There has been a drumbeat criticizing defense acquisition: its complicated, too slow, and too process driven.
But the DFARS’ stated purpose is neither complicated nor ambiguous.
It is remarkably clear and effective on what the acquisition system is supposed to accomplish.
Taking decades of legislation and policy, tying it to the executive branch’s and Congress’ duties, the DFARS boils it down to a single idea:
The defense acquisition system exists to manage U.S. investments in technologies, programs, and products needed to execute the National Security Strategy and support the military. (DFARS 201.101)
The DFARS big picture is not just about contracting it is about the tactics for turning national security strategy into military capability. The regulations, reviews, approvals, and oversight mechanisms exist to support that mission.
Acquisition Starts With Strategy
- The National Security Act of 1947 directs that the President develop and deliver a National Security Strategy to Congress.
- Congress uses this strategy to determine needed DoD capabilities driving acquisitions.
- The acquisition system then converts the national security objectives and congressional mandates into operational capability.
The Acquisition Process Executes the Strategy
The DFARS defines how acquisitions execute this strategy:
- Support today’s military while preparing for tomorrow’s.
- Acquire quality products and services that meet operational needs.
- Deliver measurable improvements in mission effectiveness.
- Sustain operational readiness.
- Obtain capabilities at fair and reasonable prices.
The Policy and Legal Scaffolding To Sustain
The policy and legal scaffolding that supports the DFARS of today looks like this:
- National Security Act § 108 (Annual National Security Strategy, 50 U.S.C. 3043): Congress requires that the President develop and submits a National Security Strategy to Congress when the President submits the budget for the next fiscal year. By this law, the National Security Strategy must include a “comprehensive” discussion on:
- “The worldwide interests, goals, and objectives of the United States that are vital to the national security of the United States.”
- Foreign policy, global commitments, and national defense capabilities of needed to deter aggression and to implement the national security strategy.
- proposed short and long term “political, economic, military, and other elements” of S. national power “to protect or promote the interests and achieve the goals and objectives” of the strategy.
- How adequate U.S. capabilities are to execute the strategy
- Any other information Congress needs to develop a budget and authorizations to execute the strategy.
- Defense Acquisition System; Element of the Defense Acquisition System 10 U.S.C. § 3001: Congress defines the purpose of the defense acquisition enterprise to include supporting the National Security Strategy.
- DoD acquisition regulations: As explained in the DFARS 101 purpose statement: the DFARS connects the national security strategy to DoD investment decisions to achieve the objectives of the strategy. Together, the FAR, DFARS, DoDI 5500 series, and component procedures define the rules for acquisitions.
Together these requirements define how DoD must buy and sustain defense capabilities.
Why This Matters:
- Map your capabilities to the mission. It is your purpose to support national security and defense – show how you have the capabilities to support today’s military while preparing for tomorrow’s.
- Be fluent in DFARS speak. The DFARS demands measurable improvements in mission effectiveness and sustained operational readiness.
- Tie your capabilities to strategy. Congress funds capabilities that execute the National Security Strategy. Show where you fit in.
- Deliver at a fair and reasonable price. Know your costs and build a fair price, that is profit margin off those costs – the DFARS requires that. Price like it matters, because it does.
The DFARS feel bureaucratic and useless slowing the buy and adding complexity but stripping away the criticisms, regulations, reviews, and procedures leaves the simple purpose of the DFARS: turn national security strategy into military capability.
The DFARS has not lost sight of that mission. Sell to the mission.
