| Description |
1 online resource (ii, 43 p.) |
| Note |
Title from PDF title screen (viewed Feb. 8, 2012). |
|
"February 2012." |
| Summary |
With the nation facing fiscal challenges and the potential for tighter defense budgets, Congress and the Department of Defense (DOD) have placed more attention on controlling the billions of dollars spent annually on weapon system operating and support (O&S) costs. These costs include, costs for repair parts, maintenance, and personnel, and account for about 70 percent of the total costs of a weapon system over its life cycle. The selected acquisition report (SAR) is DOD's key recurring status report on the cost, schedule, and performance of major defense acquisition programs and is intended to provide authoritative information for congressional oversight of these programs. Oversight of O&S costs is important because many of the key decisions affecting these life-cycle costs are made during the acquisition process. GAO reviewed weapon system O&S cost estimates that DOD submits in the SAR. Specifically, GAO determined the extent to which the SARs provide consistent and reliable O&S cost estimate information that enables effective oversight of these weapon system costs. To conduct its review, GAO analyzed SAR data for 84 major systems that submitted O&S cost estimates in the 2010 SAR and selected a nonprobability sample of 15 systems for more in-depth review. To enhance visibility of weapon system O&S costs during acquisition, GAO recommends that DOD improve its guidance to program offices on cost reporting and also improve its process for reviewing these costs prior to final submission of the SAR to Congress. DOD concurred with GAO's recommendations. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Note |
"GAO-12-340." |
| Subject |
United States. Department of Defense -- Rules and practice -- Evaluation.
|
|
United States -- Armed Forces -- Weapons systems -- Maintenance and repair -- Costs.
|
| Added Author |
Russell, Cary B.
|
|
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Armed Services. Subcommittee on Readiness.
|
| Added Title |
Defense logistics : improvements needed to enhance oversight of estimated long term costs for operating and supporting major weapon systems |
|
Improvements needed to enhance oversight of estimated long-term costs for operating and supporting major weapon systems |
| Gpo Item No. |
0546-D (online) |
| Sudoc No. |
GA 1.13:GAO-12-340 |
|
