Acquisition Reform: Military-Commercial Pilot Program Offers Benefits but Faces Challenges
NSIAD-96-53
Published: Jun 28, 1996. Publicly Released: Jun 28, 1996.
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Highlights
GAO provided information on the Department of Defense's (DOD) Military Products from Commercial Lines Pilot Program, focusing on the: (1) program's potential for achieving benefits sought from acquisition reform; and (2) barriers to achieving these benefits.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Air Force | The Air Force, in consultation with TRW, should identify those government-unique requirements that prevent the pilot from demonstrating that military items can be produced at equal or better quality on commercial production lines at substantially lower prices and then seek Secretary of Defense waivers. |
Closed – Implemented
Subsequent to publication of the report, the Air Force reversed an earlier decision and has determined that the part is a commercial component. As such, the Air Force is released from many of the barriers commonly cited that hamper government procurement from commercial suppliers.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should move quickly to waive those requirements within his authority that pilot officials believe impede the successful completion of the pilot. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD's Deputy Under Secretary of Defense concurred with the recommendation and agreed to implement it. The pilot contract was then revised to allow the pilot to proceed by procuring the pilot components as commercial items. This action meets the recommendation. An accomplishment report documents this conclusion.
|
| Department of Defense | Where necessary, the Secretary of Defense should seek legislative relief from those impediments he cannot waive. For example, the Secretary could request approval for the TRW pilot to proceed as part of the DOD Defense Acquisition Pilot Program. |
Closed – Not Implemented
DOD has opted to grant waivers and deviations and will not seek designation as a pilot program.
|
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Topics
AvionicsCommercial productsCooperative agreementsDefense conversionDefense cost controlDefense industryDefense procurementDual-use technologiesElectronic equipmentProcurement policyQuality of care