Background One Pager

U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security

Defense Industrial Base Surveys and Assessments

Overview: Critical Facilities Survey

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Office of Technology Evaluation, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), Defense Security Service (DSS), is conducting a defense industrial base survey and assessment of organizations responsible for the research, design, engineering, development, manufacture, test, and integration of defense and high-technology products, components, and related services.

The principal purpose of this assessment is to provide a baseline understanding of the structure and interdependencies of organizations that participate in DOD acquisition programs and their associated supply chains. This effort will also assist DSS in its mission to provide security oversight and education on behalf of the DOD and other U.S. Government departments and agencies. Over the longer term, the U.S. Government will be better informed to develop targeted planning and acquisition strategies to ensure the availability and security of the critical supply chain network that supports defense missions and programs.

The DSS has been analyzing the supply chains for various defense products and technologies for a number of years, but the activities have not sufficiently captured the intricate depth and breadth of this comprehensive supply chain network. Through its partnership with BIS, DSS will be able to more accurately identify technologies, products, and services deemed essential to defense programs and better detect vulnerabilities among the various, interrelated supply chains.

Approximately 10,000 organizations representing all aspects of the defense industrial base are receiving this survey. Your participation is vital to ensure a comprehensive dataset for the assessment. BIS has worked in successful partnership with other U.S. industry sectors and we anticipate similar cooperation from your organization on this effort.

The information collected from survey respondents may be used publicly but only in aggregated form and at no time will such reporting identify your specific organization. All information submitted to BIS is protected as Business Confidential under provisions of the Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950, as amended. Survey responses are also exempt from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

Since 1986, BIS has completed over 50 industrial base assessments covering a variety of critical technologies and sectors. To view previous BIS reports and surveys, please visit our website at www.bis.doc.gov/dib.

Thank you again for your cooperation. We look forward to working with you.