Defense Acquisitions: Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs
Abstract
This is GAO s annual assessment of DOD weapon system acquisitions, an area that has been on GAO s high-risk list for more than 20 years. The report responds to the mandate in the joint explanatory statement to the DOD Appropriations Act, 2009. It includes observations on (1) the cost and schedule performance of DOD s 2012 portfolio of 86 major defense acquisition programs, including the Missile Defense Agency s Ballistic Missile Defense System; (2) the knowledge attained at key junctures in the acquisition process for 40 major defense acquisition programs that were selected because they were in development or early production; and (3) key acquisition reform initiatives and program concurrency. Major defense acquisition programs are DOD s costliest weapon system development and procurement programs. To develop the observations, GAO analyzed cost, schedule, and quantity data from DOD s Selected Acquisition Reports and collected data from program offices on technology, design, and manufacturing knowledge; the use of knowledge-based acquisition practices; and the implementation of DOD s acquisition policy and acquisition reforms. In commenting on a draft of this report, DOD agreed that the cost reductions in its portfolio over the past year were largely due to exiting programs and reductions in procurement quantities. However, DOD stated that the metrics used did not adequately address program performance or answer the questions of when, why, and how changes occurred. GAO believes the report addresses these concerns.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA576306
Entities
People
- Bruce D. Fairbairn
- Bruce H. Thomas
- David B. Best
- J. K. Keener
- Laurier R. Fish
- Mary C. Coyle
- Matthew T. Drerup
- Michael J. Sullivan
- Peter W. Anderson
- Travis J. Masters
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office