Independent Research and Development Technical Descriptions (DFARS Case 2010-D011)

Summary:

DCN 20120130 includes a as final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to require major contractors to report independent research and development (IR&D) projects.

Supplementary Information:

I.  Background

DoD published a proposed rule at 76 FR 11414 on March 2, 2011, to revise requirements for reporting IR&D projects to the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC). Beginning in the 1990s, DoD reduced its technical exchanges with industry, in part to ensure independence of IR&D. The result has been a loss of linkage between funding and technological purpose. The reporting requirements of this rule, issued in accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2372, will provide in-process information from IR&D projects, for which reimbursement, as an allowable indirect cost, is sought from DoD, to increase effectiveness by providing visibility into the technical content of industry IR&D activities to meet DoD needs and promote the technical prowess of our industry. Without the collection of this information, DoD will be unable to maximize the value of the IR&D funds it disburses without infringing on the independence of contractors to choose which technologies to pursue in IR&D programs. The public comment period closed May 2, 2011. Four respondents submitted comments on the proposed rule. A discussion of the comments is provided in Section II.

II. Discussion and Analysis

DoD reviewed the public comments in the development of the final rule. A discussion of the comments and the changes made to the rule as a result of those comments are provided here.

Dates:

The Effective Date for this final rule is 30 January 2012.

Click here to read the entire Federal Register notice for this rule.