Military Acquisition and Procurement

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Maintaining a military that is prepared to face uncertain future security challenges often requires the acquisition and procurement of new and technologically advanced equipment, which is a major expense for any nation. For decades, RAND has researched and evaluated military acquisition and procurement activities, providing essential recommendations to allow military decisionmakers to manage costs and streamline the acquisition process more effectively.

Research conducted by: RAND National Security Research Division; RAND Project AIR FORCE; RAND Arroyo Center; RAND Justice, Infrastructure, and Environment; RAND Europe

All Items (311)

Commentary

A Far too Costly Pentagon — Feb 27, 2006

Published commentary by RAND staff: A Far too Costly Pentagon, in United Press International.

Report

Acquisition and Competition Strategy Options for the DD(X): The U.S. Navy’s 21st Century Destroyer — Jan 31, 2006

How can the Navy achieve the most effective competition among its suppliers during development and production of its new family of destroyers while ensuring that two shipyards remain in business to compete on future programs?

Research Brief

Balancing Rapid Acquisition of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with Support Considerations — Dec 19, 2005

This research brief describes work documented in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle End-to-End Support Considerations (MG-350-AF).

Report

The United Kingdom’s Nuclear Submarine Industrial Base, Volume 2: Ministry of Defence Roles and Required Technical Resources — Dec 5, 2005

Recommends measures and structures the UK Ministry of Defence can adopt to better manage its risks and responsibilities in submarine acquisition.

Research Brief

How to Improve the Army's Management of Reparable Spare Parts — Nov 25, 2005

Research Brief

How Well is the Air Force Improving Services Acquisition? New Metrics Can Help — Nov 25, 2005

Research Brief

Repairing or Replacing Aging Aircraft: How Do Modifications and Depot Capacity Affect the Decision? — Nov 25, 2005

This research brief describes work documented in Aging Aircraft Repair-Replacement Decisions with Depot-Level Capacity as a Policy Choice Variable (MG-241-AF).

Research Brief

Can the United Kingdom Rebuild Its Naval Fleet? Challenges and Opportunities for the UK Shipbuilding Industrial Base, 2005-2020 — Nov 25, 2005

The United Kingdom faces numerous challenges in producing warships from now through 2020, including developing a sufficiently sized and skilled workforce, updating facilities, and maintaining viable producers. To address these challenges, the UK Mini...

Research Brief

Building Ships On Time: How Can the Defence Procurement Agency More Accurately Monitor Progress? — Nov 25, 2005

UK military shipbuilding experiences considerable schedule slippage. To assess the reasons for this and means to improve it, RAND researchers surveyed major shipbuilders, reviewed relevant literature, and identified the primary causes of production d...

Report

The Department of Defense and Its Use of Small Businesses: An Economic and Industry Analysis — Nov 17, 2005

Examines how the Department of Defense's use of small businesses compares with other federal agencies and how the small businesses the department uses compare industrywide.

Report

Scoping Aerospace: Tracking Federal Procurement and R&D Spending in the Aerospace Sector — Nov 4, 2005

Assesses the scope of external federal spending in the aerospace industry from 1993 to 2003.

Report

Price-Based Acquisition: Issues and Challenges for Defense Department Procurement of Weapon Systems — Oct 5, 2005

Analysis of findings from case studies and structured interviews focused on determining the potential benefits and challenges of using price-based acquisition for Department of Defense procurement of major military-unique systems.

Report

Lessons Learned from the F/A-22 and F/A-18 E/F Development Programs — Sep 13, 2005

Examining these two programs illustrates the real difficulties and successes of the U.S. military aircraft acquisition process.

Report

The United Kingdom’s Nuclear Submarine Industrial Base, Volume 1: Sustaining Design and Production Resources — Aug 30, 2005

Recommends strategies to efficiently sustain and operate the United Kingdom's submarine industrial base.

Report

The United Kingdom’s Nuclear Submarine Industrial Base, Volume 3: Options for Initial Fuelling — Aug 30, 2005

Assesses where the United Kingdom's nuclear fuelling of submarines should occur to best minimise cost and schedule risks.

Report

Risk Management and Performance in the Balkans Support Contract — Aug 15, 2005

What has the Army learned about risk from its experience using contractors in the Balkans?

Report

Monitoring the Progress of Shipbuilding Programmes: How Can the Defence Procurement Agency More Accurately Monitor Progress? — Jun 15, 2005

Explores the reasons for and ways to anticipate schedule delays in shipbuilding programmes.

Report

Outsourcing and Outfitting Practices: Implications for the Ministry of Defence Shipbuilding Programmes — Jun 15, 2005

Advises how the United Kingdom should best use modern outsourcing and outfitting practices for shipbuilding in the years to come.

Report

Reexamining Military Acquisition Reform: Are We There Yet? — Jun 2, 2005

Examines "Acquisition Reform" and "Acquisition Excellence" initiatives undertaken in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) over the period 1990-2003.

Report

An Assessment of Air Force Data on Contract Expenditures — May 20, 2005

Assesses the adequacy and accuracy of data from the Individual Contracting Action Report form, also known as the DD350, for conducting an expenditure analysis

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Richard M. Moore

Air Staff Liaison, RAND Project AIR FORCE

Richard M. Moore

Richard M. Moore is a senior engineer at the RAND Corporation. His research has focused primarily on the U.S. Air Force's development and employment of advanced technologies and weapon systems. During his Air Force career, he served as a program element monitor, directed flight test programs for…

Eugene C. Gritton

Vice President Emeritus, RAND Corporation

Eugene C. Gritton

As former vice president and director of the RAND National Security Research Division (NSRD), Eugene C. Gritton had responsibility for research and analysis conducted for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Unified Combatant Commands, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps,…

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