Exam 1 Flashcards
What are the three Science and Technology (S & T) research categories?
- Basic Research
- Applied Research
- Advanced Technology Development
Who is responsible for the Acquisition Strategy?
The PM.
It is usually prepared(developed) by an Acquisition Strategy IPT (with representatives from all functional areas as well as end users and key stakeholders (to include industry))
Are approved programs funded or non funded?
funded
Who conducts basic research for the DOD?
- 60% universities
- 25% DOD and Federal labs
- 15% Industry and NonProfit Organization
What are the 2 primary reasons for developing a new acquisition program?
- Take advantage of new technology
- React to an actual or potential threat
LRIP provides minimum quantities required for testing and _________.
Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP): Establishes initial production base, provides OT & E test articles and for efficient ramp-up to full-rate production, maintains production continuity pending OT & E completion
What are the 4 requirements lanes?
- Deliberate Requirements (preferred method)
- Emergent Requirements
- Urgent Requirements
- Info Sys / Technology (IS / IT) This is a separate lane
What does DOTMLPF-P stand for?
Doctrine, Organization, Training, materiel (existing), Leadership and education, Personnel, Facilities, and Policy
What is the purpose of a DOTMPF-P Change Request (DCR)?
DCRs represent more refined requirements documents tailored toward a particular non-materiel approach for a capability solution, while CDDs and CPDs represent more refined requirements documents tailored toward a particular materiel approach for a capability solution
Who are the two ACAT I weapon system categories?
- ACAT ID USD (D)
- ACAT IC delegated to Service Component (C)
What are the 3 primary organizations which influence the defense acquisition community?
- Executive Branch
- Congress
- Industry
How is the Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT & E) fund used and what is the obligatory period? What type of funding policy?
◾FUND: Development of equipment, material or computer application software; Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT & E); Initial Operational Test And Evaluation (IOT & E); Operation costs for some R & D dedicated facilities
•[Note: Systems procured during LRIP for test purposes are paid for using RDT & E funds]
◾OBLIGATION PERIOD (Legal Time Limit): 2 years.
◾Funding Policy: Incremental
How is the Procurement fund used and what is the obligatory period? What type of funding policy?
◾FUND: Purchase of major end items and defense systems; Initial issue of spares for major end items; All costs necessary to deliver a useful end item intended for operational use or inventory; Major modifications to fielded systems
- [Note: Systems procured during LRIP that are NOT for test purposes (system only for fielding) are paid for using procurement funds
- OBLIGATION PERIOD (Legal Time Limit): 3 years
- Funding Policy: Full
How is the Operation and Maintenance (O & M) fund used and what is the obligatory period? What type of funding policy?
◾FUND: Day-to-day operations; HQ operations; Civilian salaries (R & D dedicated installations may use RDT & E to pay civilian salaries); Travel; Fuel; Minor construction; Training and Education; Expenses of operational military forces; Base operations support; Recruiting
◾OBLIGATION PERIOD (Legal Time Limit): 1 year
◾Funding Policy: Annual
How is the Military Personnel (MILPERS) fund used and what is the obligatory period? What type of funding policy?
◾FUND: Pay and allowances of AD/USAR military personnel; PCS Moves; Training in conjunction with PCS moves; Subsistence; Bonuses; Retired pay accrual
◾OBLIGATION PERIOD (Legal Time Limit): 1 year
◾Funding Policy: Annual
How is the Military Construction (MILCON) fund used and what is the obligatory period? What type of funding policy?
◾FUND: MAJOR military construction projects (i.e. military schools, facilities, bases)
◾OBLIGATION PERIOD (Legal Time Limit): 5 years
◾Funding Policy: Full
What color of money is used to purchase a major end item?
Procurement
The JROC will review (requirements) before the MDD is issued. What are the requirements and the JROC’s role?
JROC mission: Assists the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) in identifying and assessing the priority of joint military requirements (including existing systems and equipment) to meet the national military and defense strategies, and in considering alternatives to any acquisition program that has been identified to meet military capabilities by evaluating the cost, schedule, and performance criteria of the program and of the identified alternatives
Role:
•Validates and approves “JROC Interest” capability documents
•Evaluates cost, schedule, and performance criteria
What is the role of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluations (DOT & E)?
the boss of all OT testers
What is the organization that formulates strategic plans and guidance to set strategy?
USD (Policy)
-Reviews/approves certain aspects of programs involving other nations
-Responsible for formulating strategic planning guidance during the planning phase of PPBE
During the EMD phase, who can negotiate to get offers in for products/programs?
KO
What are the 2 exceptions to the full funding policy?
advance procurement and multiyear procurement
What is the POM and who prepares it?
Program Objective Memorandum. It is prepared by each service.
What is the FYDP?
Future Years Defense Program is a computerized database used to summarize the:
◦Force structure – data from prior year and up to seven years of data
◦Personnel strength – data from prior year through four out years (POM)
◦Financial resources of DoD as the budget is developed and refined – prior year through four out years (POM)
What are the 2 types of contracts?
- The two types of contracts are fixed price and Cost-reimbursed.
- Cost-reimbursed contracts are a higher risk to the government.
What does the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluators do ?
Prepares a separate and distinct cost estimate on MDAP / MAIS programs known as the Independent Cost Estimate (ICE)
Describe the learning curve.
As the quantity of a product produced doubles, the recurring cost per unit decreases at a fixed rate or constant percentage.
Who can terminate a contract?
KO
How does cost as an independent variable help you with your tradeoffs?
- CAIV is an acquisition process intended to integrate proven successful business related practices with promising new DoD initiatives to obtain superior, yet reasonably priced, warfighting capabilities
- CAIV is about using cost to make performance trade-offs
- Once an Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) has been approved, a CAIV strategy will be formulated as part of the acquisition strategy to set cost objectives
What are the reasons or ways to do a contract termination?
convenience, default, and cause
What are the types of contract modifications?
bilateral and unilateral
What are the types of issue papers?
- Information papers - Nothing required back from the reader
* Decision papers - Routed up through chain of command for approval of a recommended course of action
What are the 8 steps to effective IPTs?
- Identify the Need for an IPT
- Organize/Staff the Team
- Form the Team
- Establish Team Direction
- Develop a Plan of Action
- Execute
- Control
- Close-out
What is the performance of IPTs based on?
Understand that effective IPTs are also based on diligent membership selection and the strength of the IPT is directly related to the members’ overall backgrounds
What are the 2 approaches for acquisition strategy?
- Single-step
- Evolutionary
Low Rate Initial Production
post milestone C (MSC), 10% of total, IOT & E, product baseline
What are the Levels of Control?
RDT & E: Program Element
Procurement: Line Item
O&M / MILPERS: Budget Activity
MILCON: Project
What are the indicators of the financial health of a company?
- Profitability ratios: Profitability ratios help measure the performance of a firm in the marketplace.
- Balance Sheet: Describes in assets owned by the company and the claims against those assets by the creditors and owners.
- Income Statement: Shows the results of the company’s business activities over a period of time, expressed as income.
What are the basic methods to develop a cost estimates?
- Analogy – Comparison of similar systems or components (fast, easiest)
- Parametric – Statistical analysis to develop cost/performance relationships (Best for Software)
- Engineering – Detailed “Bottom-up” analysis of all materials, parts, and labor. (time consuming)
- Actual costs – Extrapolation based on identical, or nearly identical, existing systems (Most accurate)
Robust System Engineering balances ________, __________, and __________ throughout the life cycle.
What is cost, schedule, and performance?
What is NEPA?
The National Environmental Policy Act
Following the Materiel Development Decision(MDD) the __________ may authorize entry into the acquisition management system at any point consistent with phase-specific entrance criteria and statutory requirements.
What is the Milestone Decision Authority(MDA)
What is the phase between Milestone A and Milestone B?
Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction phase
What are the two basic types of tests?
Developmental and operational
What are the 5 top level design goals?
- design for ease of fabrication
- design for ease of assembly
- design for multi-use
- minimize number of parts
- maximize number of common parts
ACAT level enables identification of the type of system, __________, and reporting requirements.
What is Level of Management Review/Decision Authority?
This organization is responsible for formulating strategic planning guidance during the planning phase of PPBE.
USD (Policy)
__________ provides independent assessment of operational effectiveness and suitability of new weapon systems.
Who is the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT & E)?
What are the 3 steps in the JCIDS methodology?
- Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA)
- Documentation of Capability Needs
- Review, Validation, and Approval
Who reviews ACAT I / IA prior to Materiel Development Decision; assesses ACAT ID / IAM programs at Milestone A, B, C, & Full Rate Production Decision Review.
JROC: Joint Requirements Oversight Council
A capabilities based assessment may be based on an approved Joint Concept, CONOPS, and a __________.
What is an identified operational need?
An acquisition program is a directed, funded effort that provides a new improved, or continuing materiel solution in response to an ______________.
What is approved need?
Detailed “Bottom-up” cost estimating analysis of all materials, parts, and labor.
What is Engineering Cost Estimate?
The Procurement cost combines these 2 costs.
What is weapon systems cost and flyaway cost?
The Acquisition Strategy is based on information from __________, such as functional areas, range of military operations, time, and key attributes.
What is the initial capabilities document(ICD)?
What are 3 factors to consider when choosing IPT members?
experience, knowledge, and ability to work with others
Goals may be __________, __________, and _________ related?
product, process, and team performance
The performance of an IPT is based on these four things.
Team foundation, team principles, team processes, and team dynamics
How many years do funds remain in an expired account?
5 years
When the KO signs a contract an ___________ is created and the government is legally liable to pay for those goods and services.
obligation
Most reprogramming activities are approved at the service or agency level using ____________.
below threshold reprogramming
What is the advantage of international cooperation (foreign military sales)?
development costs shared
The standardized format for structuring government solicitations and contracts.
Uniform contract format
