The next Jan. 23, 2025, Weapon Programs Acquisition: DOD Wants Higher Planning to Attain Advantages of Modular Open Programs.
From the report
A modular open methods method (MOSA) is a method that may assist the Division of Protection (DOD) design weapon methods that take much less money and time to maintain and improve. Latest laws requires acquisition applications to implement a MOSA to the utmost extent practicable. GAO discovered that 14 of the 20 applications it reviewed reported implementing a MOSA to not less than some extent. Different applications cited obstacles to doing so, comparable to added value and time to conduct associated design work. Whereas a MOSA has potential advantages, it might additionally require applications to conduct further planning, comparable to to make sure they deal with cybersecurity elements associated to a MOSA.
Nonetheless, not one of the 20 applications GAO reviewed performed a proper evaluation of prices and advantages for a MOSA as a result of DOD’s coverage doesn’t explicitly require one. As GAO reported in March 2020, program officers usually deal with decreasing acquisition time and prices. Except required to contemplate the prices and advantages of a MOSA, officers could overlook long-term MOSA advantages.
Additional, most applications didn’t deal with all key MOSA planning parts in acquisition paperwork, partially, as a result of the army departments didn’t take efficient steps to make sure they did so. Consequently, applications might not be well-positioned to combine a MOSA into key funding selections early within the lifetime of this system. Additionally, DOD’s course of for coordinating MOSAs throughout portfolios doesn’t guarantee the extent of collaboration wanted to realize potential advantages comparable to decrease prices from utilizing frequent parts throughout applications.
The army departments are statutorily required to make sure availability of sure sources and experience associated to MOSA implementation. Nonetheless, they’ve but to evaluate their departments’ MOSA wants or decide how sources must be aligned throughout their respective departments. Till they do that, applications threat having inadequate sources and experience to realize the potential advantages of a MOSA.
DOD has up to date some acquisition and engineering insurance policies and is drafting laws and steering to handle MOSAs. However gaps stay that might hinder MOSA implementation. For instance, DOD coverage doesn’t deal with how MOSA necessities apply to applications utilizing the center tier of acquisition pathway—these intending to finish fast prototyping or fielding in 5 years or much less.
Why GAO Did This Research
A MOSA allows weapon applications to raised reply to altering threats by permitting them to switch parts extra simply. Additional, a MOSA will help deal with issues like excessive weapon system sustainment prices that GAO has reported on.
Home and Senate reviews embrace provisions for GAO to assessment DOD’s use of MOSAs. This report assesses the extent to which (1) applications applied MOSAs and why; (2) applications and portfolios deliberate for MOSAs; (3) the army departments invested in needed sources for MOSAs; and (4) DOD developed coverage, laws, and steering for MOSAs.
GAO reviewed planning paperwork for 20 acquisition applications that began after related legal guidelines have been handed in 2016. GAO chosen the applications primarily based on their acquisition method and army service. GAO additionally reviewed coverage and steering paperwork and interviewed DOD and army division officers.
What GAO Recommends
GAO is making 14 suggestions to DOD, together with that it develop a course of to investigate MOSA prices and advantages; enhance army division processes for guaranteeing high quality MOSA planning paperwork and for coordinating MOSA implementation throughout applications; and deal with gaps in MOSA coverage and steering. DOD concurred with these suggestions.
Obtain the doc right here.
