The Pentagon says the vast majority of its "other transaction agreements" -- contracts typically used to sidestep regular acquisition regulations to quickly build prototype weapon systems -- have gone to companies it considers "nontraditional" defense contractors. Jessica Maxwell, a spokeswoman for Defense Department acquisition chief Ellen Lord, said OTAs for prototypes have skyrocketed from $620 million in fiscal year 2015 to $16 billion in FY-20. "The overwhelming majority (95%) of FY-20 OT obligations were authorized and awarded on the basis...
