Defense Acquisition Reform

After many “fixes,” the Defense Department’s acquisition system has not improved the time it takes to field “big ticket” goods and services, curtailed program costs, or promoted adherence to deadlines.  The problem has long been recognized by Pentagon officials, who invited BENS’ scrutiny of the issue in 2008.

After a test project, BENS formed a larger scale Task Force on Acquisition Law & Oversight in fall 2008 to review the defense acquisition system and recommend to Congress and government leaders steps to systematically reform the governance and oversight of the process.  Made up of former industry executives and civilian defense officials as well as military leaders and subject matter experts, the Task Force conducted a regulatory and legislative review with specific focus on requirements determination, workforce issues and cost and schedule issues. 

With the release of its report, "Getting to Best: Reforming the Defense Acquistion Enterprise," in summer 2009, the Task Force moved to urging Congress and the Pentagon to adopt needed reforms. The report has been briefed extensively on Capitol Hill and in the Pentagon, and BENS continues to seek government-wide implementation of some of its 25 specific recommendations.

Last updated January 2010