Defense Acquisition: DOD Should Clarify Requirements for Assessing and Documenting Technical-Data Needs

Abstract

Some of the Department of Defense's (DOD) weapon systems remain in the inventory for decades. Therefore, decisions that program officials make during the acquisition process to acquire or not acquire rights to technical data, which may cost $1 billion, can have far-reaching implications for DOD's ability to sustain and competitively procure parts and services for those systems. DOD needs access to technical data to control costs, maintain flexibility in acquisition and sustainment, and maintain and operate systems. In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the extent to which: (1) DOD has updated its acquisition and procurement policies to reflect a 2007 law and 2006 GAO recommendations; (2) selected acquisition programs adhered to requirements to document technical data needs; and (3) DOD took actions to improve technical-data decisions by program managers. GAO interviewed DOD officials, reviewed acquisition strategies and acquisition plans from 12 programs, and compared those documents to relevant DOD policies.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA545873

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Computer Programs
  • Congress
  • Contracts
  • Control Systems
  • Data Acquisition
  • Data Rights
  • Department Of Defense
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Logistics
  • Maintenance
  • Military Acquisition
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Government Contracting/Procurement.