Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act (2009)

Congress passed the Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 to improve the way the Defense Department buys major weapons systems.

Back to Timeline: Congress crafts acquisition policy.

Congress passed the Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 to improve the way the Defense Department buys major weapons systems.

This came about because the Government Accountability Office had found many of the major weapons systems DoD had contracted for had come in over cost and behind schedule and were not performing as promised.

“It focused on some upfront cost assessments and made sure there was a framework in place at the Department of Defense to honest and reliable cost estimates before the department committed to specific program,” said William Woods, director of acquisition and sourcing management at the Government Accountability Office.

The act also had requirements for technological evolution of programs.

“Before the department and Congress committed significant funds to major systems, we had to be sure that the technology was mature and reliable,” Woods said. “We’re no longer relying on just contractor estimates.”

As a result of this act, DoD has been able to enhance its internal capability to provide realistic and reliable cost estimates.

This story is part of Timeline: Congress crafts acquisition policy.

QUICK LINKS:

Inside the World’s Biggest Buyer (Main Page)

Acquisition bill tracker

Part 1: Agency Acquisition

Part 2: Acquisition Workforce

Part 3: Acquisition Oversight

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