Accession Number:

AD1026827

Title:

An Analysis of the Department of Defense's Use of Other Transaction Authority (10 U.S.C. 2371)

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report

Corporate Author:

Naval Postgraduate School Monterey United States

Personal Author(s):

• Stevens,Catherine L.

Report Date:

2016-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

109.0

Abstract:

This research provides an analysis of the Department of Defenses historical and current use of Other Transaction OT authority as codified in Section 10 of United States Code U.S.C. 2371. The 2016National Defense Authorization Act NDAA made the OT for prototype authority permanent. Methodology includes reviews of available literature such as Government Accountability OfficeGAO audit reports, DOD Inspector General IG reports, and studies by the Congressional Research Service CRS, research by the RAND institution, and Senate and House testimony. Interviews with three OT subject-matter experts SMEs provide valuable insight into the creation of the original language as well as legislative changes to OT authority. OT authority has allowed the DOD greater flexibility in working with commercial companies that have traditionally not worked with the federal government in research and development R and D efforts. OTs are not subject to the same laws and regulations that govern standard procurement contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements. Research shows that OTs can be a powerful instrument in advancing technology and innovation in R and D. It is imperative that the DOD continue to promote understanding of this unique authority in order to remain on the cutting edge of state-of-the-art technologies.

Descriptors:

• department of defense
• government procurement
• agreements
• contracts
• acquisition
• PROTOTYPES
• public policy

Subject Categories:

• Administration and Management

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE