Summary: The Defense Department (DOD) is now acquiring the transmission services and switching technology needed to construct its future telecommunications network known as the Defense Information System Network (DISN). DOD's strategy for the network involves acquiring and implementing DISN transmission and switching services across three regions: the continental United States, the Pacific, and Europe. These long-haul services will, in turn, interconnect DOD's base-level and deployed communications networks. This report reviews the steps DOD has taken in selecting and implementing its acquisition strategy for DISN in the continental United States, which DOD is focusing on first. GAO discusses whether (1) DOD considered other approaches, such as use of an integrated bid, in its selection of an acquisition strategy and (2) the selected acquisition strategy will yield the best value to the government over DISN's life-cycle. GAO also examines the performance measures that DOD managers are using or plan to use to objectively evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of their DISN implementation efforts.
