1.4. Defense Acquisition System
The Defense Acquisition System is the management process for all DoD acquisition programs. DoD Directive 5000.01, The Defense Acquisition System, provides the policies and principles that govern defense acquisition. DoD Instruction 5000.02, Operation of the Defense Acquisition System, establishes the management framework that implements these policies and principles. The Defense Acquisition Management System is an event-based process. Acquisition programs proceed through a series of milestone reviews and other decision points that may authorize entry into a significant new program phase. Details of the reviews, decision points, and program phases are found in Enclosure 2 of the DoDI 5000.02. The Instruction also identifies the specific statutory and regulatory information requirements for each milestone and decision point.
One key principle of the defense acquisition system is the use of acquisition categories, where programs of increasing dollar value and management interest are subject to increasing levels of oversight. DoD Instruction 5000.02 Enclosure 3 identifies the specific dollar values and other thresholds for these acquisition categories. The most expensive programs are known as Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) or Major Automated Information System (MAIS) programs. MDAPs and MAIS programs have the most extensive statutory and regulatory reporting requirements. Some elements of the defense acquisition system only apply to weapon systems, some element only apply to automated information systems, and some elements apply to both. DoD Instruction 5000.02, Enclosures 2, 3, and 4 provide specific details.
The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD(AT&L)) is the Defense Acquisition Executive (DAE). The USD(AT&L) reviews ACAT ID and IAM programs and is the Milestone Decision Authority (MDA). A Defense Acquisition Board (DAB), chaired by the USD(AT&L), provides advice on critical acquisition decisions. DAB members are senior officials from the Joint Staff, the Military Departments, and staff offices within OSD.
The DAE may delegate decision authority for an MDAP or a MAIS to the DoD Component Head, who may, and generally will, delegate decision authority to the Component Acquisition Executive. Such delegation makes an MDAP program an ACAT IC program and a MAIS program an ACAT IAC program.
The DAB is further supported by a subordinate group in OSD known as an
Overarching Integrated Product Team (OIPT). Each OIPT facilitates communication and vets issues before the DAB meets. At the Milestone Decision Review, the OIPT leader provides the DAB members with an integrated assessment of program issues gathered through the Integrated Product Team process as well as various independent assessments.
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