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DEFINITION
GENERAL INFORMATION/NARRATIVE
The AoA provides information to the decision authority as the MS A review to assist in determining whether any of proposed alternatives to an existing system offer sufficient military and/or economic benefit. AoA findings provide the analytical underpinning to support the recommendation to initiate, modify, or terminate a program. An AoA is required for potential ACAT I and most ACAT II programs and is typically conducted by TRADOC Analysis Center (TRAC) during the acquisition Materiel Solution Analysis phase.
The AoA focuses on broad operational capabilities, potential technology concepts, and materiel solutions. It examines the full range of materiel alternatives. AoAs illuminate the relative advantages and disadvantages of alternatives being considered by identifying sensitivities of each alternative to possible changes in key assumptions such as threat or variables such as selected performance capabilities. The AoA provides insight regarding Key Performance Paramaters for preferred alternatives and indicates how these parameters contribute to increases in operational capability. It identifies opportunities for trade-offs among performance, cost, and schedule: and determines operational effectiveness and cost for all alternatives.
If a new program is approved (MS B) the AoA may be useful for identifying alternatives that will be refined by cost performance trade-off studies during Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase. The Milestone Decision Authority may direct updates to the AoA for subsequent decision points. The AoA may be useful for examining cost-performance trade-offs at MS C.
Analysis of Alternatives: For a major defense acquisition program (Acquisition Category I), an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) is required at major milestone decision points (DoD Instruction 5000.2). For a major automated information system program (Acquisition Category IA), current law (Pub. L. 107-248, Section 8088, or successor provision) requires an AoA at Milestones A and B and at the full-rate production decision (or their equivalents) (DoD Instruction 5000.2).
AoAs are an important element of the defense acquisition process. An AoA is an analytical comparison of the operational effectiveness, suitability, and Life-Cycle cost of alternatives that satisfy established capability needs. Initially, the AoA process typically explores numerous conceptual solutions with the goal of identifying the most promising options, thereby guiding the Concept Refinement Phase. Subsequently, at Milestone B (which usually represents the first major funding commitment to the acquisition program), the AoA is used to justify the rationale for formal initiation of the acquisition program. An AoA normally is not required at Milestone C unless significant changes to threats, costs, or technology have occurred, or the analysis is otherwise deemed necessary by the Milestone Decision Authority. For a joint program, the lead DoD Component normally is responsible for the preparation of a single comprehensive analysis.The Office of the Director, Program Analysis and Evaluation (OD/PA&E), provides basic policies and guidance associated with the AoA process. For potential and designated Acquisition Category I and IA programs, OD/PA&E prepares the initial AoA guidance, reviews the AoA analysis plan, and reviews the final analysis products (briefing and report). After the review of the final products, OD/PA&E provides an independent assessment to the Milestone Decision Authority (see DoD Instruction 5000.2).
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