Chemical and Biological Defense: DOD's Evaluation of Improved Garment Materials

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the Department of Defense's (DOD) research and development programs for improved chemical defense garment materials for U.S. armed forces, focusing on whether DOD: (1) provided sufficient notice to industry of the government's interest in identifying improved chemical defense materials; (2) provided industry sufficient opportunity to participate in the programs; (3) changed requirements in the transition of the Marine Corps Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (MCLIST) program to the Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST) program; and (4) responded to a congressional reporting requirement concerning sources of supply for the military's chemical defense materials.