Public-Private Partnerships: The Key to Retaining Government and Industry Capabilities

The current DoD budget uncertainty highlights the necessity of leveraging the best capabilities of the public and private industrial base across government and industry to optimize weapon system product support at best value cost. Public-Private Partnerships PPPs are a key component of DoD product support strategies assuring synergistic application of these critical capabilities to achieve affordable operational readiness for the warfighter. program offices, inventory control points, and sustainment commands, may be parties to such agreements. DoD Policy on Public-Private Partnerships DoD policy on public-private partnerships is reflected in DoDD 5000.01, The Defense Acquisition System, paragraph E1.17, certified current as of Nov. 20, 2007, which states Sustainment strategies shall include the best use of public and private sector capabilities through governmentindustry partnering initiatives, in accordance with statutory requirements. DoDI 4151.21, Public-Private Partnerships for Depot-Level Maintenance, April 25, 2007, states Public-private partnerships for depot-level maintenance shall be employed whenever cost effective in providing improved support to the warfighter, and to maximize the utilization of the government s facilities, equipment, and personnel at DoD depot-level maintenance activities. It adds Performance-Based Logistics implementation strategies shall consider public-private partnerships to satisfy the core capabilities requirements of section 2464 and the limitations on the performance of depot-level maintenance and materiel requirements contained in section 2466. It s clear that public-private partnering is not only encouraged by DoD but consideration also is directed in policy.