Transforming JSOW Program from Full Military Specs to Commercial Practices

Transforming JSOW Program from Full Military Specs to Commercial Practices

Organization: NAVAIR, PMA-201

Team Name: Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) Team

Related Acquisition Topic(s): Acquisition Practices Streamlining, Alpha Contracting, Cost As an Independent Variable (CAIV), Paperless Program Office, Performance Specs and Standards, Specifications and Standards

Description:
The Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) Unitary variant (AGM-154C) acquisition team, under the direction of PMA-201, has demonstrated superior innovation and best acquisition practices in the management and implementation of this next generation standoff outside point defense weapon system. The Unitary JSOW team boldly accepted the extraordinary challenge of transforming this JSOW program from its original, full military specification and standard strategy to a streamlined, commercial standards and best acquisition/practices approach. Through innovation, exceptional management, and superlative performance of duties, this team masterminded a balance of design requirements, program resource constraints, and acquisition streamlining initiatives to accelerate delivery of JSOW Unitary to the warfighters. The team's superior implementation of cost as an independent variable (CAIV) and the alpha contracting processes with the prime contractor yielded significant program cost reductions as well as savings in time, negotiations and documentation requirements. Below is a summary of the Unitary JSOW team's accomplishments which highlights their efforts in improving the acquisition process: · Utilized CAIV principles to restructure the Unitary program making it more affordable and improving its operationally employment against the new projected threat environment. 1. Achieved a greater than 40% unit cost reduction; average unit procurement price estimated at $175K vice $300K while maintaining effectiveness against 95% of the targets. 2. Reduced pilot airborne workload by simplifying cockpit controls and allowing the pilot to fire and "forget" the weapon. 3. Eliminated the requirement for the use of an AWW-13 data link pod. This gives the aircraft another weapons station to hang more weapons or fuel tanks increasing its threat and combat radius. 4. Eliminated man in the loop training requirements which reduced Pilot training cost and time. · Created a new Unitary configuration in less than four months which includes a low cost off-the-shelf seeker with autonomous targeting acquisition and the Unitary warhead. This redesigned Unitary will be executed within the original contractual schedule and at significantly reduced costs. · Utilized acquisition streamlining initiatives to reduce statement of work pages from 200 to 18, and the number of required contract data deliverables from 200+ to 50. · Negotiated with the Prime Contractor to develop further cost reductions through a multi-year contracting strategy. · Developed a unique maintenance concept for a bumper-to-bumper warranty that: - Eliminated organic contractor maintenance requirements - Eliminated fleet organizational and intermediate level maintenance requirements - Facilitated built-in-test through the container to support rapid software reprogramming · Established cost savings in the configuration/data management arena by: 1. Streamlining the change control process where the government controls only the performance specifications. 2. Eliminating requirements for formal design reviews. 3. Reducing Unitary contract military specifications from 1500 to 4. · Created innovations in Product Assurance including: 1. Reduced/streamlined Surveillance Plan. 2. Substituted of MIL-Q-9858 with ISO 9000. · Utilized an improved Integrated Program Team philosophy which increased program efficiency: 1. Government participation versus oversight. 2. Direct Fleet operator involvement (Warrior Product Team) enabled the the design and performance trade-off process to be streamlined. 3. No government mandated processes. 4. Contractor maintained data library. 5. On-line resource cost, schedule, risk management and metrics data through a real-time management information system. The Unitary JSOW team has demonstrated untiring support and tenacity of purpose in achieving their single-minded goal of putting this JSOW variant in service. This team has successfully pursued several new initiatives that have enhanced their capabilities and productivity. Their exemplary teamwork and extraordinary service have led to lasting contributions that will continue to benefit the JSOW program and provide a benchmark for other weapon system acquisition programs.

NAVAIR, PMA-201

Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) Team