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Tactical Missile Acquisitions: Understated Technical Risks Leading to Cost and Schedule Overruns

NSIAD-91-280 Published: Sep 17, 1991. Publicly Released: Sep 17, 1991.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined missile acquisition programs to determine: (1) whether they are meeting their cost and schedule goals; and (2) why some programs fail to meet those goals.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Defense The Secretary of Defense should ensure that the Defense Research and Engineering Directorate independently review program office technical risk assessments. The Secretary should also ensure that the results of these technical reviews be reflected in the Cost Analysis Improvement Group's cost analyses.
Closed – Implemented
DOD revised Directive 5000.1--Defense Acquisition Program Policies Guidelines and Management Responsibilities--included a section stating "The OSD Cost Analysis Improvement Group will independently validate program risks and component-developed cost estimates for DAB reviews. The directive also contains a section establishing policy guidelines for conducting risk assessments and managing risks.

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Topics

National Defense
Weapons systemsCost analysisCost overrunsDefense cost controlMilitary procurementMissilesResearch and developmentRisk managementTechnical proposal evaluationMilitary forces