Federal Advisory Commission on Consolidation and Conversion of Defense Research and Development Laboratories,

Abstract

This report provides recommendations to the Secretary of Defense the feasibility and desirability of various means to improve the operation of the DoD laboratories. Public Law 101-510 established the Federal Advisory Commission on Consolidation and Conversion of Defense Research and Development Laboratories to study the Department of Defense (DoD) laboratory system and provide recommendations to the Secretary of Defense on the feasibility and desirability of various means to improve the operation of the DoD laboratories. Among the means the Commission was directed to study were: (1) conversion of some or all of the DoD laboratories to Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated laboratories, (2) mission and/or function modification of some or all of the laboratories, and (3) consolidation or closure of some or all of the laboratories. The DoD operates a large and complex laboratory system. The DoD laboratories (42 Army, 20 Navy, and 4 Air Force) spend approximately $6.5 billion annually and employ nearly 60,000 people, of whom over 26,000 are scientists and engineers. The DoD laboratory system has evolved over the past 150 years. Each Service's system is different and is a product of its historical origins, culture, and method of systems acquisition. Several laboratories are embedded in larger organizations. A significant number of the laboratories are relatively small and geographically isolated. In undertaking its task, the Commission started with the fundamental issues concerning the laboratories: Why does the DoD have in-house laboratories? What are their primary functions? What is their current level of effectiveness? What are the attributes of an effective laboratory? How best can these attributes be achieved within the current environment? Is conversion to Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated necessary and/or feasible?

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA323887

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  • Charles E. Adolph

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