DOD Acquisition

The Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act, seeking to professionalize the Pentagon's acquisition workforce, imposes education, training, and experience requirements. The act allows DOD to waive qualification requirements for program managers and other acquisition personnel. During fiscal year 1993, the military granted a total of 30 waivers for 26 persons--three fewer than in the previous year. No waivers were granted for contracting officers. Significant differences exist, however, between the fiscal year 1992 and 1993 waivers. Compared to fiscal year 1992, the documentation supporting the waivers contained less information on the unusual circumstance or the individuals' qualifications that obviated the need to meet the standards. However, the Director of Acquisition Education, Training, and Career Development said that his office reviews the documentation to ensure compliance with the act.

GAO found that: (1) the military services granted 30 waivers for 26 program managers during fiscal year (FY) 1993; (2) the military services granted 10 waivers for individuals who lacked the required program management course, 4 waivers for individuals who lacked the required acquisition experience, and 16 waivers for individuals who did not meet the tenure requirement; (3) most of the individuals that received waivers were military personnel; (4) DOD agencies did not grant any waivers in FY 1992 and FY 1993; (5) more tenure and fewer program management course waivers were granted, more field grade officers received waivers than general officers, and the waivers were more evenly distributed among the services in FY 1993; (6) the documentation to support the FY 1993 waivers contained less information than FY 1992 documentation concerning the educational and experience qualifications of the individuals that received waivers; and (7) DOD reviewed the waiver documentation to ensure compliance with the act.