Acquisition Reform and Best Product Procurement: An Engineering View

Abstract

The military services are being moved in the direction of performance‐based specifications and standards. They are being steered against dictating “how to” produce an item since such action forecloses on the ability to gain access to components or technology that may have a commercial equivalent. Why should the engineering community embrace the new approach? Aside from the obvious weight of it being approved policy, therefore currently mandated, it warrants examination because it is the correct approach at this time when applied to appropriate products. Military specifications and standards are to be displaced then, by acceptable alternative contractor design solutions. Industry bidders will be allowed to propose the particular design details, permitting procurement flexibility by contractually citing only system level or interface requirements, both physical and functional. Hopefully, this can broaden the industrial base and increase competition with reduced costs to follow. Conceptually, the approach appears both performance‐sensible and cost‐attractive (there are, of course, consequent risks) but how does implementation proceed? Is it possible to pursue the goals envisioned along paths that are not in themselves experimental? Can the American postulate, minimal loss of life and limb to U.S. military people, continue to be honored? Experience and track record elsewhere imply encouraging possibilities in select situations—useful prospects are identified and discussed in practical terms.