Optimizing U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense Review of Air Force Acquisition Programs

Optimizing U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense Review of Air Force Acquisition Programs PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2009-07-29

Total Pages: 122

ISBN-13: 030913918X

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The Department of Defense (DOD) spends over $300 billion each year to develop, produce, field and sustain weapons systems (the U.S. Air Force over $100 billion per year). DOD and Air Force acquisitions programs often experience large cost overruns and schedule delays leading to a loss in confidence in the defense acquisition system and the people who work in it. Part of the DOD and Air Force response to these problems has been to increase the number of program and technical reviews that acquisition programs must undergo. This book looks specifically at the reviews that U.S. Air Force acquisition programs are required to undergo and poses a key question: Can changes in the number, content, or sequence of reviews help Air Force program managers more successfully execute their programs? This book concludes that, unless they do it better than they are now, Air Force and DOD attempts to address poor acquisition program performance with additional reviews will fail. This book makes five recommendations that together form a gold standard for conduct of reviews and if implemented and rigorously managed by Air Force and DOD acquisition executives can increase review effectiveness and efficiency. The bottom line is to help program managers successfully execute their programs.

Optimizing U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense Review of Air Force Acquisition Programs

Optimizing U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense Review of Air Force Acquisition Programs PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2009-06-29

Total Pages: 123

ISBN-13: 0309140846

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The Department of Defense (DOD) spends over $300 billion each year to develop, produce, field and sustain weapons systems (the U.S. Air Force over $100 billion per year). DOD and Air Force acquisitions programs often experience large cost overruns and schedule delays leading to a loss in confidence in the defense acquisition system and the people who work in it. Part of the DOD and Air Force response to these problems has been to increase the number of program and technical reviews that acquisition programs must undergo. This book looks specifically at the reviews that U.S. Air Force acquisition programs are required to undergo and poses a key question: Can changes in the number, content, or sequence of reviews help Air Force program managers more successfully execute their programs? This book concludes that, unless they do it better than they are now, Air Force and DOD attempts to address poor acquisition program performance with additional reviews will fail. This book makes five recommendations that together form a gold standard for conduct of reviews and if implemented and rigorously managed by Air Force and DOD acquisition executives can increase review effectiveness and efficiency. The bottom line is to help program managers successfully execute their programs.

Optimizing the Air Force Acquisition Strategy of Secure and Reliable Electronic Components

Optimizing the Air Force Acquisition Strategy of Secure and Reliable Electronic Components PDF

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2016-09-12

Total Pages: 63

ISBN-13: 0309445183

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In 2012, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), section 818, outlined new requirements for industry to serve as the lead in averting counterfeits in the defense supply chain. Subsequently, the House Armed Services Committee, in its report on the Fiscal Year 2016 NDAA, noted that the pending sale of IBM's microprocessor fabrication facilities to Global Foundries created uncertainty about future access of the United States to trusted state-of-the-art microelectronic components and directed the Comptroller General to assess the Department of Defense's (DoD's) actions and measures to address this threat. In this context, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop to facilitate an open dialogue with leading industry, academic, and government experts to (1) define the current technological and policy challenges with maintaining a reliable and secure source of microelectronic components; (2) review the current state of acquisition processes within the Air Force for acquiring reliable and secure microelectronic components; and (3) explore options for possible business models within the national security complex that would be relevant for the Air Force acquisition community. This publication summarizes the results of the workshop.

Evaluation of U.S. Air Force Preacquisition Technology Development

Evaluation of U.S. Air Force Preacquisition Technology Development PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2011-04-01

Total Pages: 154

ISBN-13: 0309162750

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From the days of biplanes and open cockpits, the air forces of the United States have relied on the mastery of technology. From design to operation, a project can stretch to 20 years and more, with continuous increases in cost. Much of the delay and cost growth afflicting modern United States Air Force (USAF) programs is rooted in the incorporation of advanced technology into major systems acquisition. Leaders in the Air Force responsible for science and technology and acquisition are trying to determine the optimal way to utilize existing policies, processes, and resources to properly document and execute pre-program of record technology development efforts, including opportunities to facilitate the rapid acquisition of revolutionary capabilities and the more deliberate acquisition of evolutionary capabilities. Evaluation of U.S. Air Force Preacquisition Technology Development responds to this need with an examination of the current state of Air Force technology development and the environment in which technology is acquired. The book considers best practices from both government and industry to distill appropriate recommendations that can be implemented within the USAF.

Owning the Technical Baseline for Acquisition Programs in the U.S. Air Force

Owning the Technical Baseline for Acquisition Programs in the U.S. Air Force PDF

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2016-10-25

Total Pages: 83

ISBN-13: 0309449065

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While there are examples of successful weapon systems acquisition programs within the U.S. Air Force (USAF), many of the programs are still incurring cost growth, schedule delays, and performance problems. The USAF now faces serious challenges in acquiring and maintaining its weapons systems as it strives to maintain its current programs; add new capabilities to counter evolving threats; and reduce its overall program expenditures. Owning the technical baseline is a critical component of the Air Force's ability to regain and maintain acquisition excellence. Owning the technical baseline allows the government acquisition team to manage and respond knowledgeably and effectively to systems development, operations, and execution, thereby avoiding technical and other programmatic barriers to mission success. Additionally, owning the technical baseline ensures that government personnel understand the user requirements, why a particular design and its various features have been selected over competing designs, and what the options are to pursue alternative paths to the final product given unanticipated cost, schedule, and performance challenges. Owning the Technical Baseline for Acquisition Programs in the U.S. Air Force discusses the strategic value to the Air Force of owning the technical baseline and the risk of not owning it and highlights key aspects of how agencies other than the Air Force own the technical baseline for their acquisition programs. This report identifies specific barriers to owning the technical baseline for the Air Force and makes recommendations to help guide the Air Force in overcoming those barriers.

Pre-Milestone A and Early-Phase Systems Engineering

Pre-Milestone A and Early-Phase Systems Engineering PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2008-03-11

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13: 0309114756

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The ability of U.S. military forces to field new weapons systems quickly and to contain their cost growth has declined significantly over the past few decades. There are many causes including increased complexity, funding instability, bureaucracy, and more diverse user demands, but a view that is gaining more acceptance is that better systems engineering (SE) could help shorten development time. To investigate this assertion in more detail, the US Air Force asked the NRC to examine the role that SE can play during the acquisition life cycle to address root causes of program failure especially during pre-milestone A and early program phases. This book presents an assessment of the relationship between SE and program outcome; an examination of the SE workforce; and an analysis of SE functions and guidelines. The latter includes a definition of the minimum set of SE processes that need to be accounted for during project development.

Defense acquisition : improved program outcomes are possible

Defense acquisition : improved program outcomes are possible PDF

Author:

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

Published: 1998

Total Pages: 34

ISBN-13: 1428975535

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We are pleased to be here today to discuss issues facing the Department of Defense (DOD) in its acquisition of weapon systems, related spare parts, and other goods and services. In response to the many changes that have been witnessed in the defense acquisition environment over the last few years, DOD has begun broad-based changes to its acquisition and contracting processes. However, weapon programs continue to have questionable requirements; unrealistic cost, schedule, and performance estimates; and strategies that begin production before adequate testing has been completed. This discussion of acquisition issues is well-timed, as DOD implements plans to increase its procurement budget to $60 billion in fiscal year 2001-a 40-percent increase over last fiscal year's budget. My testimony focuses on a different approach to improving weapon acquisition outcomes based on best commercial practices and an understanding of the acquisition culture. My testimony also includes some observations on (1) DOD'S management of its acquisition workforce and organization, (2) DOD'S experience with commercial pricing of spare parts, (3) the effectiveness of DOD'S mentor-protege pilot program, and (4) federal agencies' use of multiple award task- and delivery-order contracts.

Acquisition: Implementation of the DoD Management Control Program for Air Force Acquisition Category II and III Programs

Acquisition: Implementation of the DoD Management Control Program for Air Force Acquisition Category II and III Programs PDF

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 32

ISBN-13:

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This audit is the second in a series of audits to evaluate the effectiveness of the Military Departments' management control programs in deviations in cost, schedule, and performance requirements in acquisition program baselines for Acquisition Category II and III programs to the milestone decision authority and in identifying whether program managers are reporting their status on preparing and obtaining approval of required program documentation to milestone decision authorities before milestone decision reviews.

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