DOD 4120.24.pdf

DOD INSTRUCTION 4120.24

DEFENSE STANDARDIZATION PROGRAM

Originating Component: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering

Effective: March 31, 2022

Releasability: Cleared for public release. Available on the Directives Division Website at https://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/.

Reissues and Cancels: DoD Instruction 4120.24, “Defense Standardization Program,” July 13, 2011, as amended

Approved by: Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering

Purpose: In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive 5137.02, this issuance:

• Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for the Defense Standardization Program (DSP) pursuant to Sections 2451, 2452, and 2457 of Title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.).

• Establishes the charter for the Defense Standardization Council.

DoDI 4120.24, March 31, 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION

1.1. Applicability

1.2. Policy

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1. Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E))

2.2. USD(A&S)

2.3. Director, Defense Logistics Agency

2.4. DoD Component Heads

2.5. OSD and DoD Component Heads

SECTION 3: THE DEFENSE STANDARDIZATION COUNCIL CHARTER

3.1. Purpose

3.2. The Defense Standardization Council

GLOSSARY

G.1. Acronyms G.2. Definitions

REFERENCES

SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION 3

SECTION 1: GENERAL ISSUANCE INFORMATION

1.1. APPLICABILITY.

This issuance applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (referred to collectively in this issuance as the “DoD Components”).

1.2. POLICY.

It is DoD policy to:

a. Maintain a single, integrated DSP to promote standardization of materiel, information technology, facilities, and engineering practices in accordance with Sections 2305, 2451, 2452, and 2457 of Title 10, U.S.C.

b. Prefer the use of non-government standards to the maximum practicable extent instead of developing and maintaining government specifications and standards as required by Section 12(d) of Public Law 104-113, unless the specifications or standards fall under one of the exceptions specified therein.

c. Develop, maintain, and implement DoD specifications, standards, and other related defense standardization documents in accordance with DoD Manual (DoDM) 4120.24.

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 4

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1. UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING

(USD(R&E)).

In addition to the responsibilities in Paragraph 2.5., the USD(R&E):

a. Establishes DoD standardization policy.

b. Appoints an individual to serve as the DoD Standardization Executive, who will:

(1) Oversee the development and maintenance of DoDM 4120.24 in accordance with DoD Instruction (DoDI) 5025.01.

(2) Exercise authority over the functions of the DSP.

(3) Chair the Defense Standardization Council in accordance with Section 3.

(4) Serve as the Standardization Executive for those DoD Components without a designated standardization executive.

(5) Select the Director of the Defense Standardization Program Office (DSPO).

(6) Through the Director, DSPO:

(a) Prepare, maintain, and issue DSP policies, procedures, and guidance.

(b) Assign lead standardization activity responsibilities to DoD Components.

(c) Resolve interdepartmental standardization issues.

(d) Serve as vice-chair of the Defense Standardization Council.

(e) Interface with non-governmental standards bodies on standardization policy issues.

(f) Represent the DoD on the Interagency Committee on Standards Policy.

(g) Participate with multinational organizations and forums on standardization policy. Participation includes:

1. Providing subject matter expertise on standardization policy matters related to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Committee for Standardization in partnership with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)).

2. Engaging with allies and partners on standardization policy, procedures, and programs.

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 5

(h) Prescribes procedures for electronically indexing, distributing, and accessing standardization documents and maintains a registry of DoD standardization contacts.

c. Coordinates with the USD(A&S) on the use of military specifications and standards, commercial and non-government standards, and international standardization agreements consistent with Sections 2305, 2451, 2452, and 2457 of Title 10, U.S.C.; DoDI 2010.06; and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction 2700.01G.

d. Coordinates and exchanges information with OSD and DoD Component heads, Federal officials, and non-government standards bodies that have responsibilities and functions related to materiel standardization in accordance with DoDM 4120.24.

2.2. USD(A&S).

In addition to the responsibilities in Paragraph 2.5., the USD(A&S):

a. Directs all acquisition and sustainment program offices to implement DSP procedures in accordance with DoDM 4120.24.

b. Supports the implementation of DSP policy, procedures, and guidance in acquisition and contracting policy in accordance with DoD Directive 5135.02.

c. In coordination with the USD(R&E), confers on matters related to the development and implementation of international standardization agreements developed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other allies and partners in accordance with DoDI 2010.06 and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction 2700.01G.

d. Designates a senior official who will serve as a representative to the Defense Standardization Council.

2.3. DIRECTOR, DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY.

Under the authority, direction, and control of the USD(A&S), and in addition to the responsibilities in Paragraphs 2.4. and 2.5., the Director, Defense Logistics Agency, provides administrative and technical services and support to the DSPO including, but not limited to, ASSIST and cybersecurity support in accordance with DLA General Order 24-08.

2.4. DOD COMPONENT HEADS.

In addition to the responsibilities in Paragraph 2.5., the DoD Component heads:

a. Direct compliance with specifications and standards required by law, regulations, and international standardization agreements, as applicable.

SECTION 2: RESPONSIBILITIES 6

b. Require that necessary resources are provided to develop and maintain specifications, standards, other related standardization documents and execute policy and procedures in accordance with DoDM 4120.24.

c. Designate a senior official as the Component Standardization Executive who will:

(1) Serve as a member on the Defense Standardization Council as described in Section 3 of this issuance.

