Weapons Acquisition Reform: Actions Needed to Address Systems Engineering and Developmental Testing Challenges

2011 
Abstract : For the past 2 years, the Department of Defense (DoD) has been implementing the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act (Reform Act) requirements for systems engineering and developmental testing. These activities are important to DoD's ability to control acquisition costs, which increased by $135 billion over the past 2 years for 98 major defense acquisition programs. GAO was asked to determine the following: (1) DoD's progress in implementing the Reform Act's requirements, and (2) whether there are challenges at the military service level that could affect their systems engineering and developmental testing activities. To do this, GAO analyzed implementation status documents, discussed developmental testing office concerns with current and former DoD officials, and analyzed military service workforce growth plans and test range funding data. GAO recommends that DoD assess the resources needed by the developmental test and evaluation office, develop a plan to implement the assessment, develop metrics to aid funding decisions, and report the effect budget cuts are having on the services' ability to meet program office needs. GAO also has a matter for congressional consideration. DoD concurred with two recommendations, and offered clarifying language, which GAO incorporated, on the other two recommendations for which DoD partially concurred.
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