SORT: 3201.03
DOCI: DODI 3201.3
DATE: 19810331
TITL: DODI 3201.3 DoD Research and Development Laboratories, March 31,
1981, USDR&E
References: (a) DoD Directive 3201.1, "Management of DoD Research
and Development Laboratories," March 9, 1981
(b) Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Research
and Engineering) Report, "Required In-house
Capabilities for Department of Defense Research,
Development, Test and Evaluation," October 1, 1980
(c) Report of the DoD Laboratory Management Task Force,
July 1980 (NOTE: Available from the Office of the
Under Secretary of Defense for Research and
Engineering (Research and Advanced Technology END
NOTE)
A. PURPOSE
This Instruction supplements references (a) and (b) by
amplifying the long-term goals and objectives of DoD research and
development (R&D) laboratories
B. APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE
1. The provisions of this Instruction apply to the Office of
the Secretary of Defense and the Military Departments (hereafter
called "DoD Components").
2. Its provisions encompass those Components that control and
monitor the programs, personnel, and facilities of DoD laboratories.
C. POLICY AND PROCEDURES
1. The DoD laboratories represent a critical and unique
resource for solving the scientific and engineering problems,
deficiencies, and needs of the Military Departments. It is the
policy of the Department of Defense to preserve and efficiently
utilize this resource.
2. To fulfill this policy objective, DoD laboratories shall:
a. Be assigned challenging program responsibilities that
reflect their unique capabilities, responsibilities and experience.
In deciding these program assignments, their sponsors should, of
course, give careful consideration to the work that can be
effectively and efficiently performed by the private sector.
b. Be delegated as much authority, responsibility and
flexibility as is practicable for the management and utilization of
their manpower resources.
c. Determine the mix of skills, experience, and grade
levels required to accomplish their missions efficiently and
effectively.
d. Tailor their personnel policies and practices to satisfy
the particular needs of the laboratories, within statutes and
regulations which apply.
e. Recruit, develop, promote, and make strong efforts to
retain the high quality, creative scientific and engineering talent
vital to their operations.
f. Maintain and modernize their facilities and equipment to
meet anticipated in-house R&D program needs.
3. DoD laboratories exist to achieve--in cooperation with
universities and industry--a level of technological leadership that
shall enable the United States to develop, acquire, and maintain
military capabilities needed for national security. In this regard,
they shall meet the following specific goals and objectives:
a. Ensure the maintenance and improvement of national
competency in technological areas essential to military needs.
b. Avoid technological surprise and ensure technological
innovation.
c. Maintain a continuity of effort directed toward the
conception and evolution of advanced military materiel and support
technologies.
d. Pursue technology initiatives through the planning,
programming, and budgeting process; and allocate work among private
sector organizations and government elements.
e. Act as principal agents in maintaining the technological
base of the Department of Defense.
f. Provide materiel acquisition and operating system
support.
g. Have available a fast-reaction capability to solve
critical, immediate technical problems that arise when unexpected
operational situations are encountered.
h. Use demonstrations and prototypes to mature and exploit
U.S. and allied technologies.
i. Carry out activities having high technological risk or
requiring intensive resource investment not available from the
private sector.
j. Interface with the worldwide scientific community; and
provide support to other governmental agencies.
k. Respond to national defense needs by undertaking action
to:
(1) Achieve timely improvements in military systems and
develop techniques for increasing their effectiveness.
(2) Reduce manpower and skill constraints on materiel
performance.
(3) Lower materiel production, operation, and support
costs.
(4) Extend life of operational systems.
1. Continue intensive user and developer relationships to:
(1) Achieve greater laboratory sensitivity to potential
combat requirements and operating environments.
(2) Integrate technological objectives with materiel
readiness, modernization, and sustainability requirements.
(3) Evolve effective balance between technology push
and requirements pull.
m. Continue vigorous partnership with industry and the
academic community.
n. Distribute efforts appropriately across short, mid, and
long-term opportunities and requirements.
o. Participate actively in the defense planning processes
carried out by the respective Military Departments.
p. Provide managers within the laboratories with the
responsibility, authority, and flexibility to manage resources and
program through use of broad guidelines and without overlapping
controls.
q. Ensure competency of personnel by taking action to:
(1) Recognize that the most valuable resource of the
laboratories is the capability, skill, and creativity of their
personnel.
(2) Provide for personnel stability, challenging work,
and meaningful incentives.
(3) Provide for equal opportunity for development,
training, promotion, recognition and reward.
r. Upgrade facilities and equipment to:
(1) Remove limitations that constrain modernization of
laboratories.
(2) Promote productivity, energy efficiency, and cost
avoidance through policies that provide for modern facilities and
equipment.
(3) Base replacement policies on practice that benefits
the business venture nature of R&D activities.
s. Provide effective procedures for procurement and
acquisition in order to:
(1) Provide laboratories with the authority and
capability to make procurements and acquisition in a timely and
efficient manner.
(2) Ensure technical excellence in contractor
performance.
t. Carry out continuing assessment of programs and
ascertain accountability for outcomes.
D. RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The Secretaries of the Military Departments shall:
a. Promulgate the policy and procedures in section C. to
the DoD Components having management and operational
responsibilities for the laboratories.
b. Incorporate the policy and procedures in section C. into
the performance appraisal criteria for military and civilian
laboratory managers and into long-term Management plans.
2. Heads of DoD Components shall incorporate these procedures
in appropriate Management and policy guidance to the Military
Departments, consistent with the responsibility established in DoD
Directive 3201.1 (reference (a)).
a. Promulgate, with the assistance of the DoD Laboratory
Task Force (reference (c)), criteria for monitoring progress toward
meeting the policy and procedures in section C.
b. Review the Military Departments long-term management
plans (DoD Directive 3201.1, reference (a)) in the light of the
policy and procedures in this Instruction.
E. EFFECTIVE DATE AND IMPLEMENTATION
This Instruction is effective immediately. Forward one copy of
implementing documents to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research
and Engineering within 120 days.
James P. Wade, Jr.
Acting Under Secretary of Defense
for Research and Engineering
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