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.