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DTIC® Selection Criteria
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  • Recognizing the need to provide for a maximum exchange of important scientific and technical information within the DoD community, DTIC selects appropriate documents based on content, delivery medium, formats, reproducibility, and other criteria.

  • DTIC accepts documents that cover classic military subjects, as well as those from a spectrum of disciplines. Scientific and technical documents result from DoD-sponsored or defense-related research and engineering and studies efforts and contain information from or about the conduct and management of scientific and engineering efforts.

  • DTIC accepts virtually all documents that convey scientific and technical information or technical data. Hard copy print, digital or magnetic nonprint, and digital files for online publication are all accepted. Documents may be in a variety of media and formats, and document types can range from single reports with text only to multimedia items with color, video, and sound.
    		• On This Page:
    Content Criteria
    RDT&E;
    Media
    Reproducibility & Formatting
    Security
    Distribution Statements
    Copyright
    Nonstandard Documents
    Selection Criteria Review
    Points of Contact

    What's New?
    COLOR!
    Content Criteria
    Documents received by DTIC are evaluated for pertinence and timeliness of their contents. Relevance to DoD research and engineering and studies activities such as Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E;) is essential. Acceptance of DoD documents is normal procedure, but the suitability of non-DoD documents may require detailed comparison with selection objectives to justify accession. In accordance with DoD Instruction 3200.14 (May 13, 1997) DTIC selects documents that include, but are not limited to, the examples listed below. Exceptions may be made to items on these lists, based on overall evaluation against the selection criteria, and if necessary a review by committee.
    General Criteria for Selection
    • Relevance to DoD Technical Concerns
    • Scientific and Technical Content
    • Funding Sources
    • Security Classification
    • Release Limitations
    • Intended Use
    • Usefulness
    • Permanency of Value
    • Reproducibility
    • Completeness of Data
    • Extent of Activity
    • Specific Projects
    • Special Arrangements
    • Precedents
    • Type of Document

    Examples of Document Types Selected
    • Acquisition Life Cycle Documents, e.g.:
      • Acquisition Decision Memoranda (ADM)
      • Mission Needs Statements (MNS)
      • Operational Requirements Documents (OPR)
      • System Threat Assessments
      • Test & Evaluation Master Plans (TEMP)
    • Annual Reports from the DoD Labs
    • Bibliographies
    • Briefings (DoD-related), e.g.:
      • Advanced Briefings to Industry (ABI)
    • Command Histories
    • Conference Proceedings & Papers
    • Congressional Documents (DoD-related), e.g.:
      • Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Documents
      • Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports
      • Government Accounting Office (GAO) Reports & Testimonies
    • Dissertations & Theses
    • DoD Directives, Regulations & Instructions
    • DoD Functional Area Dictionaries/Glossaries
    • DoDManpower Estimates
    • Federally Funded Research & Development Center (FFRDC) Reports
    • Inspector General (IG) Audits (DoD-related)
    • Journal Articles & Reprints (DoD-supported)
    • Lessons Learned (DoD-related)
    • Mission Area Plans
    • Modernization Planning Documents
    • NATO Research and Technology Organization (RTO) Documents, Meeting minutes and Announcements
    • Newsletters (DoD-related)
    • Patents & Patent Applications (DoD-related)
    • Planning, Programming & Budgeting System (PPBS) Documents, e.g.:
      • Budget Estimate Submissions (BES)
      • Chairman Program Assessments (CPA)
      • Defense Planning Guidance (DPG)
      • Issue Books
      • National Military Strategy Documents (NMSD)
      • Program Budget Decisions (PBD)
      • Program Decision Memoranda (PDM)
      • Program Objective Memoranda (POM)
    • Reference Directories & Indexes, e.g.:
      • "How to Get It"
      • DoD Index of Security Classification Guides
    • Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E;) Reports
    • Science & Technology Planning Documents, e.g.:
      • Basic Research Plan (BRP)
      • Defense Technology Area Plan (DTAP)
      • Defense Technology Objectives (DTO)
      • Joint Warfighting Science and Technology Plan (JWSTP)
      • Defense Science and Technology Strategy
    • Security Classification Guides
    • Software (DoD-related)
    • Specifications and Standards (DoD Only)
    • Speeches (DoD-related)
    • Studies & Analyses (DoD-related)
    • Technical Publications, e.g.:
      • Memoranda, Notes, Papers
      • Interim & Final Reports
      • Reviews & Surveys
    • Training Courses (DoD-related)

