Options for Strengthening the Use of Defense Production Act Title VII : Acquisition Innovation Research Center , February 16 , 2025
Options for Strengthening the Use of Defense Production Act Title VII : Acquisition Innovation Research Center , February 16 , 2025
From the report: "The objective of this innovation project was to explore options for using Sections 708 and 710 of Defense Production Act (DPA) Title VII to strengthen the ability of the Department of Defense (DoD) and the defense industrial base to prepare for major conflict while possibly achieving peacetime benefits. The DPA is a U.S. federal law enacted in 1950 which grants the President broad authorities for influencing and incorporating domestic industrial capacities to support national defense needs. George Mason University’s Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting examined past and potential future uses of DPA Title VII, Sections 708 (50 U.S.C. § 4558) and 710 (50 U.S.C. § 4560). These sections respectively outline authorities for the use of voluntary agreements and a National Defense Executive Reserve (NDER). These two sections could be used to facilitate advanced planning and coordination with industry, but are they employed much less frequently than other DPA authorities.
The research focused on assessing Sections 708 and 710’s mechanisms for use and activation, their structures and processes, and their benefits and challenges. This report provides several overall findings for each section, as well as recommendations for increasing the use of voluntary agreements and the NDER. By design, this innovation project had a very short period of performance. As a result, these recommendations are directional in nature and require follow-on analysis and actions to facilitate implementation. Overall, though, these DPA Title VII authorities have significant implications for DoD as well as the broader Executive Branch."
Authors - McGinn, Jerry, Letts, OliviaRelated Resources
