DOD Still Needs To Clarify Policies for Performing Research and Development for Other Agencies

The Department of Defense (DOD), compared with other Government agencies, has the most extensive array of Federal research and development facilities. In a previous GAO report it was noted that in spite of overall departmental policy statements encouraging interagency cooperation, the laboratory directors and researchers perceived other policies, directives, and administrative requirements as restrictive and discouraging measures. Some DOD research and development officials believed that the DOD laboratories should do only defense work. DOD did not address the issue GAO raised concerning the need for DOD to clarify and renew its policy for nondefense work in the laboratories and widely promulgate it throughout the DOD research and development establishment.