    Examples of Document Types Not Selected
    • Administrative Papers
    • Advertisements
    • Blueprints
    • Brochures, Catalogs & Posters
    • Charts
    • Circulars
    • Conference Programs and Agendas
    • Contracting Documents & Materials, e.g.:
      • Requests for Proposal (RFP)
      • Statements of Work
    • Correspondence
    • Decision Papers
    • Document Declassification Lists
    • Engineering Drawings
    • Forms
    • Meeting Minutes & Announcements (Except RTO)
    • Memoranda (Inter-Office)
    • Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs)
    • Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs)
    • Notices
    • Operating Instructions
    • Orders
    • Parts Lists
    • Procedures
    • Progress Reports
    • Promotional Materials
    • Proposals
    • Public/Case Laws
    • Status Reports
    • Tables
    • Technical Manuals
    • Telephone Directories
    • Trip Reports
     
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    Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E;)
    Reports submitted to DTIC include products of DoD's funding program for RDT&E; current RDT&E; activities may dictate prioritization of report selection:

      Research
      Reports of research efforts should contribute to the increased knowledge of natural phenomena and the environment; to the solution of problems in the physical, behavioral, social, and management sciences; or to the expansion of knowledge in scientific areas. These reports typically describe theoretical studies and scientific experiments.

      Development
      These reports should involve the extension of theoretical, practical, and useful applications of basic designs, ideas, scientific concepts, or pieces of equipment. The dominant characteristic of these documents is that they point toward specific military problem areas. Studies and investigations may vary from fundamental applied research to sophisticated hardware. Documents may record the development of hardware for experimental, operational, and engineering tests.

      Test
      Reports of tests should document procedures and results of subjecting items, systems, materials, personnel or techniques to simulated or actual operational conditions to determine characteristics, suitability, and compliance with specific requirements.

      Evaluation
      Evaluation reports should give values, appraisals or results relevant to strengths, weaknesses, feasibility, potentiality, and military worth of efforts, concepts or hardware.

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    Media
    As stated in DoDI 3200.14: "Documents may take the form and format of any commonly accepted media for documentation and/or presentation." DTIC accepts and disseminates documents in a variety of media, however traditional print media documents continue to be the most common. DTIC also accepts electronic media, and certain types of nonprint media. Distribution to DTIC of all documents, regardless of media, is the responsibility of the DoD activity that performed or sponsored the work in whole or in part. The activity responsible for primary distribution of documents by electronic means must take positive steps to ensure that DTIC is capable of receiving the data by that means and in an intelligible form. Details on electronic document submissions are available on the Electronic Submissions page.
      "Providing electronic documents that are configured by computer hardware or software that are not readily available to the recipients precludes the use of such technical information. If the recipients cannot readily read, interpret, or convert the electronic document, then the activity shall provide the document in some other media." (DoDI 3200.14-E4.4.10)

    Following is a brief outline of the acceptable media for technical report document submission to DTIC:

