DCMA Guidance Fails to Address Uncertainty in IR&D Cost Allowability

Recent Defense Contract Management Agency guidance directs contracting officers to refer contractors’ requests for information concerning their points of contact for technical interchange purposes to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Research and Engineering) or their “buying commands.” While appearing relatively unobjectionable, the guidance fails to address that contractors have been reaching out to OASD R&D and requesting technical interchanges, but have not been receiving responses.