The Federal Aviation Administration’s National Unions play a significant role in the lifecycle process beginning with the generation of ideas to meet operational needs or to take advantage of new technological opportunities; through the development of operation; through mission analysis, investment analysis, solution implementation and in-service management phases of AMS.

In order to facilitate union involvement in the AMS, complete, accurate and timely information relating to the life-cycle acquisition process should be provided to the unions. This includes:

• New concepts or technology opportunities
• Mission Needs
• Investment Analysis
• Solution Implementation
• In-Service Management

Union involvement is defined as an individual or individuals whose input reflects the "organizational position" of the collective bargaining unit. The Unions reserve any and all bargaining rights provided by law, rule, regulation, and contract.

Most union members are end users of equipment, facilities and services. Early partnerships with the national unions, as representative of users, operators and, maintainers of the NAS, can bring an operational perspective to decision-making on important issues such as requirements, testing, maintenance, support, human factors, etc.. Early and often union involvement during AMS planning, analysis, and implementation activities builds buy-in and can help minimize later problems, i.e., changed or new requirements after deployment, or schedule delays and costs addressing user issues that should have been part of program planning.

The first phase of the acquisition lifecycle is Mission Analysis (MA), in which either needed capability shortfalls or technology opportunities are identified, analyzed and validated. The principal product of the MA phase is a Mission Need Statement (MNS) that must clearly describe either the capability shortfall and the impact of not satisfying the shortfall, or the technological opportunity and the increase in operational safety, security, efficiency, or effectiveness that it will achieve.

The goal of union participation in this phase, is to minimize last minute delays in implementation by involving representatives from the unions who can best represent union interests at the beginning stages of the acquisition process.

During MA the sponsoring organization should consider union participation in the following activities:

• RE&D activities, which may include prototyping, simulation, or evaluation of new technology.
• Identification and validation of needs
• Participate in the development of the MNS
• Participate in Integrated Requirements Team (IRT)
• Review MNS and document union perspective
• Attend Mission Need Decision meeting (JRC-1) and respond to questions about union perspective

Investment Analysis (IA) is the process conducted to determine the most advantageous solution to an approved need and it involves the development of operational requirements, a market search to determine industry capability, an analysis of various alternative approaches for satisfying requirements, and affordability assessment to determine what the agency can afford.

The goal of union participation in this phase will provide a great benefit in identifying, defining, and finalizing requirements. Union participation in the IA phase can minimize last minute delays in implementation by involving representatives who can best represent union interests at the beginning stages of the acquisition process.

During the IA phase the sponsoring organization and the Investment Analysis Team should consider union participation in the following activities:

• Participate on IRTs
• Assist in the development of the initial requirements document (IRD)
• Participate on the Investment Analysis Team (IAT) and development of:
  •  the Acquisition Program Baseline (APB); 
  •  the Investment Analysis Report (IAR)
• Participate in the market survey/analysis
• Assist in the development of the Final Requirements Document (FRD)
• Review and document union perspective in IRD and FRD
• Attend Investment Decision meeting (JRC-2) and respond to questions about union perspective

Solution Implementation (SI) begins after the Joint Resources Council selects a solution and establishes an acquisition program. Solution Implementation ends when a new capability goes "into service". During SI, products must be shown to meet user requirements, be operationally suitable, and be compatible with other operational systems before the decision to place it in service. After approval of program planning documents, the Integrated Product Team executes the actions and activities that obtain the solution and accept a product or service for operational use. The final set of activities in SI consists of installing the product or service at each site and certifying it for operational use, as appropriate. Typically, this includes such tasks as implementation planning, installation and checkout, site testing, dual operations, and removal and disposal of obsolete equipment.

The goal of union participation during the third phase of the acquisition lifecycle is to provide insightful and detailed information of the field perspective, provide subject matter expertise with regard to solving technical issues, participation in operational test activities and provide an avenue for mitigating bargaining issues prior to the formal process of bargaining.

During the SI phase, the sponsoring organization should consider union participation in the following activities:

• Participate in team building activities
• Participate in the development of the Acquisition Strategy Paper
• Proposal evaluations for contractor selection
• Participate in the development of the Integrated Program Plan and associated activities
• Participate program planning and execution
• Participate in planning and implementation activities for functional areas including:
  • Security risk management
  • Configuration management
  • Environment and energy
  • Occupational safety and health
  • Operational perspective and user acceptance
• Participate in Technical Interchange Meetings
• Participate in program reviews
• Participate in field transition and implementation activities
• Participate in the Integrated Program Plan Development
• Participate in Test and Evaluation activities which include:
  • System Test -- Developmental Tests, Production Acceptance Tests, Operational Tests, Site Acceptance
  • Field Familiarization -- planning and testing
• Participate in Independent Operational Test and Evaluation activities

The objective of In-Service Management is to determine whether the new capability is working as intended in the operational environment, and whether operational and financial benefits in the Acquisition Program Baseline are being achieved. These requirements also relate to determining the capability of deployed assets to meet emerging demand for services so that replacement or upgraded capability can be obtained and in place when needed.

The goal of union participation is similar to the SI phase. Participation by the union provides the opportunity of having a field perspective as well as a subject matter expert. The union can also identify needs and issues, shortfalls and suitability concerns during this phase.

During the In-Service Management phase the Integrated In-Service Team may request union participation in the following activities:

• Identifying and removing latent defects
• Accessing and incorporating approved pre-planned improvements
• Assessing system safety management associated with any change to the fielded system
• Assessing engineering changes to fix systemic problems
• Planning, programming, and developing budget input for resources to sustain fielded products within the approved Acquisition Program Baseline
• Monitoring and assessing performance, cost of ownership, and support trends
• Planning and preparing for service-life investment decisions to correct capability shortfalls
• Seeking technology opportunities to enhance the fielded capability or reduce ownership costs.