Summary: This report examines the Defense Department's (DOD) programs to develop improved chemical defense garment materials for U.S. armed forces to determine whether the programs were conducted fairly. A company claims that it did not have an opportunity to submit an improved material for evaluation and that requirements changed in the transition from the Marine Corps Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology Program to the Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology Program. GAO discusses whether, in the research and development context, DOD (1) provided enough notice to industry of the government's interest in identifying improved chemical defense materials, (2) provided industry enough opportunity to participate in the programs, and (3) changed requirements in the transition from the Marine Corps to the Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology Programs. GAO also discusses DOD's response to a recent congressional reporting requirement concerning sources of supply for the military's chemical defense materials.