      Print Media
      Traditional print environment documents may be delivered to DTIC in the following media:
      • Hard Copy Paper
      • Removable Electronic Media
      • Electronically Online
      Text-only documents that are delivered electronically, either online or via removable media, will be converted for print reproduction and dissemination.
      Electronic Media
      Digital versions of text-based documents, delivered via removable digital media or online systems. Acceptable removable media for delivering electronic media files currently include:
      • Computer diskettes (3 1/2 in. for IBM-clone PC or Macintosh)
      • CD-ROM
      • Zip Disks
      • 8mm Tape Cartridges
      Nonprint Media
      Removable digital or magnetic media objects that cannot be easily converted to print for reproduction. The following nonprint media are currently accepted:
      • Computer Diskettes (3½ in. for IBM-clone PC or Macintosh)
      • Videotapes
      • CD-ROM
      Multimedia
      Two or more media types (audio, video, imagery, text, and data), usually electronically manipulated, integrated, and reconstructed in synchrony. Interactive multimedia integrates various and multiple media content and formats with which the user can interact. Multimedia products:
      • Consist of multiple physical media and/or multiple formats and file types on print, nonprint, or electronic media.
      • Are usually CD-ROM-based items containing multiple file types such as text, video and audio files, and may include the following:
        • Images (including color)
        • Sound Files
        • Charts, Maps, Graphs, Drawings, Tables
        • Video Files
      Other Media
        Media not mentioned above may not be accepted by DTIC. We are currently NOT accepting the following media:
      • 9-Track Magnetic Tapes
      • Film Strips, Movie Film, or Slide Film
      • Data Processing Cards
      • Aperture Cards
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    Reproducibility & Formatting
  • Reproducible documents are the key to effective dissemination of scientific and technical information. The information is only as good as its delivery medium, therefore reproducibility is a critical aspect of the selection process. Evaluation of reproducibility is tied both to the type of delivery medium and the formatting of the contents. Guidance on formats for technical report submission is provided in Chapter 5 of the DTIC Contributors Handbook.

  • The activity responsible for primary distribution of documents by electronic means must take positive steps to ensure that DTIC is capable of receiving the data by that means and in an intelligible form. Details on electronic document su bmissions are available on the Electronic Submissions page.

  • Clear reproduction of documents is dependent on quality of originals. Each media type accepted may be reproduced in one or more media output types. Media formatting options for both input and output are described below:
    • Print Media Formats
    INPUT
    DTIC accepts print media documents in various formats, including the recommended ANSI/NISO Standard Z39.18, Scientific and Technical Reports - Elements, Organization, and Design, available to order or download:
    • Z39.18 provides explicit guidance on the preparation of reports in the traditional print environment. Included are directions on the bibliographic data elements that should appear on the cover and title page of a report, a description of the scope of each section of a report and instruction on the most effective communication of textual and visual information and tabular materials.

    • Recommendations on publication formats, the use of figures and tables, the presentation of numbers and units, formulas and equations, and symbols, abbreviations and acronyms are also given.

    • Z39.18 supersedes MIL-STD-847B and is approved for use by the Department of Defense (DoD). The current revision of Z39.18-1987 includes de facto document type definitions (DTDs) to describe the structure of reports so the document can be electronically processed using document imaging, OCR, compression/decompression, and optical media storage of full text.

    Important formatting points to remember for DTIC print media submissions:

    • Documents should be of sufficient graphic quality to permit scanning and reproduction of legible copies. Line work, charts, tables and graphs should be sharp and clear and of consistent density. Graphics should be of sufficient size as to be clearly legible when reproduced.

    • Text documents should be in the form of black characters on white paper (pref. 8 1/2 x 11 in.).

    • Print documents should be complete and properly paginated.

    • Avoid dark paper stock and color ink or images if possible.
    OUTPUT
    Print media documents are reproduced and distributed in paper, on microfiche, and online (PDF file format).
    Electronic Media Formats
    INPUT
    Electronic digital files may be submitted online or on removable media, in the following file formats:
    OUTPUT
    Electronic media documents are reproduced online (PDF file format), in paper, and in microfiche.

    What's New?
    As of March 2001, electronic media documents that contain significant color are now available online in color.

