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Acquisition: DOD's Defense Acquisition Improvement Program: A Status Report

NSIAD-86-148 Published: Jul 23, 1986. Publicly Released: Aug 22, 1986.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Defense's (DOD) implementation of the Defense Acquisition Improvement Program to provide an overview of the status and results DOD has achieved since it focused high-level management attention on program initiatives.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should identify those specific initiatives which have the greatest potential and continue focusing top-level management attention on implementing these initiatives.
Closed – Implemented
DOD is continuing to address key initiatives and certain others were addressed in implementing the Packard Commission recommendations. It is still too early to assess any impact of the DOD actions.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should include among these initiatives a DOD commitment to stabilize and improve the acquisition process by: (1) budgeting more realistically; (2) limiting the number of new program starts; and (3) eliminating marginal programs when necessary to fund other programs more efficiently.
Closed – Implemented
DOD addressed this recommendation as part of its implementation of the Packard Commission recommendations. It is still too early to assess the impact of DOD actions.
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should establish reporting mechanisms which will enable the Office of the Secretary of Defense to analyze, in a timely manner, the progress made in accomplishing the specific actions to improve the acquisition process so that corrective actions can be taken when necessary.
Closed – Implemented
Specific additional action, if any, will be determined by the new Defense Acquisition Executive.

Full Report

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Topics

Cost analysisDefense cost controlDefense procurementProcurement practicesProgram managementWeapons systemsBudgetingMilitary forcesDefense AcquisitionProcurement