2058 - Intro to Army Acquisitions

Question 1

Define the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA).

Answer 1

In 1990, Congress passed the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) which established Acquisition positions, Structured Approach for Training, Experience and Certification because
 Defense systems are complex
 Defense systems are costly
 Requires qualified personnel

Question 2

Identify the three reasons why Congress passed DAWIA and the requirements of the law.

Answer 2

 Defense systems are complex
 Defense systems are **costly **
 Requires qualified personnel

Question 3

Define the role of the DoD Directors of Acquisition Career Management (DACM).

Answer 3

 Also MILDEP
 One per DoD Service or Agency
 Establishes and monitors training requirements and DAWIA compliance
 Projects numbers of individuals requiring training annually
 Assigns students to required courses (DAU and/or ALU)
 Certifies that DAWIA standards have been met

Question 4

Understand that the Gansler Commission (2007) determined that

Answer 4

The Army contracting in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait didn’t have enough people, there was too little training, and it was an antiquated system. Increase Stature, Quantity, and Career Development

Question 5

Define Mean

Answer 5

An average (i.e. Mean time between failure (MTBF))

Question 6

Define Availability

Answer 6

A measure of the degree to which an item is in the operable and committable state at the start of the mission, when the mission is called for at an unknown (random) point in time

Question 7

Define Maintainability

Answer 7

The probability that an item will conform to specified conditions within a given period of time when corrective or preventive action is performed in accordance with prescribed procedures and resources

Question 8

The Integrated Product Team (IPT) concept was:

Answer 8

• adopted from commercial business,
• intended to streamline the antiquated, stove pipe process, and
• is composed of stakeholders representing all appropriate functional disciplines.

Question 9

Identify the two basic types of test and evaluation.

Answer 9

• Developmental

* Operational

Question 10

Identify the major law directly affecting DoD systems acquisition management concerning Environmental, Safety, & Occupational Health (ESOH).

Answer 10

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Question 11

Understand the breakdown of who conducts basic research (Science and Technology) for the DoD.

Answer 11

• 60% Universities
• 25% DOD and Federal Labs
• 15% Industry and Nonprofit

Question 12

Robust system engineering identifies what the three primary risk factors that Program Managers focus on when managing their programs.

Answer 12

• Cost
• Performance
• Schedule

Question 13

Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) are now required by law to have a

Answer 13

Product Support Manager.

Question 14

Identify the five top-level design goals for a producible product.

Answer 14

• Design for ease of fabrication
• Design for ease of assembly
• Design for multiuse
• Maximize number of common parts
• Minimize number of parts

Question 15

What is supportability and what is its role in acquisition planning.

Answer 15

The ability of a system’s design to meet an operational need throughout its intended life and at an affordable cost