The Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) Program, a technology transition initiative under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), aims to test high Technology Readiness Level (TRL) items and technologies from our friends and allies to satisfy valid defense requirements quickly and economically. FCT continues to be a uniquely successful acquisition tool from a U.S. government-to-foreign industry standpoint. Since 1980, the FCT program has helped to foster the two-way street in defense spending between the U.S. and its allies through the procurement of more than $5 billion in foreign items. The program has reaped substantial savings for the Department of the Navy (DON) by avoiding research and development costs, lowering procurement costs, reducing risk for major acquisition programs and accelerating the fielding of equipment critical to readiness and safety.
The FCT program is authorized by Title 10, United States Code, 2350a(g). It’s administered by the OUSD(R&E) International Prototypes and Experiments (IP&E). The Office of Naval Research (ONR) manages the Department of the Navy (DON) FCT Program.
Contact Us
The call for proposals goes out in September. Contact the ONR FCT Director to learn more!
The ONR FCT Director can be contacted via email at: don_fct_contact@us.navy.mil
Mission
The mission of the FCT program is to find, assess and field world-class technologies to enhance military capabilities and provide long-term value. The unique technology transition program aims to deliver advanced capabilities to the warfighter more efficiently by accelerating the fielding of non-developmental items. It supports cost reduction by eliminating redundant efforts, increasing standardization and interoperability, encouraging competition and reinforcing the strength of the U.S. military industrial base.
For More Information
For more detailed information about the FCT program, please visit the Assistant Secretary of Defense-Mission Capabilities (ASD(MC)) website: https://ac.cto.mil/pe/fct