    Nonprint Media Formats
    INPUT
    DTIC accepts the nonprint media described in the previous section. If selected, virtually all digital file formats on nonprint media can be reproduced. Digital formats listed below are recommended for expeditious processing and customer use. Videotape is only accepted in the formats listed.
      Videotape
    • VHS Format (1/2 inch VHS, 3/4 inch U-matic)

      Diskettes and CD-ROM

    • Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Presentation Files
      Microsoft Products (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint) are the standard for DoD report production. All of these file formats are accepted and reproduced. Other word processing and spreadsheet formats should be converted or readily convertable to MS Office suite formats.
    • ASCII text files.
    • Software/Application Files
      Proprietary Software: Freeware and shareware software formats and source code are accepted and reproduced with appropriate restrictions.
    • Database Files
      dBaseV and MS Access files.
    • Image Files (JPG, GIF, Bitmaps, etc.)
    • Audio Files
    • Video Files (MOV, MPG)
    • Audio-Video Interleave (AVI)
    • Compressed/Zipped Files
      Files zipped with 'WinZip' or 'pkunzip.'

    OUTPUT
    In general, nonprint media products are reproduced in kind, in the same media and format as received. Those documents that are text-only (black & white, no multimedia elements) received on removable media will be made available electronically as downloadable PDF files, unless the contributor specifically states that they want distribution on removable media.
    Multimedia File Formats
    Multimedia items are usually complex and can be a mix of print and/or electronic media, formats, and file types. Usually CD-ROM-based, they may consist of a mix of file formats in combination or text files with embedded color, links, etc. Multimedia products are usually evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and when selected may include:
    • Color Print and Photographic Image Files
    • Sound Recordings and Files
    • Charts, Maps, Graphs, Drawings, Tables
    • Other Graphic Images and Vector Image Files
    • Video Recordings and Files
    Other Formats
    New file types and formats will be added to these criteria as needed. Contact the Nonprint Program Manager with questions about formatting nonprint products.
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    Security
    All documents are examined for their classification levels, and compared with criteria specified in DoD 5200.1-R, Information Security Program Regulation. Classified documents must be marked with classification and downgrading information; discrepancies in markings or classification inconsistencies must be resolved prior to selection.
      Accepted by DTIC:
      • Foreign Unclassified in Confidence.
      • Foreign Restricted
      • Confidential
      • Secret

      Not Accepted by DTIC:

      • Top Secret
      • Registered
      • Cryptographic and Communications Security
      • Communications and Electronics Intelligence
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    Distribution Statements
    Beyond the provisions of security classifications, all documents must carry distribution statements that describe conditions for their distribution, release, or disclosure. DoD 5230.24, Distribution Statements on Technical Documents, prescribes limitations for distribution of DoD documents. The 'Submitting to DTIC' web page provides detailed descriptions of distribution statements. The 'DTIC Contributor's Handbook' web page also provides some guidance on distribution statements.
    Copyright
    Documents containing copyrighted information may be accepted if written statements are provided by copyright owners granting the Government royalty-free, non-exclusive, and irrevocable license to use, distribute and reproduce the work. Where necessary, disclaimer statements may be solicited from copyright holders. For questions about copyright issues, refer to DTIC Guidelines for Determining Copy Rights or contact us via copyright@dtic.mil.
    Nonstandard Documents
    Documents that do not qualify for selection under existing criteria are evaluated independently as received. Decisions concerning nonstandard reports and documents, actions involving the waiving of established criteria, and other exceptions documented with interpretations based on correspondence with contributors are documented in files in the DTIC Directorate of Operations.
    Selection Criteria Review
    These criteria will undergo an annual review. DTIC will contact contributors about preservation of media and formats as these issues arise. DTIC will continuously review the collection and address refreshing/migration issues with originators and contributors to meet preservation goals.
    Points of Contact
    Technical Reports
    Program Manager
    (703)767-8040
    DSN: 427-8040
    aq@dtic.mil         		Electronic Media
    Specialist
    (703)767-9008
    DSN: 427-9008
    stinttr@dtic.mil         		Nonprint
    Program Manager
    (703)767-9085
    DSN: 427-9085
    np@dtic.mil         		Foreign Acquisitions
    Program Manager
    (703)767-8037
    DSN: 427-8037
    copyright@dtic.mil

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