Defense Department policies that address the acquisition of technical data remain ambiguous and difficult to implement, according to a Government Accountability Office report (.pdf) dated May 2011 but released publicly June 10.

But before year end DoD plans to update acquisition strategies and acquisition plans to clarify "the level and type of detail required for acquiring technical data and technical data rights," said a DoD official in response to the GAO findings.

The DoD will also, before 2012, issue instructions for program managers on conducting business case analyses in order to determine the levels and types of technical data and technical data rights needed to sustain their systems. The instruction will "identify the elements to be included in the analyses and the types of information to be documented in reports on the analyses," said Shay D. Assad, director of Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy in a written response.

Technical data that accompanies DoD weapon systems can enable the sustainability and competitive procurement of parts and services for those systems, but can cost up to $1 billion, say report authors. Until now, DoD has done little to assist acquisition managers' decisions on whether or not to purchase technical data and technical-data rights along with purchased systems. The report cites several instances when programs at the service branches ran over budget due to limited technical data rights.

The procurement and management of technical data rights have been a focus of DoD for some time. In March, the department enacted an interim rule (.pdf) that allowed defense contractors access to technical data "for the sole purpose of furnishing independent and impartial advice or technical assistance directly to the government in support of the government's management and oversight of a program," so long as the contractor meets certain conditions.

For more:
- see GAO-11-469 (.pdf)

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