The Department of Defense (DoD) generally buys major weapon systems through the defense acquisition system, a process that is highly tailorable but still built around the assumption that the DoD will compensate suppliers for product development, contract through Federal Acquisition Regulations and be heavily involved in all aspects of the product life cycle. For some cutting edge commercial technologies, this process may not produce the optimum results.
This Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) and Commercial Services Community of Practice was created to disseminate information to Defense Acquisition Workforce personnel engaged in the acquisition of innovative, cutting-edge commercial technologies. This site is not intended for COTS items (e.g., furniture, office supplies) for which readily available market-based pricing exists. Nor is it intended for traditional major weapons systems acquisition that relies on traditional FAR Part 15 competitive source selection, or sole source acquisition requiring the analysis of certified cost or pricing data.
This site is intended to address those areas of technology where the commercial market place is moving faster than the normal acquisition timeline for complex weapon systems, and for which alternative methods of acquiring these technologies is necessary. Examples of these technologies include information technology, micro-electronics, some sensor technologies, some radio frequency devices and some software products. Acquisition of these technologies requires innovative solutions including FAR-based solutions such as rapid prototyping, milestone based competitions, challenge-based acquisitions, and agile transactions; and non-FAR based methods such as Other Transaction Authorities.
Our technological superiority is being challenged in extent not seen since the Cold War and in ways never envisioned in those days. It is imperitive for our technical and management professions to bring advanced technology to our warfighters. Recently the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering completed the Long Range Research and Development Planning Program descirbed on the Defense Innovation Marketplace. We must continue to to improve our workforce's technical and tactical ability and extract as much as possible from the Research and Development ongoing in our government labs and in the commecial sector and academic institutions.
Technical excellence and innovation is closely related to the Science and Technology Management Community of Practice.
