Stakeholders may include customers, the public, oversight organizations, and members and staff of Congress. It is important for the team to know who the stakeholders are and the nature of their interests, objectives, and possible objections. At a minimum, stakeholders should be consulted and, at times, may participate on the team.

In developing the acquisition, the key tools the team should use are consensus and compromise, without losing sight of the three key questions:

1. What do I need?
2. When do I need it?
3. How do I know it's good when I get it?