DEFENSE PRIORITY RATINGS: KNOW THE RULES

摘要

From the time a Department of Defense (DoD) program lands on the classified "secret" document known as the Master Urgency List (MUL), most orders placed to complete that program will have a priority rating. Most contractors and subcontractors who deal with these orders must therefore have a working understanding of the rules that govern them. Rated orders were born out of the War Powers Act and Defense Production Act (DPA), but whether the United States is at peacetime or engaged in military action, rated orders deserve the utmost attention of the companies who handle them. Federal regulations govern the whole business of defense priority ratings, and they can be difficult to interpret. Misinterpretations by contractors and subcontractors alike can have unfortunate consequences for both parties. This article provides a synopsis of the priority ratings rules so that contractors and subcontractors may better understand how to process rated orders.