Definition General Info Policies Guides Communities Training Related
Definition
Software support is all hardware, software, and middleware used to aid the support and sustainment of the software that is a part of the acquisition end item.
General/Information/Narrative
The associated software for a system is a vital component to any end item. As a result, the ILS program addresses software support. The readiness of a system is related to the system’s software. Due to this relationship, every system must have a well planned approach to software support, which can be costly over a system’s life. Software support planning is found in the Supportability Strategy https://acc.dau.mil/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=247111&lang=en-US . The Supportability Analysis addresses any relationships between the software support and other ILS elements.
According to Army Regulation 750-1, in relation to software support, Life-cycle Software Support (LCSS) includes all software related activities for a weapon system’s embedded operational software. Post-production Software Support (PPSS) is considered a subset of LCSS. Programming and planning for the PPSS of a system begins prior to Milestone A and execution of PPSS begins at the completion of the hardware production of the system. Software support is the responsibility of the Materiel Developers (MATDEV) until the completion of the weapon system hardware production. At the first full fiscal year after closing hardware production lines this responsibility is transferred to the Life Cycle Software Engineering Center (LCSEC) pending the proper documentation and approval.
The software support tools include computer resource tools for software development, testing, support, maintenance, and configuration control. Software support also includes support functions of project management, procedures, documentation, and release control. Databases and interfaces must be specified and included with the system’s software support.
Software support is a complex and long-lead function. Therefore, it is important to identify software support requirements as early as possible, ideally prior to Milestone B, and to ensure engineering and test of the software support capability prior to fielding. For further guidance on different aspects of software support, such as funding for the PPSS, transition from MATDEV to LCSEC, etc, Army Regulation 750-1 and Army Regulation 700-127 should be reviewed.
Policies, Directives, Regulations, Laws
Army Regulation 700-127, Integrated Logistics Support http://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/pdf/r700_127.pdf
Army Regulation 750-1, Army Materiel Maintenance Policy http://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/pdf/r750_1.pdf
Best Practices, Lessons Learned, Stories, Guides, Handbooks, Templates, Example Tools, Communities of Practice, LEC Tools
Training Resources
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Responsible Activity:
Software support is the responsibility of the MATDEV until the completion of the weapon system hardware production. At the first full fiscal year after closing hardware production lines this responsibility is transferred to the LCSEC pending the proper documentation and approval.
Definition General Info Policies Guides Communities Training Related