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News, announcements, training, search functions, Ask-a-Professor, and similar services with direct links supporting DoD acquisition.

Acquisition Process

Three processes cooperate to deliver capabilities needed by warfighters: the requirements process (JCIDS); the acquisition process (DAS); and the program and budget development process (PPBE). Includes links to DoD and Service policies, guidance, tools, and resources:

Policy

Encyclopedic source of acquisition policy that follows a hierarchy of policy issuance (i.e., executive, legislative, federal, etc.) and filtered according to organization, career field, and special topics.

Communities
of Practice

Links to communities of practice and special interest areas, the latest contribution and discussion posts for open ACC communities, community highlights, and links to related communities.

Training and
Continuous Learning

Information on training and continuous learning that supports DoD acquisition, information that helps manage professional training portfolios, and information on training available from DAU and DoD and Services activities.

Industry

Information on DoD industry partners that helps the participation and execution of DoD processes; including industry support pages, news, information, and links to private sector acquisition contractors.

Applications

AT&L Knowledge Management Systems (AKMS) applications.

 
 

Functional Gateways

Sixteen functional knowledge gateways, one for each of the defense acquisition career fields.

Special Topics

Links to gateways about important topics outside the general portals and beyond the standard career fields:

  

About this page...

Kathy Spainhower

This page introduces and illustrates the elements of Big "A" Acquisition and provides links to documents, multimedia, and training that support it.

For more information, select any of the sub-topics under "What's ACQ..." in the menu on the top-left, or the graphic to the right.

 


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Featured - Big "A" Concept and Map

DoD Decision Support Systems

DoD has three principal decision-making support systems. Together, the systems provide an integrated approach to strategic planning, capabilities needs assessment, systems acquisition, and program and budget development.

Acquisition ProcessPPBEJCIDS

DoD uses the DAS to
manage the acquisition of
weapon systems and major automated information systems (MAIS).
Although based on
centralized policies and
principles, the system
allows for de-
centralized and
streamlined
acquisition. The
system is flexible
and encourages
innovation, while
maintaining strict
discipline and
accountability.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff
developed JCIDS to assess
and resolve gaps in military
joint warfighting
capabilities. To effectively
integrate capabilities
identification and
acquisition, the
JCIDS guidance
(CJCSI 3170.01
and JCIDS
Manual
) link closely to DoD
acquisition
regulations (DoD
5000 series).

The PPBE Process is DoD's resource determination process. DoD uses PPBE to craft plans and programs that satisfy National Security Strategy demands within resource constraints.

Learn/Ask/Collaborate Tools

Policy Documents

Policy Documents

Federal Acquisition Regulations

Federal Acquisition Regulations

DAU Glossary

DAU Glossary

Acquisition Community Connection

Acquisition Community Connection

DoD PS Implementation Roadmap

DoD PS Implementation Roadmap

Acquisition Encyclopedia

ACQuipedia

e-Tool Kit

Program Managers
e-Tool Kit

Defense Acquisition Guidebook

Defense Acquisition Guidebook

System Acquisition and Business System Acquisition Milestone Document identification

Milestone Document Identification

Ask a Professor

Ask a Professor

DAU Media Library

DAU Media Library

WorkForce and Industry Ethics

WorkForce and Industry Ethics

Rapid Deployment Training
 DAU Rapid Deployment Training
Our Rapid Deployment Training (RDT) Initiative was established in 2003 in response to the need to more rapidly train the Defense Acquisition Workforce in new initiatives and policy changes.
Research and Studies
thumbnail link to PDF