ARMY AL&T


The Army can accelerate, adjust, and, in some cases, bypass traditional acquisition processes in order to meet urgent operational needs.


respond quickly when enemy tactics have outpaced current technology, Brown said.


Traditional Acquisition Traditional approaches, which follow procurement practices delineated in DOD 5000 Defense Acquisition System guidelines, are much more deliberative, Brown said. They require extensive checks and balances including numerous certifications, specified plans, and documents at various stages in the acquisition process.


For example, a traditional, DOD 5000 Program of Record must have an approved requirement, Analysis of Alternatives Guidance, Initial Capabilities Documents, and a Capability Development Document. In addition, each of the milestones requires specific certifications such as verification of an approved tech- nology development strategy, and a requirement to fully fund research and procurement plans for the life of the entire program.


“The hurdle gets increasingly high as you go through Milestone A and Milestone B. … There is something called Section 2366 certification [DOD 5000]: Under Section 2366A, you must certify certain things for Milestone A. You must have an approved Technology Development Strategy, and RDT&E [Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation] must be fully funded for the entire program. You must have an improved Technology Readiness Assessment,” Brown said.


Milestone B requires an additional host of certifications, such as a fully funded


APRIL –JUNE 2011 53


production program throughout the life of a given program before it can enter Milestone C, Brown said.


“So what we really need is some kind of hybrid process: shorter acquisitions, more mature acquisitions—buying less more often,” he said.


Nevertheless, these traditional processes are worthwhile and are indispensable to the success of many programs, such as those requiring a multiyear procure- ment strategy. Brown cited the UH-60 Black Hawk M helicopter as an exam- ple of the successful use of traditional acquisition approaches.


“There were some needs associated with this program [UH-60M] after it was fielded. Those needs were met through


the official way under the DOD 5000 traditional system; those needs were fly-by-wire, Common Aviation Architecture System, full authority digi- tal engine control, and a composite tail cone,” he said.


“If you are going to have a big program that is going to have a long-term, far- reaching impact where we are going to spend billions and billions, like the Joint Strike Fighter, you might want to go the traditional route. But one size does not fit all,” Brown told the AUSA audience.


For instance, shorter processes can succeed for most Soldier equipment, Brown said. Improvements to Soldiers’ body armor fall in this category, Army officials indicated.


Rapid Acquisition “In the rapid acquisition system, you get an ONS [Operational Needs Statement] or JUONS [Joint Urgent Operational Needs Statement]. You go to the Army Requirements and Resources Board and get some OCO [overseas contingency operations]


The UH-60 Black Hawk M helicopter is an example of the successful use of traditional acquisition approaches. (Photo courtesy of the National Guard Bureau.)


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88