The Effect of the Nunn-McCurdy Amendment on Unit Cost Growth of Defense Acquisition Projects

Abstract

DoD's major weapon system programs continue to take longer, cost more, and deliver fewer quantities and (less) capabilities than originally planned. Cost growth is a primary concern as DoD plans to spend approximately $935 billion dollars on acquisition between fiscal years 2009 and 2013 (but other [non-discretionary] pressures are likely to reduce the acquisition dollars available). Congress tried to directly address the issue of unit cost growth with passage of the Nunn-McCurdy Amendment (NM). NM requires DoD to report when unit cost growth of any major defense acquisition program is 'known, expected, or anticipated" by a program manager to exceed certain cost growth thresholds.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 12, 2010
Accession Number
ADA529405

Entities

People

  • Jacques Gansler

Organizations

  • University of Maryland

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Case Studies
  • Congress
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Cost Estimates
  • Costs
  • Data Analysis
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Lessons Learned
  • Life Cycles
  • Military Acquisition
  • Military Capabilities
  • Military Procurement
  • National Security
  • Public Policy

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting