Implications under the Defense Production Act
November 20, 2001
David Dempsey - Northern Virginia
Under the Defense Production Act of 1950, the Defense Priorities and
Allocation System (DPAS) has immediate significance — any contract in
furtherance of "Enduring Freedom" receives a priority over all
contracts (defense and commercial) if so directed by a contracting
officer. See 15 C.F.R. § 700 et seq. The Defense Production Act
explicitly encourages small businesses to "make the greatest possible
contribution" to the national defense (see 50 U.S.C. App. § 2151),
so small businesses are very definitely a part of the contingency contracting
equation.