Chemical and Biological Defense: DOD Needs Consistent Policies and Clear Processes to Address the Survivability of Weapon Systems Against Chemical and Biological Threats

United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2006-04-28 monographic deposited born digital 33 p. GA 1.13:GAO-06-592 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-592 P0b002ee1803845ff f:d06592 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-592 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-592 GAO-06-592 Biological research Biological warfare Chemical research Chemical warfare Databases Defense capabilities Defense contingency planning Defense procurement Internal controls Operational testing Weapons research and development Weapons systems Other Written Product A52800 Chemical and Biological Defense: DOD Needs Consistent Policies and Clear Processes to Address the Survivability of Weapon Systems Against Chemical and Biological Threats The possibility that an adversary may use chemical or biological weapons against U.S. forces makes it important for a weapon system to be able to survive such attacks. In the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005, Congress mandated that the Department of Defense submit a plan to address weapon system chemical and biological survivability by February 28, 2005. This plan was to include developing a centralized database with information about the effects of chemical and biological agents on materials used in weapon systems. DOD did not submit its plan as mandated. GAO was asked to evaluate (1) the extent to which DOD addresses weapon system chemical and biological survivability during the acquisition process, and (2) DOD's internal controls for maintaining a comprehensive database that includes chemical and biological survivability research and test data for weapon system design and development. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-592/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-592.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-592/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-592.pdf GAO-06-592 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-592 Other Written Product GAO-06-592; Chemical and Biological Defense: DOD Needs Consistent Policies and Clear Processes to Address the Survivability of Weapon Systems Against Chemical and Biological Threats; Biological research Biological warfare Chemical research Chemical warfare Databases Defense capabilities Defense contingency planning Defense procurement Internal controls Operational testing Weapons research and development Weapons systems