seeking state-of-the-art data relevant to their projects. Through this interchange of information, DTIC accelerates innovation and prevents duplication of experiments, tests, and prototyping activities because researchers can build on what has been done or choose other paths if prior research resulted in a dead end. Using DTIC-created forums, researchers, Warfighters, and industry partners can also rapidly collaborate and connect across the DoD research and engineering (R&E) enterprise. Finally, DTIC provides a department-level map of R&D activity. This map gives decision-makers insight into current and past research, highlighting where progress is being made and by whom. Through the preservation and sharing of the results of billions of dollars of past DoD investments, DTIC increases the return on past investments and accelerates current efforts, saving the Department precious time and dollars. Through its collaboration tools and outreach to the R&E community, DTIC connects researchers across the lab enterprise, to include researchers and engineers, Warfighters and DoD’s industry partners. DTIC's Information Analysis Centers (IACs) drive innovation and technological development by anticipating and responding to the information needs of the defense and broader community. The IAC Program Management Office (IAC PMO) provides core funding, management and oversight of three IACs, which are chartered by DoD to collect, research, analyze, and disseminate scientific and technical information in specialized fields to DoD researchers and acquisition professionals. In addition, the IAC PMO manages several multiple award contracts to make possible new research that builds on prior investments and incorporates the innovations of government, industry, and academia. For the last several years, competition inherent in the IAC model has produced savings of 10-16% under projected costs, while still delivering vetted technical expertise to address DoD’s complex challenges. Providing DoD labs and program managers access to thousands of industry subject matter experts, the IACs performed $2 Billion of customer-funded research and analysis in FY 2019. The results of the work are a rich source of new material in DTIC's technical repositories and are available to users across the Department. The IAC approach was identified as a "best practice" by the Director of Defense Pricing and Contracting and the then-Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering in a July 2018 memo wherein they recommended use of the IAC contracts across DoD as "vehicles of first choice." NATIONAL DEFENSE STRATEGY The DTIC and IAC mission operations described above are focused on actively supporting USD(R&E) efforts in generating decisive and sustained U.S. military advantages through the pursuit of three distinct lines of effort, as outlined in the 2018 National Defense Strategy (NDS): 1) Rebuild military readiness as we build a more lethal Joint Force: Develop and implement machine learning and semantic language algorithms to simplify discovery of relevant information – reduce search time and user expertise, provide tailored and actionable results, provide ability for S&T communities to collaborate with stakeholders and partners. 2) Strengthen alliances as we attract new partners: Modernize user validation technology, implement White House directed Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) markings while continuing to support legacy distribution code marking, support White House Open Science mandate and provide information to allies while preventing release of sensitive documents and data. 3) Reform the Department’s business practices for greater performance and affordability: Increase ability and reduce time and cost to respond to current and future R&E support needs. Migrate application hosting to the cloud; develop modular components; leverage Open Source, commercial, and Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) technology; leverage the Information Analysis Center contracting model.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2021
- Source ID
- 0605801KA_6_0400_PB_2021
- Change Summary Explanation
- Program Change: The FY 2021 Base program reduction (-$0.409 Million), as compared to the Previous President’s Budget FY 2021 Base, reflects a net change resulting from the following adjustments: 1)A Defense-wide Review (DWR) program adjustment (decrease) of $0.100 Million to reduce cost and manage risk of DTIC Public Internet materials. 2)A Defense-wide Review (DWR) program adjustment (decrease) of $0.446 Million as part of the Fourth Estate Network Optimization (4ENO) effort. Funds are realigned to the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). 3)Miscellaneous adjustments related to economic assumptions, inflation, and civilian payroll pricing. FY 2021 Service Requirements Review Board (SRRB) Reduction: The FY 2021 Base program includes a $0.740 Million reduction in accordance with the Department’s recent service contract downsizing effort. The FY 2021 Base program also includes a $0.032 Million reduction attributable to Fourth Estate Information Technology (4E IT) Reform savings.
- Service Agency Name
- Defense Technical Information Center
Entities
Organizations
- Defense Technical Information Center
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