Defense AT&L. Volume 40, Number 5, September-October 2011
Abstract
Over the past 3 years, a confluence of continuing long wars, recognition of the need to recapitalize/modernize existing military equipment, and rising national debt as a result of the financial crisis, has created a "perfect storm" of competing requirements. DoD has been forced to cancel one unaffordable program after another to live within budget constraints. When taken as a whole, it is obvious that continuing "business as usual" in defense systems acquisition is not sustainable. As a corps of acquisition professionals, our buying strategies must adapt to this new reality and recognize that the costs of our weapon systems must assume a more prominent role in the decision process; our nation's future depends on it. These adjustments in our acquisition approach, tools, techniques, and attitudes are necessary if we are to continue to provide our fighting forces with the material and technical edge required for victory on our terms. It is in this spirit that Dr. Carter released our Better Buying Power (BBP) initiatives and directives in concert with the component acquisition executives (CAEs). These initiatives resulted from actively seeking inputs from acquisition leaders within DoD and the defense industry and distilled from best practices and lessons learned. More than 130 recommendations were received, analyzed, and vetted, resulting in 23 specific actions contained in the Sept. 14, 2010 Memorandum for Acquisition Professionals. These actions were grouped into five major areas: * Target Affordability and Control Cost Growth * Incentivize Productivity and Innovation in Industry * Promote Real Competition * Improve Tradecraft in Services Acquisition * Reduce Non-Productive Processes and Bureaucracy
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA566746
Entities
Organizations
- Defense Acquisition University