SD-2 Dod Acquisitions Buying Commercial Items And Nondevelopmental ItemsThis document offers guidance on acquisitions involving all types of commercial and nondevelopmental items: systems, subsystems, assemblies, parts, and items of supply. Commercial services are also addressed.This document does not present a “cookbook” approach to the acquisition of commercial and nondevelopmental items; such an approach could not accommodate the vast array of potential applications. It does offer lessons learned and things to consider when participating on an integrated product team.

Pages 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 32 - 33 - 34 - 35 - 36 - 37 - 38 - 39 - 40 - 41 - 42 - 43 - 44 - 45 - 46 - 47 - 48 - 49 - 50 - 51 - 52 - 53 - 54 - 55 - 56 - 57 - 58 - 59 - 60 - 61 - 62 - 63 - 64

An NDI is a product that was developed exclusively for governmental purposes. According to Part 2 of the FAR, NDIs include the following:

•  Defense products previously developed by U.S. military services or defense agencies of U.S. allies and used exclusively for governmental purposes by Federal agencies, state or local governments, or a foreign government. For example, the mechanical dereefer (a mechanism for releasing parachute reefing lines) used with the U.S. Army's cargo parachutes was developed for and first used by the Canadian Army. Another example is the use by the other U.S. military services of trucks developed by the Army.

•  Items that require only minor modifications to meet the requirements of the procuring agency. For example, the Army's M-119 Howitzer was a modified version of the British Light Gun.

•  Products fully developed and in production, but not yet sold and in use. Use of such items enables DoD to capture the latest product developments and new technology, but they also pose some risk because they do not have a performance history.

Another type of NDI, which is not explicitly addressed in the FAR, is a unique system created by integrating NDI subsystems and components. Some development, such as software necessary for subsystems and components to work together, may be involved to ensure that the unique system functions as required. Any development required for integration should be managed through a developmental acquisition strategy.

Why Use Commercial and Nondevelopmental Items? The potential benefits to DoD from the use of commercial products and NDIs to meet requirements have grown in number and significance as the defense environment has changed.

Among the key benefits are

•  access to the latest technology,

•  faster delivery,

•  lower prices,

•  integration of the defense and commercial industrial bases,

•  access to commercial support services, and

•  elimination of the need to fund the development and support of unique items.

Perhaps the most important benefit that DoD receives from the use of commercial products and NDIs is access to the latest technology. In many of the technological areas significant for defense items, DoD no longer leads private industry in R&D and application. For example, in the fields of communications, electronics, and computers, the pace of technological evolution resulting from high commercial demand outstrips the capabilities of any government R&D program.

Source:  https://assist.dla.mil  --  Downloaded: 

4                                  Check  the  source  to  verify  that  this  is  the  current  version  before  use.