9. Other Ways to Meet Shortages

Comment: While acknowledging DoD's critical need for armor steel plate for MRAP vehicles, a number of respondents suggested that DoD could have used other exceptions in the law, such as the domestic nonavailability exception or national security waiver to procure armor steel plate or use of the Defense Priorities and Allocation System (DPAS) to meet demands through domestic production.

DoD Response: The Defense Priorities and Allocation System is designed to provide priority production and shipment for ongoing production lines, but it does not increase overall production capacity when urgently needed. At the time of issuance of the final DFARS rule under DFARS Case 2008-D003, DoD considered the options of processing a domestic nonavailability determination or a national security exception, but found both options to be unsuitable (see 74 FR 37631).