Acquisition data underpin the management and oversight of the U.S. defense acquisition portfolio. However, balancing security and transparency has been an ongoing challenge. Some acquisition professionals are not getting the data they need to perform their assigned duties or are not getting the data and information in an efficient manner. To help guide the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) in addressing these problems, the RAND Corporation identified access problems at the OSD level -- including those organizations that require access to data and information to support OSD, such as analytic support federally funded research and development centers and direct support contractors -- and evaluated the role of policy in determining access. The study also involved a limited review of how data are shared between OSD and the military departments. Issues with Access to Acquisition Data and Information in the Department of Defense finds that the process for gaining access to data is inefficient and may not provide access to the best data to support analysis, and that OSD analytic groups and support contractors face particular challenges in gaining access to data. Given the inherent complexity in securing data and sharing data, any solutions to problems associated with data sharing must be well thought out to avoid the multitude of unintended consequences that could arise.

"Rand National Defense Research Institute." "Prepared for the Office of the Secretary of Defense." "Approved for public release; distribution unlimited."

[Main document] : Policy and Practice : Introduction -- The policy landscape -- Practical issues and challenges to sharing acquisition data -- Proprietary data: a case study -- Conclusions and options -- Appendix A. DoD policies affecting data sharing -- Appendix B. Discussions with OSD -- Appendix C. Central repository case studies -- Appendix D. Technical data rights ; [Executive summary] : Initial steps DOD can take to fix access problems : Options for improving data sharing -- Options to address the problem of proprietary data access -- Options to address policy confusion ; How this study was done : The policy landscape -- Markings -- FOUO -- Other common markings ; Practical issues and challenges to sharing acquisition data : Costs of restricting information -- Problems accessing data -- OSD functional and subject-matter experts -- OSD OIPT or DAB review offices -- OSD Analysis Offices ; Case study : Problems accessing centralized data depositories : Problems identified by interviewees ; Case study : Proprietary data : What is proprietary information? -- What legal and regulatory regimes govern proprietary information? Situations that cause problems for those relying on proprietary information ; Conclusions.