The “Shrinking” Defense Industrial Base: A Survey of Former DoD Prime Contractors

This study empirically examines the issue of Defense Industrial Base (DIB) contractor exit with a survey of contractors likely to have exited between Fiscal Years 2015 to 2021 to ascertain if they have left the DIB and, if so, why that was the case. The results offer unique insight into a critical area of concern for the defense acquisition community by identifying the types of contractors that have exited and the specific reasons for doing so, including those reasons that are within DoD’s ability to influence.