Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 4120.24
July 13, 2011
Incorporating Change 1, September 29, 2017
USD(AT&L)
SUBJECT: Defense Standardization Program (DSP)
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive 5134.01 (Reference (a)), this
Instruction reissues DoD Instruction (DoDI) 4120.24 (Reference (b)) to establish policy and
assign responsibilities for the DSP pursuant to sections 2451, 2452 and 2457 of title 10, United
States Code (Reference (c)) and establish the Charter for the Defense Standardization Council.
2. APPLICABILITY. This Instruction applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the
Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD
Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (hereinafter referred to
collectively as the “DoD Components”).
3. POLICY. It is DoD policy that:
a. The Department of Defense shall maintain a single, integrated DSP to promote
standardization of materiel, information technology, facilities, and engineering practices in
accordance with Reference (c).
b. Non-government standards shall be used in preference to developing and maintaining
Government specifications and standards as required by section 12(d) of Public Law 104-113
(Reference (d)), unless they fall under one of the exceptions specified in section 12(d) of
Reference (d).
c. DoD specifications, standards, and other related DoD standardization documents shall be
developed and maintained in accordance with DoD 4120.24-M DoD Manual 4120.24 (Reference
(e)).
