In response to a workforce member's query regarding the DoD Single Stock Point (DODSSP) and the DoD Index of Specifications and Standards (DODISS), wanted to share the following answers to questions we posed to our colleagues at the Defense Standardization Program Office (DSPO):

1.   The DoD Single Stock Point (DODSSP) website (http://dodssp.daps.dla.mil/) does not appear to be available. Does this mean the DODSSP no longer exists?

Answer: The mission of having a single source for DoD specifications and standards still exists; however, these days the primary method of distribution is via the Web through one of several ASSIST (Acquisition Streamlining & Standardization Information System) websites.  In fact, when the draft revised DoD Manual 4120.24 is published, the name of the support team at DLA Document Services (formerly known as Defense Automated Production Services (DAPS)) will be changed from the DOD Single Stock Point (DODSSP) to the DSP Automation Support Office.

2.     If so, can you please advise what the new link to the DoD Single Stock Point (DODSSP) site is?

Answer: When the Director, DLA implemented the "we are one DLA" initiative, the DAPS logo, which appeared on the DODSSP website become obsolete, as all DLA Primary Level Field Activities now use the same DLA logo.  So there was a need to modify the former DODSSP website.  Upon examination, we realized that most of the information on the DODSSP website was either obsolete or consisted of links to the various ASSIST websites.  The only information not duplicated in ASSIST was a bimonthly report known as the ASSIST Update.  This report (formerly known as the DODISS Notice) lists the documents published in ASSIST in any given 15-day period.  (This report shows the date a document was actually published in ASSIST, which is often different from the dates on the publication.)  So, there is no new link to the DODSSP website, since it no longer exists; however, the ASSIST Updates are now available from a link on ASSIST Quick Search and from within ASSIST.

3.     Is the DoD Index of Specifications and Standards (DoDISS) still available?

Answer: No, it is no longer published (see attached cancellation notice, dated 22 March 2007, downloaded from ASSIST).  At one time, the DODISS was published once a year, supplements were published every two months, and the DODISS Notices were published every two weeks.  When DLA canceled the DODISS, almost everyone had stopped subscribing to it, as the  ASSIST database, from which the DODISS was derived, is updated daily.  So the most current information is always in ASSIST and access to ASSIST is more readily available than access to the DODISS ever was.  Hence the decision to cancel it.

4.     If so, how do workforce members access the DoD Index of Specifications and Standards (DoDISS)?

Answer: Workforce members are encouraged to use either to ASSIST Quick Search or  ASSIST.  ASSIST is the recommended website, especially for DoD employees or DoD contractors with CAC cards, as there are many powerful features available to users in either on the public-restricted or private DoD network than are available to users on the public Quick Search website.  All ASSIST users can generate custom reports or establish profiles to receive automatic alerts when documents of specific interest to them are modified, being reviewed in draft form, or planned for cancellation.  DoD employees with CAC cards can also view

certain controlled distribution documents, a feature that is not available on the other ASSIST websites.