Defense Procurement: Acquiring Technical Data for Spare Parts Reprocurement

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO assessed the Department of Defense's (DOD) progress in implementing a provision of the Defense Procurement Reform Act of 1984, which requires that an agency head consider acquiring technical data and the right to use it for competitive reprocurements when preparing a solicitation for a development or production contract for a major system, focusing on: (1) DOD implementation and enforcement of this provision; (2) whether technical data is being acquired; and (3) whether the acquisition of the technical data packages has resulted in lower prices and increased competition.