An Analysis of the Procurement Methods Employed by the Department of the Air Force in Supporting Basic Research at Educational Institutions

摘要

Conclusions: Policies and procedures established in the past for an essentially supply-oriented procurement system are largely inappropriate for use in research. It is difficult to understand why universities should be penalized by having to absorb indirect costs for research which is conducted in the interest of national security. To defend the limitation of the basis that grants to educational institutions are no more than Federal aid to education is unsound. Such activity is certainly not a part of the mission of the Department of Defense. The grant is considered as merely another procurement tool to be used with discretion in lieu of the contract if such use is in consonance with objectives. Except for the instances which do not result in economic loss, the agencies of the Department of Defense are in the same position as they were prior to passage of Public Law 85-934. The grant is not a suitable instrument for establishing a sound business relationship between the Government and the universities. Although it has been used successfully by such agencies as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, the mission of each of these agencies is different from that of the DOD. However, the contract, when used for a basic research study, also does not provide an appropriate relationship.