About ASSIST

ASSIST (Acquisition Streamlining and Standardization Information System) is a database system for DOD-wide standardization document information management. The ASSIST database resides at the Department of Defense Single Stock Point for Military Specifications and Standards (DODSSP), located at DAPS, Philadelphia.

ASSIST manages the following document types:

• Military/Performance/Detail Specifications;
• Military Standards;
• DOD-adopted Non-Government/Industry Specifications and Standards;
• Federal Specifications and Standards;
• Military Handbooks;
• Qualified Products/Manufacturers Lists (QPL/QMLs);
• Commercial Item Descriptions (CIDs);
• Air Force/Navy Aeronautical Standards/Design Standards;
• Air Force Specifications Bulletins,
• Data Item Descriptions (DIDs).

ASSIST and the Acquisition Community

ASSIST provides the Acquisition Community with unparalleled visibility over documents imposed in the acquisition process. Acquisition benefits include:

• eliminating potential Engineering Change Proposals;
• improving accuracy on Bid Proposals and Technical Data Packages;
• reducing procurement lead time on bid responses;
• promoting accuracy in bid responses from vendors.

ASSIST and the Standardization Community

ASSIST supplies valuable information to the Standardization Community when preparing and maintaining standardization documents. Standardization benefits include:

• supporting DOD efforts to find commercial off-the-shelf (NGS) substitutes for military specifications;
• enhancing the identification and control of hazardous material usage in government contracts;
• aiding in budget and program planning;
• enabling the development and maintenance of accurate standardization documents;
• promoting efficient project tracking;
• improving management of overaged documents.

ASSIST and Management

ASSIST supports Management by providing timely access to vital management information. Management benefits include:

• providing more responsive reporting to higher authority on:
— use of non-government standards;
— status of projects;
— Defense Standardization Program (DSP) performance and results
— hazardous substance and critical item usage;

• enabling more effective oversight of the DSP for:
— overaged document review;
— document maintenance;
— project scheduling;
— project tracking.

ASSIST provides easy and convenient visibility over lower tier references, keyword searches, non-government standards and the impact of cancelled documents by a variety of standard reports. These include:

• Specification Tree (Pyramid);
• Reference List;
• Keyword Index;
• Reference by Other Documents.

ASSIST Formats

ASSIST OnLine provides web-based access to the ASSIST database, and is free to all registered customers. To register, visit the ASSIST-Online page or call the ASSIST Help Desk at: (215) 697-6257.