See figure  1. DOD has proposed reducing  how long it takes to award contracts. For example, the Air Force limits its scope to  discrete contract value ranges while the other components include  broader dollar ranges. The components also use different starting points  to measure the time frames. Beginning with new contracts awarded in fiscal year 2014, the Air  Force collected information on sole-source contracts between $50  million and $500 million. DOD Has Proposed Reducing the Length of Time to Award Contracts but Does Not Yet Have a Strategy for Assessing the Information Components Collect

According to Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy officials, DOD  is taking steps to address its concerns about the time to issue sole-source  contract awards for major weapon systems. The time intervals from solicitation to award ranged  from less than a month to more than 4 years, with a median of about 9  months. We did not  observe any patterns based on these characteristics. We found a  wide range of time intervals based on contract type. Survey Respondents Identified Several Factors Affecting the Time Frame for Awarding Contracts

The results of our survey of contracting officials for 37 contracts showed  that contracting officials cited a number of factors—such as the quality of  the proposal—that helped reduce or increase the time to award the  selected contracts. DOD contracting officials cited the decision to make the award an office  priority and contractor responsiveness as factors helping to decrease the  overall time. Having a DOD-wide strategy could enable  DOD to consistently and comprehensively track contract award time,  assess the factors contributing to this time, leverage the various efforts  that the components have taken, identify any best practices, and measure  progress toward any goals for reducing the time to award contracts. Recommendation for Executive Action

We recommend that the Secretary of Defense direct the Director,  Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy to develop a strategy  regarding contract award time frames that identifies:  the information the department needs to collect; and how the department will use the information to assess the time it takes  to award contracts. DOD concurred  with the recommendation. This report examines (1) the Department of  Defense’s (DOD) efforts to determine the time it takes to award weapon  systems contracts; (2) what available data show regarding the time  between solicitation issuance and award for selected weapon systems- related contracts; and (3) factors identified as contributing to contract  award time frames. To determine the extent DOD components (Air Force, Army, Navy and  the Defense Logistics Agency) collected and analyzed data and how they  are managing the time from solicitation issuance to contract award, we  analyzed relevant documentation, such as monthly or quarterly  management reviews and briefings. We selected the components  based on the highest total number of contracts and highest total contract  value. Identifying Weapon Systems-Related Contracts

To understand the length of time taken to award DOD weapon systems- related contracts, and how contract value, extent competed, and contract  type relate to that time, we analyzed contract data for a nongeneralizable  sample of weapon systems-related contracts from the Federal  Procurement Data System-Next Generation (FPDS-NG).
Why GAO Did This Study

DOD's contracting process is designed to protect taxpayers' interests, among other things, and can take time. DOD leadership and contractors have expressed concern about the length of time to award contracts and DOD has proposed reducing that time.
GAO was asked to evaluate the length of time to award weapon systems contracts. This report examines (1) DOD's efforts to determine the time it takes to award contracts; (2) data on the time interval from solicitation to contract award for selected contracts; and (3) factors identified as contributing to contract award time frames.
GAO used the Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation to identify new weapon systems-related contracts awarded in fiscal years 2014 through 2016, valued over $5 million, among other factors. GAO selected a nongeneralizable sample of 129 contracts at four DOD components with the highest total dollar value and highest number of contracts from those fiscal years for further analysis. GAO analyzed contract documentation and surveyed contracting officials on a subset of contracts to determine the factors affecting the time between solicitation issuance and award.

What GAO Found

Although the Department of Defense (DOD) has proposed reducing the time it takes to award contracts related to weapon systems, the department has a limited understanding of how long it currently takes and therefore lacks a baseline to measure success. The DOD components GAO reviewed—Air Force, Army, Defense Logistics Agency, and Navy—collect data on their time frames for awarding contracts. However, they do so in different ways in the absence of a DOD-wide strategy for what information should be collected. For example, the Air Force measures the time to award beginning with solicitation issuance, while the other components use a different starting point. As a result, information the components collect is not comparable and is of limited use for understanding contract award time frames department-wide. Determining what information is needed to monitor time taken to award contracts consistently across components should help DOD assess its progress toward reducing the time.
GAO analyzed the time from solicitation issuance to award for 129 weapon systems-related contracts and found it ranged from less than a month to over 4 years. Although some DOD and industry officials stated that contract value could affect contract award time frames, GAO observed a wide range of time intervals and did not observe any patterns based on this characteristic. (See figure below.)
According to DOD contracting officials GAO surveyed, factors that can help reduce—or, alternatively lengthen—the time between when a solicitation is issued to when a contract is awarded include a decision to make the contract award an office priority and how quickly contractors respond to requests for additional information after initial proposals are received.

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends that DOD develop a strategy that identifies the information it needs to collect and how it will use the information to assess contract award time frames. DOD concurred.