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(U//FOUO) Justifying Expenditures of Money and Time: Acquisition
Analysis
FROM: Kevan L. Barton
Lead, SIGINT Acquisition and Capabilities Analysis Center of Excellence
(S01R2)
Run Date: 09/07/2004
(U//FOUO) (Note: If you are in the Acquisition & Business Management Skill Community or work
on any program, read below about an important Acquisition Analysis workshop.)
(U//FOUO) June 2003 was a watershed month, or one of infamy. Your opinion depends on which
side of the acquisition fence you sit philosophically. This was the month that the new JCIDS*
documents (CJCSI3170) arrived at NSA's doors and described for us the process that the DoD
expects us to use to identify capability gaps, describe prospective solutions, and justify
expenditures.
(U//FOUO) If you are of the old school at NSA, where you throw money to bridge the capability
gaps you've identified, then you hated June 2003. If, however, you are of the school that
believes that money must be justly and rightly spent on proven capability gap solutions, then
June 2003 was a banner month: wisdom in the acquisition process had indeed arrived!
(U//FOUO) But, even if you are of the positive ilk, the JCIDS documents describe a process, but
give scant direction on how to carry it off. Take for example the acquisition analysis piece (read
Analysis of Alternatives (AoA)), which the documents state must be part of an acquisition
program's history. An AoA is required for ACAT 1, ACAT 1A, and Major Acquisition of Information
System (MAIS) solution programs. The documents reference parent documents such as DoDI
5000.2, which in turn reference the Clinger-Cohen act, but no specific guidance is provided on
exactly how to pull off the AoA. 5000.2 even goes so far as to state that the AoA is required
because it helps justify expenditure by considering how a capability gap solution,
Illuminates capability advantages and disadvantages
Considers joint operational plans
Examines sufficient feasible alternatives
Discusses key assumptions and variables and sensitivity to changes in these
Assesses technology risk and maturity
Calculates costs
(U//FOUO) How do we, then, reconcile the requirement for acquisition analysis with the lack of
guidance on how to do it? There is a solution on the horizon. You are invited to attend a
workshop entitled "Acquisition Analysis (AoA) for Conceptual IT Solutions within the
Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS)" . The workshop will be
held at nearby JHU/APL from 5 to 7 October. The workshop is your opportunity to see the
results of cross-organizational efforts to develop an NSA policy and manual for conducting
acquisition analysis for IT-based systems, learn how to conduct an AoA, or even to provide your
two-cents worth to the AoA manual. The workshop presenters come from within NSA, the
broader acquisition community, the military, and academia. For workshop agenda and
registration details, contact Kevan L. Barton (contact info below).
(U//FOUO) If you are in the Acquisition & Business Management Skill Community, the workshop
is a must. If you are working on any program (e.g. transformation activity like CMM,
TRAILBLAZER, etc.), it is paramount.
(U//FOUO) Acquisition analysis is here to stay. It makes sense. It isn't as onerous as you'd
expect. We hope to see you at the workshop.
(U//FOUO) For further information and registration go to this website .
*(U) Notes:
JCIDS = Joint Concept Capabilities Integration and Development System
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108