Top 10 recommendations from the 809 Panel report, according to NDIA

ARLINGTON, VA – The policy division at the National Defense Industrial Association has selected its top 10 recommendations from the Section 809 Panel Volume 3 report, which the nonprofit association representing the defense industrial base feels are the best steps forward to improving the defense acquisition system.

Corbin Evans, NDIA’s director of regulatory policy, compiled the list after sifting through the report, more than 500 pages released Jan. 15. The panel issued nearly 100 recommendations over its three volumes of work since beginning in 2016. This latest report gave nearly 60 recommendations alone. 

“The recommendations we chose, to us, hold the greatest promise to doing business better with the Department of Defense,” Evans said. “Quick implementation of these particular practices would show change in acquisitions nearly immediately.”

NDIA is most interested in the proposals that involve passing defense appropriations on time each year, making advanced payments to small businesses, and better communications with industry about what the defense needs are and how industry can quickly meet them. NDIA has long championed what it calls budget stability and advocates for regular passage of yearly defense budgets. Also, small businesses make up about 75 percent of NDIA’s 1,700 corporate members.

The top 10 list and a link to the full report can be found here. NDIA will continue the conversation on the report and recommendations during its 809 Panel Industry Day Conference, Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Covington and Burling LLP in Washington. Ellen Lord, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, will be the keynote speaker. Media are welcome to cover this event. For more information and to register, click here.

Evans called this thorough study of the defense acquisition process “encouraging.”

“The immense amount of time and effort in this shows the desire on many fronts for a better system for the Defense Department and for federal contractors to work together and get needed products up and working sooner,” he said. “It’s obvious how important everyone feels this is by the sheer volume of work.”

For more information or to speak to Evans, contact Evamarie Socha at esocha@ndia.org or (703) 247-2579.