MIL-HDBK-965, MILITARY HANDBOOK ACQUISITION PRACTICES FOR PARTS MANAGEMENT. This handbook is a guide for Military Acquisition Activities (AA) in the evaluation of contractor responses to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) with respect to parts program management and standardization and will help determine to what extent parts management and standardization should be for a given program. It will also identify those attributes in a proposal that will promote effective part program management and standardization. This document will also provide insight for the contractor in the preparation of RFP responses in that it will allow the contractor to identify parts management program attributes that are considered important by the government. This document was developed in order to provide for the accomplishment of the following objectives in a manner consistent with Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition reform initiatives: a. Minimize the proliferation of parts and drawings through standardization; b. Enhance the interchangeability, reliability, and availability of parts; c. Minimize diminishing source impacts and parts obsolescence; d. Assist with parts selection and qualification procedures; e. Become compatible with the business environment and trends; f. Assist in meeting end item performance requirements in a cost effective manner, throughout the life cycle of the item (i.e., development, manufacturing, test and evaluation, verification, deployment, operations, support, training and disposal). g. Promote the use of Non-Government Standards (NGSs) usage covering commercial/industrial parts (see 4.3) in support of DoD Military Specification Reform Policy.