Definition

The LCSP is normally a government-prepared document that is a key component of the acquisition strategy and serves as the record of planning, programming and execution of ILS (including PBL) for an acquisition program. It requires updating periodically to reflect changes in the development and acquisition of a program.

General/Information/Narrative

The LCSP begins in the Materiel Solution Analysis Phase by describing the notional product support and maintenance concepts used to determine the sustainment requirements optimizing readiness outcomes and minimal life cycle-cost. After Milestone A the LCSP evolves from a strategic outline to a management plan describing the sustainment efforts in the system design and acquisition processes to achieve the required performance and sustainment outcomes necessary to ensure required warfighter capabilities. It evolves at Milestone B into a detailed execution plan for how the product support package is to be designed, acquired, sustained, and how sustainment will be applied, measured, managed, assessed, modified, and reported from system fielding through disposal. The LCSP is submitted with the Acquisition Strategy prior to Milestone B and the Executive Summary is included in the Acquisition Strategy.  By Milestone C, the LCSP describes the content and implementation status of the product support package (including any sustainment related contracts, e.g. Interim Contractor Support, Contractor Logistics Support) to achieve the Sustainment KPP/KSAs. In addition to sustaining the system performance capability threshold criteria and meeting any evolving user readiness needs, the LCSP details how the program will manage O&S costs and reduce the logistics footprint. After the Full Rate Production Decision Review update, the LCSP describes the plans for sustaining affordable materiel availability as well as accommodating modifications, upgrades, and re-procurement. It should be updated for any Post-IOC Sustainment Reviews and shall be updated, at a minimum every 5 years, or when:

• Subsequent increments are approved and funded to reflect how the support strategy will evolve to support multiple configurations
• Significant changes are required to the product support package to achieve the objective sustainment metrics including major support provider changes.

As the program matures, the LCSP is updated to reflect increasing levels of detail as they become available. The detail and focus will vary depending on the life-cycle phase but in all cases the information should be in sufficient depth to ensure the acquisition, design, sustainment, and user communities have an early common understanding of the sustainment requirements, approach, and associated risks.

Required for:  The LCSP influences the systems engineering process to plan for and develop the entire support system and structure required for lifecycle support.

Required when:  The initial LCSP is prepared by the CBTDEV ILS lead for the system during the concept refinement phase and is transitioned to the MATDEV at milestone B.

 Responsibility:  At program initiation the MATDEV takes responsibility for the LCSP and the ILSM and SIPT develop and update all versions of the LCSP from that point forward. The PSP will guide the LCSP through development but it will ultimately be the responsibility of the PM to ensure timely updates.

References:  AR 700-127, DA Pam 700-127, DA Pam 700-56.

Policies, Directives, Regulations, Laws

AR 700-127

Best Practices, Lessons Learned, Stories, Guides, Handbooks, Templates, Example Tools, Communities of Practice, LEC Tools

DA Pam 700-127, DA Pam 700-56

The Systems Planning and Requirements Software (SYSPARS) tool can be used to create a Life Cycle Sustainment Plan that can be updated as the program evolves. Through tailored interactive question and answer sections, SYSPARS assists the user in systematically considering all issues pertinent to his or her acquisition program. It can be used to create required plans early in the life cycle with a Systems Engineering Plan and Acquisition Strategy and continue to assist with various required plans through the end of the program. There are numerous documents within the SYSPARS knowledge base that are designed to assist the acquisition community.  A conclusive list and SYSPARS program information can be obtained by visiting the SYSPARS website at https://www.logsa.army.mil/lec/syspars.

Training Resources

Related Articles

Required for:

Responsible Activity:

At program initiation the MATDEV takes responsibility for the LCSP and the ILSM and SIPT develop and update all versions of the LCSP from that point forward. The PSP will guide the LCSP through development but it will ultimately be the responsibility of the PM to ensure timely updates.