The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS)
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) provides acquisition, logistical and technical services to all the branches of the Armed Forces, other government agencies, partners, and allied nations including sourcing and acquiring almost 100% of the consumables America's military forces need to operate – everything from food and clothing to jet fuel and military hardware.
DLA’s DPAS Program is tasked with ensuring the timely delivery of critical industrial resources to support national defense under the authority of Title 1 of the Defense Production Act (DPA), as amended.
DLA is the Procuring Activity and contractual link between the government and the commercial industrial base. DLA manages over 300,000 orders rated under DPAS to support DoW-approved programs. These orders cover industrial resources across DLA's supply chain.
DLA DPAS Program Objectives
DLA DPAS Program Office develops and implements internal DPAS policies, trains personnel, coordinates prioritization and deconflicts wherever possible to ensure smooth operations. Program objectives are to:
- Drive Compliance: Educate the industrial base on DPAS requirements to strengthen supplier responsiveness.
- Enforce Delivery: Leverage DPAS authority to ensure the on-time delivery of rated defense orders.
- Mitigate Bottlenecks: Monitor contracts proactively to execute timely interventions and resolve supply issues.
- Fortify Readiness: Secure sustained, reliable supply chain support for critical DoW missions.
DPAS Rating Criteria
- The item or service must be necessary or appropriate to promote national defense.
- The procurement must fall under a specified “Approved Program” designated in Schedule I of 15 CFR § Part 700.The rating must be issued by a "Delegate Agency" with authority granted by the Department of Commerce.
- All acquisitions must carry a priority rating of either "DO" (General Defense Programs) or "DX" (Highest National Urgency, requiring explicit Secretary of War approval).
Main Pillars of DPAS
- Elements for All Rated Orders 15 CFR § 700.12: These 4 mandatory elements must be included on all rated orders under DPAS: priority rating and program identification symbol, required delivery date or dates, authorized signatures, and certification statements.
- Mandatory Acceptance 15 CFR § 700.13 (a): U.S. companies are required to accept a rated order if they normally supply the requested item and have the capacity to meet the required delivery date. Must formally accept or reject a DO-rated order within 15 working days, and a DX-rated order within 10 working days.
- Mandatory Rejection 15 CFR § 700.13(b)(c)(d): U.S. companies must reject an order if they are physically unable to meet the delivery date (even with preferential scheduling). Companies must notify the contracting activity (within 15 days of DO receipt, or 10 days for DX receipt), Provide reasons for the delay and provide a new shipment/performance date.
- Preferential Scheduling 15 CFR § 700.14: U.S. Companies that receive rated orders must schedule operations and acquisitions of production items to satisfy the delivery requirements of the rated order. This may necessitate delaying unrated commercial orders.
- Extension of Priority Ratings 15 CFR § 700.15: Commonly known as “Flow-down.” U.S. Companies that receive rated orders must also place rated orders with their suppliers in the U.S. for production items needed to fill those rated orders. The priority rating must remain identical throughout the chain.
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