Enclosure 2 -- 9. Review Procedures

9. Review Procedures

   a. Review of ACAT ID and IAM Programs. The USD(AT&L) shall designate programs as ACAT ID or ACAT IAM (see Enclosure 3) when the program has special interest based on one or more of the following factors: technological complexity; Congressional interest; a large commitment of resources; the program is critical to achievement of a capability or set of capabilities; or the program is a joint program. Exhibiting one or more of these characteristics, however, shall not automatically lead to an ACAT ID or IAM designation.

   b. Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) Review. The DAB shall advise the USD(AT&L) on critical acquisition decisions. The USD(AT&L) shall chair the DAB. An ADM shall document the decision(s) resulting from the review.

   c. Information Technology (IT) Acquisition Board (ITAB) Review. The ITAB shall advise the USD(AT&L) or his or her designee on critical IT acquisition decisions, excluding defense business systems. These reviews shall facilitate the accomplishment of the DoD CIO's acquisition-related responsibilities for IT, including NSS, in accordance with subtitle III of title 40, U.S.C. (Reference (v)) and section 2223 of Reference (k). An ADM shall document the decision(s) resulting from the review.

   d. Configuration Steering Boards (CSB). The Acquisition Executive of each DoD Component shall establish and chair a CSB with broad executive membership including senior representatives from the Office of the USD(AT&L) and the Joint Staff. Additional executive members shall include representatives from the office of the chief of staff of the Armed Force concerned, other Armed Forces representatives where appropriate, the military deputy to the CAE and the Program Executive Officer (PEO) (section 814 of P.L. 110-417, Reference (w)).

0. The CSB shall meet at least annually to review all requirements changes and any significant technical configuration changes for ACAT I and IA programs in development that have the potential to result in cost and schedule impacts to the program. Such changes will generally be rejected, deferring them to future blocks or increments. Changes shall not be approved unless funds are identified and schedule impacts mitigated.
0. The PM, in consultation with the PEO, shall, on a roughly annual basis, identify and propose a set of descoping options, with supporting rationale addressing operational implications, to the CSB that reduce program cost or moderate requirements. The CSB shall recommend to the MDA (if an ACAT ID or IAM program) which of these options should be implemented. Final decisions on descoping option implementation shall be coordinated with the Joint Staff and military department requirements officials.

   e. Overarching Integrated Product Team (OIPT). An OIPT shall review program planning, facilitate program communications and issue resolution, and support the MDA for ACAT ID and IAM programs. The Investment Review Board (IRB) shall perform this function for MAIS business systems.

   f. Program Support Reviews (PSRs). PSRs are a means to inform an MDA and Program Office of the status of technical planning and management processes by identifying cost, schedule, and performance risk and recommendations to mitigate those risks. PSRs shall be conducted by cross-functional and cross-organizational teams appropriate to the program and situation. PSRs for ACAT ID and IAM programs shall be planned by the Director, Systems and Software Engineering (SSE) to support OIPT program reviews, at other times as directed by the USD(AT&L), and in response to requests from PMs.

   g. Independent Management Reviews ("Peer Reviews"). Peer Reviews shall be conducted on all Supplies and Services contracts. The reviews shall be advisory in nature and conducted in a manner which preserves the authority, judgment, and discretion of the contracting officer and senior officials of the acquiring organization. Pre-Award reviews shall be conducted on Supplies and Services contracts; Post-Award reviews shall be conducted on Services contracts. The Director, Defense Procurement, Acquisition Policy, and Strategic Sourcing (DPAP), in the Office of the USD(AT&L), shall conduct Peer Reviews for contracts with an estimated value of $1 billion or more (including options). DoD Components shall establish procedures for contracts valued at less than $1 billion. Section 6 of Enclosure 9 of this issuance describes the procedures for Peer Reviews of Services; the Pre-Award procedures in paragraph 6.a. of Enclosure 9 shall also apply to Peer Reviews of Supplies.