Summary: The Defense Department (DOD) launched the Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration Program in 1994 in response to the recommendations of the 1986 Packard Commission and a 1991 Defense Science Board study. The program is intended to determine the extent to which a given mature technology will improve military capabilities before entering the normal acquisition process and, by using mature technology, will reduce the length of time to develop and acquire weapons systems. The Packard Commission concluded that defense acquisition could be improved significantly by emulating the practices of successful commercial companies. Accordingly, the Commission recommended building and testing prototypes to assess military utility and provide a basis for realistic cost estimates before committing to acquisition. The Defense Science Board study discussed the need for early dialogue between the potential system's user and producer for a proper analysis of costs, risks, and operational capability. This report discusses whether (1) the program's selection process includes criteria that are adequate to ensure that only mature technologies are chosen for prototypes and (2) guidance on transitioning to the normal acquisition process ensures that a prototype appropriately completes product and concept development and testing before entering production. GAO also assess DOD's current practice of procuring more prototypes than needed to assess the military utility of a mature technology.
