Observations on Office of Management and Budget Circular A-109: Major System Acquisitions by the Department of Defense
Abstract
The Office of Management and Budget Circular A-109 prescribes policies to guide Federal agencies in managing their major system acquisition programs. The Circular is based on recommendations proposed in December 1972 by the Commission on Government Procurement, following an exhaustive study of Federal procurement practices. Circular A-l09 applies to a variety of systems--major weapons, automatic data processing equipment, construction projects, transportation systems, space systems, and energy projects. This report deals entirely with the Circular's application to defense activities. GAO intends to follow this with a second report covering A-109's application in other Government agencies. Experience with Circular A-109 is too new to permit a complete evaluation of its value in improving the management of defense acquisitions. This is particularly true in the "front end" of the acquisition process--the determination of needs and identification of the best solution to the needs--since so few acquisitions have been started and none have been completed since A-109 took effect.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 20, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA328716
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office