10.16. Acquisition Program Transition Workshops (APTW)
General. Acquisition Program Transition Workshops (APTWs) are intended to provide timely and tailored assistance to Acquisition Category (ACAT) ID, ACAT IAM, and select special interest government program managers in aligning the government/contractor team at critical points in the program’s schedule. APTWs are neither reviews nor assessments. They are to be conducted for the program manager on a “non-judgmental” basis with any findings, conclusions and recommendations provided to only the government and industry program managers. The APTW should enhance both the government and industry program manager’s capability to successfully anticipate and resolve commonplace challenges as well as unanticipated issues that may arise throughout program execution. Flowing from this effort, the Defense Acquisition University maintains a lessons-learned program for dissemination among all program teams to foster better program performance and increase the chance for successful program outcomes. As part of a governance effort, the offices of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) (Strategic & Tactical Systems), the DASD (Space & Intelligence), the DASD (Command, Control, Communications & Cyber), the Deputy Chief Management Officer, and the Service Military Deputies will collaborate on common threads and trends from completed APTWs, and adjust workshop content as required.
10.16.1. Acquisition Program Transition Workshop (APTW) Purpose and Objectives
The basic purpose, common goals, and common deliverables for the APTW process are listed below.
Basic Purpose. To achieve early alignment of government & industry teams, particularly at the Integrated Product Team level and with a product orientation.
Common Goals.
- Common Interpretation of Contract Requirements/Provisions
- Understanding/Alignment of Government & Industry Processes
- Understanding/Agreement on Program Risk Elements
- Understanding/Agreement on Integrated Product Team (IPT) Structure, Concept of Operations, Authority
Common Deliverables.
- Integrated Baseline Review (IBR) Roadmap/Preliminary or Critical Design Review Roadmap (Major Goals)
- Agreement on Program Management Review Scope & Processes
- Joint Understanding of Program Scope & Configuration Management
- Resolution of Issues/Interpretation of Differences
- Commitment to Timely Communications and Transparency
- Actions Needing Further Consideration/Resolution
10.16.2. Acquisition Program Transition Workshop (APTW) Execution
It is strongly recommended that Program Managers of all Acquisition Category (ACAT) ID, ACAT IAM ,and special interest programs conduct an APTW with their Industry PM counterparts within the first few weeks following contract award or re-baseline action (such as those associated with Post Nunn-McCurdy certifications). Requests for workshops from other programs will be entertained as resources allow.
Program Managers should contact the Defense Acquisition University in a timely manner to facilitate the following planning and execution processes.
Draft Request for Proposal (RFP). As a DoDI 5000.02 defined Milestone or a major transition/restart is approached, information regarding APTWs should be included in the RFP and Statement of Work. Acquisition Category (ACAT) ID and ACAT IAM Program Managers should address APTWs in their Draft RFP briefings to possible respondents.
Pre-Contract Award. The period prior to source selection and contract award is a particularly useful time for the government Program Manager to engage in APTW government team training and/or process development for contract execution.
Post Contract Award. In the first few weeks following contract award, program managers should coordinate with the industry program manager counterpart on actions that will result in a joint APTW within five weeks following contract award.
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