Afghan National Army: DoD May Have Spent up to $28 Million More Than Needed to Procure Camouflage Uniforms that May Be Inappropriate for the Afghan Environment
Abstract
This report discusses the results of SIGAR's review of DOD's procurement of uniforms for the Afghan National Army (ANA). The report determines (1) how and why the U.S. government generated the requirement for the use of a proprietary camouflage pattern for ANA uniforms, and (2) the resulting cost to the U.S. government of using a proprietary camouflage pattern for ANA uniforms from November 2008 through January 2017. Uniforms, consisting of one shirt and one pair of pants, is one example of organizational clothing and individual equipment (OCIE) that DOD has purchased for Afghan National Defense and Security Forces personnel using the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund appropriation. As a general matter, uniforms may use camouflage patterns that are either proprietary or non-proprietary. Proprietary uniforms are made using camouflage patterns that are owned by another entity and may not be used, by DOD or anyone else, without the permission of the owner. Non-proprietary uniforms are made using camouflage patterns that are owned or available for use by DOD without the need for permission from another entity. In 2007, DOD chose to purchase uniforms for the ANA that incorporated a proprietary pattern owned by HyperStealth Biotechnology Corporation (HyperStealth) and was patterned after the U.S. Army's Combat Uniform which is more costly to produce and has different component specifications than the U.S. Army Battle Dress Uniform. That 2007 decision resulted in the purchase of 1,364,602 such uniforms through January 2017.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1139939
Entities
Organizations
- Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction