Report
A Clean Sheet Approach to Space Acquisition in Light of the New Space Force
The authors describe an unconstrained "clean sheet" approach to space acquisition for the U.S. Space Force designed around the unique mission and calling of the new service.
Aug 25, 2021
Report
Benchmarking Data Use and Analytics in Large, Complex Private-Sector Organizations: Implications for Department of Defense Acquisition
This report examines how the private sector addresses data governance and analytics to inform how the Department of Defense can develop and apply advanced analytics to acquisition challenges.
Jun 4, 2020
Report
Considerations for Managing Program Data in the Emerging Acquisition Environment: Summary
This research identifies and describes some of the issues related to managing acquisition program information in the emerging acquisition environment resulting from statutory changes within the Department of Defense acquisition community.
Feb 6, 2020
Report
Issues with Access to Acquisition Information in the Department of Defense: A Series on Considerations for Managing Program Data in the Emerging Acquisition Environment
This research identifies and describes some of the issues related to managing acquisition program information in the emerging acquisition environment resulting from statutory changes within the Department of Defense acquisition community.
Feb 6, 2020
Report
Assessing Department of Defense Use of Data Analytics and Enabling Data Management to Improve Acquisition Outcomes
Congress asked about acquisition data analytics in the Department of Defense. This report identifies and measures capabilities and recent progress. Barriers to improvement include a culture against data sharing due to security and burden concerns.
Aug 13, 2019
Research Brief
Assessing the Use of Data Analytics in Department of Defense Acquisition
This research brief addresses congressional concerns about the use of data analysis, measurement, and other evaluation-related methods in U.S. Department of Defense acquisition programs and decisionmaking.
Aug 13, 2019
Report
Issues with Access to Acquisition Data and Information in the Department of Defense: Considerations for Implementing the Controlled Unclassified Information Reform Program
This report provides a closer look at the current state of the Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) program as well as how the new CUI rules might affect DoD acquisition data management.
Jan 24, 2018
Report
Issues with Access to Acquisition Data and Information in the Department of Defense: Doing Data Right in Weapon System Acquisition
This report examines Department of Defense acquisition data and the information systems where it resides and offers insights into improving the management, availability, and usefulness of this information.
Mar 27, 2017
Report
Issues with Access to Acquisition Data and Information in the Department of Defense: A Closer Look at the Origins and Implementation of Controlled Unclassified Information Labels and Security Policy
The authors evaluated current Controlled Unclassified Information labeling procedures, practices, and security policies for U.S. Department of Defense acquisition data and recommend improvements.
Dec 19, 2016
Report
Contestability Frameworks: An International Horizon Scan
RAND identified and reviewed international contestability practices on behalf of the Australian Department of Defence.
Mar 21, 2016
Report
Joint Precision Approach and Landing System Nunn-McCurdy Breach Root Cause Analysis and Portfolio Assessment Metrics for DoD Weapons Systems, Volume 8
The authors examine the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System Inc. 1A Nunn-McCurdy breach and document a methodology that can assess and summarize the overall performance of an acquisition portfolio at a point in time and over several years.
Oct 23, 2015
Report
Tailoring the Acquisition Process in the U.S. Department of Defense
The research reported here explores tailoring or streamlining in defense acquisition processes to determine whether this policy area would benefit from additional in-depth research.
Jun 16, 2015
Report
Issues with Access to Acquisition Data and Information in the Department of Defense: Executive Summary
This report identifies the problems and challenges associated with sharing unclassified information within the U.S. Department of Defense and investigates the role of policies and practices associated with such sharing.
Jun 12, 2015
Report
Issues with Access to Acquisition Data and Information in the Department of Defense: Policy and Practice
This report identifies the problems and challenges associated with sharing unclassified information within the U.S. Department of Defense and investigates the role of policies and practices associated with such sharing.
Jun 12, 2015
Report
Management Perspectives Pertaining to Root Cause Analyses of Nunn-McCurdy Breaches, Volume 6: Contractor Motivations and Anticipating Breaches
The authors analyze what motivates defense contractors to determine if better incentives exist to the ones now used, and analyze major defense acquisition programs to see if it is possible to identify programs that might incur a Nunn-McCurdy breach.
Oct 8, 2014
Report
DoD and Commercial Advanced Waveform Developments and Programs with Multiple Nunn-McCurdy Breaches, Volume 5
Compares aspects of the Joint Tactical Radio System network domain program with similar elements for the commercial long-term evolution waveform and analyzes acquisition programs that have repeatedly exceeded certain cost thresholds.
Aug 25, 2014
Report
Prolonged Cycle Times and Schedule Growth in Defense Acquisition: A Literature Review
This report summarizes a selection of the defense acquisition literature from the 1960s to the present on potential sources of prolonged acquisition cycle times and schedule growth, as well as potential opportunities for improvement.
Apr 30, 2014
Report
Rapid Acquisition of Army Command and Control Systems
For the last decade, the U.S. Army has quickly acquired systems for war. By examining the nontraditional methods used, this study examines how the Army can improve rapid acquisition, focusing in particular on command and control systems.
Mar 28, 2014
Report
Management Perspectives Pertaining to Root Cause Analyses of Nunn-McCurdy Breaches, Volume 4: Program Manager Tenure, Oversight of Acquisition Category II Programs, and Framing Assumptions
Concerned with cost overruns in programs that breached Nunn-McCurdy thresholds, Congress directed investigation of the root causes of these overruns, and the authors examine various possible contributors to these breaches.
Oct 3, 2013
Report
Rapid Acquisition and Fielding for Information Assurance and Cyber Security in the Navy
The U.S. Navy requires an agile, adaptable acquisition process that can field new IT capabilities and services quickly. A RAND study sought to identify ways to accommodate the unique acquisition demands of information technology and cyber programs.
Dec 21, 2012
Report
Methodologies in Analyzing the Root Causes of Nunn-McCurdy Breaches
Congressional concern with cost overruns in some major defense acquisition programs led to an investigation of root causes in six programs, enabling RAND to develop a methodology for carrying out such analyses.
Sep 27, 2012
Report
Root Cause Analyses of Nunn-McCurdy Breaches, Volume 2: Excalibur Artillery Projectile and the Navy Enterprise Resource Planning Program, with an Approach to Analyzing Complexity and Risk
Concern with cost overruns in major defense acquisition programs led Congress to direct investigation of root causes of programs that breached Nunn-McCurdy thresholds. RAND applied its methodology to Excalibur and the Navy's ERP.
Aug 27, 2012
Report
Root Cause Analyses of Nunn-McCurdy Breaches, Volume 1: Zumwalt-Class Destroyer, Joint Strike Fighter, Longbow Apache, and Wideband Global Satellite
Congressional concern with cost overruns in some major defense acquisition programs led to an investigation of root causes by examining program reviews, analyzing data, participating in contractor briefings, and holding meetings with stakeholders.
Nov 7, 2011
Report
Are Ships Different? Policies and Procedures for the Acquisition of Ship Programs
The policies and procedures established by the Department of Defense for program management and oversight can be tailored to meet the unique needs of ship acquisition programs without compromising oversight.
Nov 3, 2011
Journal Article
Identifying Urban Flashpoints: A Delphi-Derived Model for Scoring Cities' Vulnerability to Large-Scale Unrest
This article presents a method for the assessment of cities' vulnerability to large-scale urban unrest. Results include a tool that will allow users to rank cities on their vulnerability to large-scale urban unrest.
2008
Report
Measuring the Statutory and Regulatory Constraints on Department of Defense Acquisition: An Empirical Analysis
Contrary to widespread perceptions, program office personnel do not spend inordinate amounts of time on statutory and regulatory compliance activities.
Jul 23, 2007
Report
Measuring the Statutory and Regulatory Constraints on DoD Acquisition: Research Design for an Empirical Study
This report describes the research methodology, focus, and data collection processes of a study of the cost of compliance with acquisition-related statutes and regulations incurred by major weapon system programs at the program office level.
Jul 19, 2006