Rhys McCormick & Gregory Sanders 
Trends in Department of Defense Other Transaction Authority Usage [EPUB ebook] 

The federal government’s use of Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements has exploded in recent years, thanks in large part to a surge in popularity within the Department of Defense (Do D). Rather than a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement, OTAs are an acquisition approach that pursues innovation by enabling certain federal agencies to access goods and services outside of the traditional acquisition system. This CSIS report examines the notable trends in Do D OTA usage since the Do Ds authority to enter into OTAs was expanded by the statuary changes in the FY 2015 and FY 2016 NDAAs. It seeks to provide insight into how the Do D is using OTAs to pursue innovation, how Do D spending under an OTA is organized, and to whom the majority of OTA obligations go.