Enclosure 2 -- 2. Evolutionary Acquisition

2. Evolutionary Acquisition

   a. Evolutionary acquisition is the preferred DoD strategy for rapid acquisition of mature technology for the user. An evolutionary approach delivers capability in increments, recognizing, up front, the need for future capability improvements. The objective is to balance needs and available capability with resources, and to put capability into the hands of the user quickly. The success of the strategy depends on phased definition of capability needs and system requirements, and the maturation of technologies that lead to disciplined development and production of systems that provide increasing capability over time. (See Figure 2.)

Figure 2. Requirements and Acquisition Process Flow.

   b. Evolutionary acquisition requires collaboration among the user, tester, and developer. In this process, a needed operational capability is met over time by developing several increments, each dependent on available mature technology. Technology development preceding initiation of an increment shall continue until the required level of maturity is achieved, and prototypes of the system or key system elements are produced. Successive Technology Development Phases may be necessary to mature technology for multiple development increments (section 803 of Public Law (P.L.) 107-314 (Reference (g))).

   c. Each increment is a militarily useful and supportable operational capability that can be developed, produced, deployed, and sustained. Each increment will have its own set of threshold and objective values set by the user. Block upgrades, pre-planned product improvement, and similar efforts that provide a significant increase in operational capability and meet an acquisition category threshold specified in this document shall be managed as separate increments under this Instruction.