Defense Acquisitions: DODs Revised Policy Emphasizes Best Practices, but More Controls Are Needed

Abstract

The Department of Defense's (DOD) investment in new weapon systems is expected to exceed $1 trillion from fiscal years 2003 to 2009. To reduce the risk of cost and schedule overruns, DOD revamped its acquisition policy in May 2003. The policy provides detailed guidance on how weapon systems acquisitions should be managed. The Senate report accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 required GAO to determine whether DOD's policy supports knowledge-based, evolutionary acquisitions and whether the policy provides the necessary controls for DOD to ensure successful outcomes, such as meeting cost and schedule goals. The report also required GAO to assess whether the policy is responsive to certain requirements in the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 concerning DOD's management of the acquisition process.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 10, 2003
Accession Number
AD1157927

Entities

People

  • Katherine V. Schinasi

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Best Practices
  • Business Administration
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electronic Mail
  • Engineering
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Health Care
  • Military Acquisition
  • National Security
  • Procurement
  • Product Development
  • Reliability
  • Spiral Development
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Weapon Systems

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting