Module 2 Competency 2: Cost and Economic Analysis Flashcards
The Defense Acquisition is the management process that guides DoD acquisition programs and is basically the process by which programmatic risk is managed. What are the three programmatic risks that must be successfully managed?
Cost, Schedule, and Performance Risks
What are the appropriations that may be used to fund an acquisition program?
RDT&E, Procurement, O&M, MILCON, and MILPERS
What is the acquisition approach that delivers capability to the warfighter in set of increments spread over time - with a known desired end-state capability - rather than in a single effort, because technology is not yet available to provide that end-state capability?
Evolutionary acquisition
What is the term used to describe dollars shown in the life-cycle cost estimate wherein the effects of inflation are not considered?
Base Year Dollar or Constant Year Dollars
What is the term used to describe dollars used for programming and budgeting purposes wherein the effects of inflation are considered?
Then-year dollars or current year dollars
What cost structure does MIL-STD-881C represent?
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
What concept is based on the axiom that the best time to reduce cost is early in the process?
Cost As an Independent Variable (CAIV)
Which cost estimating method is based on direct comparison with historical information of one similar system?
Analogy Method
Which cost estimating method is known as a statistical method or top-down method?
Parametric Approach
Which cost estimating method requires extensive knowledge of the product or process?
Engineering Approach
What are the methods/steps in conducting the Delphi Technique?
1) Query expert opinion
2) Seek supporting rational or information from each expert
3) Summarize Results
4) Gather second opinion
5) Continue iteration until consensus or near-consensus is reached
What is the theory that as the quantity of output doubles, the man-hours required to produce the quantity decreases at a fixed rate?
Learning Curve Theroy
What is the name of the integrated management tool intended to relate contractor actual performance on a contract to the contractor’s planned cost and schedule, that measure the work in progress in objective terms, and that states the value of the work completed in dollars?
Earned Value Management System (EVMS)
What is the EVM-related term when there is a difference between budgeted cost of work performed (BCWP) and actual cost of work performed (ACWP) on a cost reimbursable contract?
Cost Variances
Cost savings, cost avoidance, and Productivity Improvements are examples of what type of cost benefits?
Quantifiable Benefits
In regards to measures of central tendency, what is a mean? A Mode? A Median?
Mean is arithmetic average
Mode is the most frequent score in a distribution of scores
Median is the middle of arrayed values
What does correlation measure?
Measure the degree of relationship between two or more variables`
For a perfect correlation to exist, what would be the coefficient?
1.0
When evaluating a proposed investment or project with costs and benefits occurring not only in the current year but also future years, it is necessary to “bring back today’s dollars” all those costs and benefits. What is the process determining?
Net Present Value of the proposed investment or project
What is used to craft the plans and programs that satisfy the demands of the National Security Strategy within resource constraints, to develop budgets to be submitted to the Congress and manage the execution of those resources?
Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Process (PPB&E)
What is a systematic method established by the Joint Chiefs of Staff for assessing gaps in military joint warfighting capabilities and recommendation solutions to resolve these gaps?
Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS)
What is the management process that guides all DoD acquisition programs?
Defense Acquisition System
Which DoD Directive is the Defense Acquisition System?
5000.01
What establishes the management framework that implements the Defense Acquisition Program; it emphasizes innovation and flexibility in the acquisition process and focuses on required outcomes and statutory requirements?
DoDI 5000.03: Operation of the Defense Acquisition System
The Defense Acquisition system has how many milestones, phases, and acquisition activites?
3;5;3
What document details the broad, time-phased, operational goals, and a description of the required capabilities to address a specific gap?
Initial Capabilities Document
If a material solution is considered the most appropriated method to resolve an identified gap, what is the next step?
Start Action on an acquisition program as that material solution
What are the three major activities in the Acquisition Management System?
Pre-Systems Acquisition, Systems Acquisition, and Sustainment
What are the five phases of the Acquisition Management System?
1) Materiel Solutions Analysis
2) Technology Development
3) Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD)
4) Production and Deployment
5) Operations and Support
What type of appropriation funds can be used for the Materiel Solutions analysis phase?
RDT&E and O&M
What type of appropriation funds can be used for the Technology Development phase?
RDT&E
What type of appropriation funds can be used for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase?
RDT&E
What type of appropriation funds can be used for the Production and Deployment phase?
Procurement for the end item system and MILCON for the acquisition of necessary facilities unique to or required for the system involved
Who evaluates the milestones in the Defense Acquisition Management system?
Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) and the Milestone Decision Authority (MDA)
Which milestone of the DoD Acquisition Management System is usually the point at which program initiation occurs?
Milestone B
In which milestone of the DoD Acquisition Management System do you examine alternative concepts to meet a stated mission need?
Milestone A
In which milestone of the DoD Acquisition Management System does a decision authorize the program manager to commence low rate initial production (LRIP) or initial deployment?
Milestone C
What are the five overarching policies that govern all DoD acquisition programs?
1) Flexibility
2) Responsiveness
3) Innovation
4) Discipline
5) Streamlined and Effective Management
True or False:
When Milestone B occurs, the MILDEP or agency is required to have adequate funds in the FYDP to finance the acquisition of the program during this period.
True
What is the preferred DoD strategy for rapid acquisition of mature technology for the user?
Evolutionary Acquisiton
Using which process is Evolutionary Acquisition achieved?
Incremental Development Process
Evolutionary Acquisition requires the collaboration of whom?
1) Warfighter
2) Tester
3) Developer
What is established to determine the level of management review, decision authority, and applicable reporting requirements for a program?
Acquisition Categories (ACAT)
Which ACAT category is used for Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP)?
ACAT I
Estimated by USD (AT&L), the required total expenditures for an ACAT I program is?
RDT&E of more than $365M or Procurement of more than $2.19B
What does ACAT ID and ACAT IC indiciate?
MDA is at Defense level for ID and known as Defense Acquisition Executive (DAE)
MDA is at Component level for IC and known as Component Acquisition Executive (CAE)
What ACAT category is used for Major Automated Information System (MAIS)?
ACAT IA
Estimated by USD (AT&L), the required total expenditures for an ACAT IA program is?
Total cost in any single year in excess of $32M
Total program cost in excess of $126M or
Total life-cycle cost in excess of $378M
To comply with legal requirements, DoDI 5000.02 requires that every acquisition program establish an _________ to document the cost, schedule, and performance objectives and thresholds of that program beginning at program initiation.
Acquisition Program Baseline
the APB should contain only what?
the most important cost, schedule, and performance parameters
Programs goals for an APB consist of what two types of values?
“Objective” Values and “Threshold” Values
In considering program goals, which goals represent specific parameters that the warfighter user desires from the acquisition program?
Objective
In considering program goals, which goals represent the minimum parameters that the warfighter user is willing to accept from the acquisition program?
Threshold
What includes all of the elements of the system from cradle to grave?
Total Systems Approach
What are all of the elements of the Total Systems Approach?
Weapon System (hardware and software) Operators and Maintainers Operational Effectiveness and Suitability Deployment/Fielding Interoperability Training and Training Devices Environmental Impact
If a material solution is considered the best approach to provide the required capability, the next step in the acquisition process is what?
Analysis of Alternatives (AoA)
What is an analytical comparison of the operational effectiveness, suitability, and life cycle costs of alternatives that satisfy established capability needs stated in the approved ICD?
Analysis of Alternatives (AoA)
A sufficient AoA ensure what?
the best, most affordable alternative materiel solution is selected from among the potential solutions.
Who is responsible for preparation of the AoA study guidance?
Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation
The foundation of a sound and credible cost estimate is a well-defined program; it is essential to know the details of what is to constitute that acquisition program in order to prepare a valid estimate of its life cycle cost. The document used to capture that detailed information is known what?
Cost Analysis Requirements Description (CARD)
A CARD shall be prepared for which programs?
ACAT I and ACAT IA
What can be defined as the total cost to the Government of a program over its entire life, including costs for research and development, testing, production, facilities, operations, maintenance, personnel, environmental compliance, and disposal?
Life Cycle Costs
When preparing a cost estimate in which manner must you prepare the estimate and such means that costs are tied to a specific base fiscal year, usually the year the cost estimate was prepared?
Constant Year Dollars
Which costs estimate method is used for programming and budgeting purposes and represent the amounts required when actually used, they reflect the effects of inflation?
Then-Year or Current Year Dollars