Comprehensive Report: DOD Acquisition Processes in the United States

This report provides an overview of the Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition process in the United States. It details how the DOD procures goods and services, primarily through contracts, and highlights the role of the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) in tracking obligations. The report emphasizes the DOD's responsibility to balance industrial costs and contractor risks, as well as prevent counterfeiting in the supply chain. It also covers qualification requirements, trusted supplier programs, and the legal obligations of suppliers. The report references an SBIR article on acquisition basics and includes relevant academic sources.

Running Head: INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAM AND ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT
Introduction to Program and Acquisition Management
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INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAM AND ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT
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How DOD Acquisition in the United States takes Places
The Department of Defense (DOD) in the United States has since time immemorial been
relying on numerous contractors to provide the United States Military with numerous goods and
services which include among others operational support, food, vehicles, uniforms and even
military weapons. Acquisition in the Department of Defense in the United States usually takes
place through contract obligations which occur or happen when the concerned agencies actually
enter into not only contracts but also employ personnel and even commit themselves to spend
money (Chiow & Metzger, 2012). The Federal government in the US thus tracks money which
has been obligated on the federal contracts using a database which is known as the “Federal
Procurement Data System Next Generation” or the FPDS. It is therefore important for all and
sundry to note that indeed, there is no public database which tracks the Department of Defense
contract outlays as the “FPDS track obligations”
It is the responsibility of the Department of Defense or DoD in the United States to
ensure that a balance is found which is capable of recognizing the relevant industrial costs as
well as the contractor risks. In addition to that, it must also be able to ascertain any potential high
prices for the weapons and systems that have to be acquired so as to prevent any potential harm
to its industrial base. It is prudent to note that the people who are responsible for the DoD
acquisition are the Secretaries of the numerous Military Departments as well as the “Directors of
the Defense Agencies” (Schmith, 2011). It is therefore their responsibility to ensure that they
effectively apply existing policies so that they can not only prevent but also detect and remediate
and investigate any form of counterfeiting that may occur in the supply chain of the DoD.
In acquiring goods and services, the Department of Defense in the United States is
usually required to come up with viable qualification requirements which are in line or consistent

INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAM AND ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT
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with the 10 U.S.C 2319. This is quite important since it helps in the identification of trusted
suppliers, contractors, and even the subcontractors that are well trusted. It is important to note
that the “trusted supplier programs” must actually comply with the laid down industry standards
and they must also be subjected to audit by the relevant officials in the DoD. That apart, it is
prudent to note that the US law at no time provides a safe haven from the obligation of suppliers
to replace or even repair of the counterfeit or even suspect electronic parts. This can happen even
if the contractors in the acquisition process have relied on the trusted suppliers of the DoD, the
OEMs, and even their authorized dealers (Watson et al, 2017).
Based on an article on the web by SBIR titled Acquisition Basics regarding how the US
Department of Defense makes its purchases (2017), it is ascertained that the acquisition term
usually implies more than just the purchasing of a particular service or product. This is because it
usually involves the designing. Testing, construction, deployment, and even the sustainment and
disposal of such products.

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References
Bangert, D., Davies, N., & Watson, R. (2017). Managing Defence Acquisition Cost Growth. The
RUSI Journal, 162(1), 60-67.
Chiow, J. M., & Metzger, R. S. (2012). Legislating supply chain assurance: An examination of
section 818 of the FY 2012 NDAA. The Procurement Lawyer, 47(4), 1-30. Retrieved
from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy1.apus.edu/docview/1027765068?
accountid=8289
Schmith, M. D. (2011). The congress and DOD management process: Space acquisition, a
critique and evaluation (Order No. 3499387). Available from ABI/INFORM Collection.
(936121998). Retrieved from
https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy1.apus.edu/docview/936121998?accountid=8289
SIBR (2017). Acqusition Basics. Retrieved on 25th September 2017 from
https://www.sbir.gov/tutorials/acquisition-basics/tutorial-1