(2) Oversee the implementation of this issuance.

(3) Identify organizations within the DoD Component that are authorized to serve as one of the standardization management activity functions pursuant to DoDM 4120.24.

d. Require that Component personnel in an authorized standardization management activity have received the necessary training to carry out their functions.

e. Direct that canceled DSP documents are not cited in a solicitation or contract without a waiver for one-time use or a request for reinstatement of the document for recurring use in accordance with the procedures of the DoD Component.

2.5. OSD AND DOD COMPONENT HEADS

The OSD and DoD Component heads:

a. Require that materiel standardization, including that of information technology and facilities, be addressed throughout the acquisition process.

b. Require compliance with the DSP procedures in DoDM 4120.24.

c. Coordinate with the USD(R&E) on matters under their purview related to the responsibilities, functions, and authorities assigned to the USD(R&E) in this issuance.

SECTION 3: THE DEFENSE STANDARDIZATION COUNCIL CHARTER 7

SECTION 3: THE DEFENSE STANDARDIZATION COUNCIL CHARTER

3.1. PURPOSE.

This charter establishes the rules and procedures for the operation of the Defense Standardization Council. The Council provides senior management oversight and direction for implementing the DSP and other related initiatives.

3.2. THE DEFENSE STANDARDIZATION COUNCIL.

The Defense Standardization Council, established in accordance with DoDI 5105.18, is composed of: the DoD Standardization Executive; the Component Standardization Executives; a USD(A&S) designated representative; and the Director, DSPO. The DoD Standardization Executive will chair the Council meetings and the Director, DSPO, will be the vice-chair. Other DoD Components will be invited to participate in the Defense Standardization Council meetings on an ad hoc basis as the agenda warrants.

a. Operating Procedures:

(1) The Council will meet at the call of the Chair.

(2) The agenda will be furnished to the members in advance of each meeting.

(3) Minutes will be prepared and distributed to the members after each meeting.

b. The Chair will:

(1) Call and conduct Defense Standardization Council meetings.

(2) Assign tasks and projects to the DoD Components.

c. The Defense Standardization Council members will:

(1) Participate in Council activities.

(2) Recommend agenda items and Component issues to be considered by the Council.

(3) Require that the procedures and decisions of the Council are implemented by the DoD Components.

(4) Provide participants to serve on ad hoc working groups established by the Council.

d. The Defense Standardization Council will:

(1) Advise the USD(R&E) on the implementation of business improvement initiatives that relate to specifications and standards.

SECTION 3: THE DEFENSE STANDARDIZATION COUNCIL CHARTER 8

(2) Recommend policies to improve acquisition through the use of standardization, commercial and non-developmental items, acquisition streamlining, and other related functions.

(3) Identify goals and the resources necessary to accomplish the goals identified.

(4) Influence resource commitment decisions to implement the DSP.

(5) Support the development and use of interoperability standards for national and international use.

(6) Resolve issues that cannot be resolved at the Component level, and make recommendations to the USD(R&E).

(7) Establish ad hoc working groups, as required, to conduct studies or recommend solutions to problems.

(8) Coordinate with the USD(A&S) on the use and implementation of standardization throughout the acquisition life cycle.

GLOSSARY 9

GLOSSARY

G.1. ACRONYMS.

ACRONYM MEANING

DoDI DoD instruction DoDM DoD manual DSP Defense Standardization Program DSPO Defense Standardization Program Office

U.S.C. United States Code USD(A&S) Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment USD(R&E) Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering

G.2. DEFINITIONS.

These terms and their definitions are for the purpose of this issuance.

TERM DEFINITION

ASSIST The ASSIST, formerly known as Acquisition Streamlining and Standardization Information System, is a web-based application that serves as the DoD’s official source for standardization documents developed, maintained, and used by DoD. The ASSIST is a critical DoD application that houses requirements documents cited in defense acquisitions for the development, acquisition, and logistic support of systems and equipment used by the DoD. Through the ASSIST, the DoD is able to maintain centralized control over the indexing, cataloging, management, and distribution of standardization documents and related information in accordance with DoDM

4120.24. The ASSIST is located at https://assist.dla.mil.

non-government standard

A national or international standardization document developed by a private sector association, organization, or technical society that plans, develops, establishes, or coordinates standards, specifications, handbooks, or related documents. This term does not include standards of individual companies.

REFERENCES 10

REFERENCES

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction 2700.01G, “Rationalization, Standardization, and Interoperability (RSI) Activities,” February 11, 2019

Defense Logistics Agency General Order 24-08, July 2008 DoD Directive 5135.02, “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment

(USD(A&S)),” July 15, 2020 DoD Directive 5137.02, “Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering

(USD(R&E)),” July 15, 2020 DoD Instruction 2010.06, “Materiel Interoperability and Standardization with Allies and

Coalition Partners,” July 29, 2009, as amended DoD Instruction 5025.01, “DoD Issuances Program,” August 1, 2016, as amended DoD Instruction 5105.18, “DoD Intergovernmental and Intragovernmental Committee

Management Program,” July 10, 2009, as amended DoD Manual 4120.24, “Defense Standardization Program (DSP) Procedures,”

September 24, 2014, as amended Public Law 104-113, Section 12(d), “National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act,”

March 7, 1996 United States Code, Title 10

References