Military Specifications, Standards and Related Publications

Defense Standardization Program (DSP). DoD policy is to promote standardization of materiel, facilities, and engineering practices to improve military operational readiness, reduce total ownership costs, and reduce acquisition cycle time. It is also DoD policy to state requirements in performance terms, wherever practical, and to make maximum use of non-Government standards and commercial technologies, products, and practices. To pursue these policies, there is a single, integrated Defense Standardization Program (DSP) and a uniform series of specifications, standards, and related documents.  The DSP is chartered by DoD Instruction 4120.24, Defense Standardization Program (DSP), which implements 10 USC 2451 and 2452. The Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) (USD(AT&L)) provides overall policy guidance and the Defense Standardization Program Office serves as the DoD Executive Agent for the DSP. The Director, Defense Logistics Agency, appoints the DoD Standardization Executive and publishes DoD 4120.24-M, Defense Standardization Program Policies and Procedures. The DoD Standardization Executive has authority over all functions of the DSP, chairs the Defense Standardization Council, and acts as the Standardization Executive for those DoD Components without a designated Standardization Executive. The current DoD Standardization Executive is the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Logistics Plans and Programs). The Defense Standardization Program Office (DSPO), supports the DoD Standardization Executive, carries out the day-to-day management of the DSP, and promulgates DSP policies and procedures. The DSPO chairs meetings with the Departmental Standardization Offices (DepSOs); acts as the Executive Secretariat for the Defense Standardization Council; and interacts with other federal agencies, defense treaty organizations, and non-government standards bodies on standards policy issues. One of the ways the DSPO interacts with other federal agencies is through its participation on the Interagency Committee on Standards Policy. The DSPO also funds selected projects to promote standardization throughout DoD.

 

Department of Defense Single Stock Point (DODSSP).Accessibility of standards can be an issue limiting transition to commercial items. The ability to quickly review military standards to compare to commercial documentation is essential so support personnel can readily determine if commercial items can be substituted for MIL SPECs. DoD has established an on-line service to permit rapid access to standardization documentation. The Department of Defense Single Stock Point (DODSSP) was created to centralize control, distribution, and access to the extensive collection of Military Specifications, Standards, and related standardization documents prepared by or adopted by the DoD. The responsibilities of the DODSSP include electronic document storage, indexing, cataloging, maintenance, publish-on-demand, distribution, and sale of Military Specifications, Standards, and related standardization documents and publications comprising the DODSSP Collection.

 

The DODSSP also maintains the Acquisition Streamlining and Standardization Information System (ASSIST) management/research database. The ASSIST-Online service is a robust, comprehensive web site with current information about military and Federal specifications and standards in the management of the Defense Standardization Program. ASSIST-Online provides public access to standardization documents over the Internet.  This DODSSP website, the ASSIST Online digital library, the ASSIST Quick Search (no password required), the ASSIST Shopping Wizard online ordering system, and the growing list of digital products are some of the steps they have taken in that direction. Although the DODSSP Active Collection contains over 40,000 line items, not all documents specified in Government procurements are included (e.g. engineering drawings, some Departmental documents, and a majority of all Non-Government / Industry Standards). Document Categories in the DODSSP collection include: