Defense Acquisition Management Framework

Defense Acquisition Management Framework
Name	Defense Acquisition Management Framework
Established	20th century
Jurisdiction	National defense

Contents

Defense Acquisition Management Framework The Defense Acquisition Management Framework organizes processes, authorities, and practices that guide how United States Department of Defense components and allied ministries field capability, materiel, and services. It integrates statutory authorities from Congress of the United States, executive direction from the President of the United States, and technical oversight by organizations such as the Defense Contract Management Agency and Defense Acquisition University. The framework interfaces with industrial partners including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and BAE Systems and aligns major programs with strategic guidance from the Joint Chiefs of Staff and national strategy documents like the National Defense Strategy.

Overview

The framework codifies processes used by acquisition professionals from offices such as the Office of the Secretary of Defense and program executive offices under service departments like the United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Air Force. It references statutory regimes including the Arms Export Control Act and the Federal Acquisition Regulation while drawing upon best practices from institutions such as the Defense Innovation Unit and DARPA. Stakeholders include congressional committees such as the House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee, defense industry consortia, and international partners like NATO and the European Defence Agency.

Policy is derived from executive issuances such as directions from the Secretary of Defense and formalized in issuances by the Director of Administration and Management and policy offices within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Governance structures include milestone decision authorities tied to milestone decisions influenced by committees like the Defense Acquisition Board and advisory bodies such as the Defense Science Board and the Government Accountability Office. Statutory oversight includes reporting responsibilities to the Government Accountability Office and statutory triggers found in laws enacted by the United States Congress including provisions from the National Defense Authorization Act series.

Life-cycle management follows stages reminiscent of development models used by NASA and engineering standards applied by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Phases include concept development under offices like the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, technology maturation guided by programs at DARPA and the Office of Naval Research, system development and demonstration overseen by program executive offices, production managed with support from Defense Logistics Agency, and sustainment aligning with logistics commands such as Fleet Readiness Centers and Air Logistics Complexes. Milestone decisions often involve cross-functional teams including representatives from Program Executive Office (PEO) organizations and requirements authorities like the Joint Requirements Oversight Council.

Contract strategies deploy mechanisms codified in the Federal Acquisition Regulation and supplemented by agency supplements such as the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. Contract types include firm-fixed-price and cost-plus arrangements used with primes like General Dynamics and Raytheon Technologies, while other vehicles leverage multiple-award contracts and Other Transaction Authorities championed by organizations like the Defense Innovation Unit and Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy. Procurement uses tools like the GSA Schedule for non-materiel services and export controls managed under the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and Directorate of Defense Trade Controls for international transfers.

Program managers typically hold responsibilities analogous to those defined by the Project Management Institute standards, working within program executive offices and reporting to milestone decision authorities such as the Defense Acquisition Board. Oversight includes independent cost estimates produced by the Congressional Budget Office and technical evaluations from laboratories such as Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Naval Research Laboratory. Audit and compliance functions are performed by inspector general offices like the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General and accountability is enforced through congressional hearings before committees such as the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Cost estimating and schedule management use methodologies from the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation office as well as econometric models used by the Government Accountability Office. Risk registers incorporate inputs from cyber authorities such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology and coordination with mission partners like the United States Cyber Command. Inflation and industrial base risk are assessed alongside supply chain evaluations referencing major suppliers such as Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce plc. Earned value management is applied consistent with standards from the Office of Management and Budget and oversight by the Defense Contract Audit Agency.

International cooperation leverages frameworks under NATO acquisition initiatives, bilateral arrangements with partners like Australia and United Kingdom, and multilateral export regimes such as the Wassenaar Arrangement. Industrial base considerations include workforce development with institutions like the National Defense University and supply chain resiliency programs involving defense primes and small businesses supported by the Small Business Administration. Technology transfer and interoperability involve standards bodies such as the International Organization for Standardization and defense cooperation offices like the Foreign Military Sales program managed by Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Category:Defense acquisition