Memorandum for Departmental Standardization Offices (DepSO)

Subject:  Policy Memo 98-7, DoD-Prepared Federal Specifications

    One of the goals of MilSpec Reform is to replace detailed government specifications with performance and commercial specifications, wherever it makes good business sense to do so. So far, we have concentrated on replacing detailed military specifications, but federal specifications need to be included as well. DoD-prepared federal specifications require one of the following actions:

• Cancel the document because it is no longer needed for procurement.
• Inactivate for new design because it is needed to support existing equipment, but will not be used in new designs in the future.
• Replace with a non-government standard (NGS), commercial item description (CID), or other appropriate document.

    These actions require initiation of a standardization project and should be fully coordinated with DoD and industry users, as well as the General Services Administration (GSA) and any other interested government agencies, following the procedures in DoD 4120.3-M. For convenience, we have attached a list of DoD-prepared federal specifications. Any Standardization Management Activity (SMA) that is incorrectly listed as the preparing activity should submit a DD Form 1865 to the DoD Single Stock Point to correct the index.

    In a few cases, there may be valid rationale for retaining a federal specification as an active document. Cognizant DepSO concurrence is required, and should be forwarded to this office. The attached guidance describes when it may be acceptable to retain a federal specification, and when a NGS or CID would be appropriate.

    Any DoD-prepared federal specification for which one of the above actions has not been taken by the end of calendar year 2000 will be canceled automatically. This review applies only to DoD-prepared federal specifications, and not to other types of federal documents, such as CIDs, Federal Information Processing Standards, or federal specifications prepared by civilian federal agencies.

    We appreciate your cooperation in this matter. If you have any questions, please contact Steve Lowell on DSN 761-9338 or 703/681-9338.

Gregory E. Saunders
Director

August 11, 1998

Guidance on Whether to Replace or Retain a Federal Specification