Description
Organization: MARCORSYSCOM, DRPM (AAA)
Team Name: Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV) Team
Related Acquisition Topic(s): Cost As an Independent Variable (CAIV), Financial Management
Description:
During 1999, the collocated Government-Industry AAAV Team continued to build upon their established, “real time,” acquisition reform processes to achieve unprecedented levels of programmatic maturity and advanced system insights in the PDRR Phase of the program. These achievements will be translated into millions of dollars of future cost avoidance. Capitalizing on the inherent synergies and unique opportunities created by the acquisition practices institutionalized throughout the AAAV program, the Team was able to able to achieve significant programmatic progress which was highlighted by the Roll Out of the first AAAV prototype in June. Additionally, they advanced the state of the practice in major ground weapons system development.
Reduced Life Cycle Cost: The AAAV Program is one of only ten Department of the Navy pilot programs for Program Manager’s Oversight of Life Cycle Support (PMOLCS). Accordingly, CAIV and life cycle cost reduction are embedded in all of the program’s trade study efforts as well as all programmatic planning and decisions. As part of the PMOLCS pilot program effort, the DRPM AAA has taken the philosophy of “Design for Manufacturing” to the next level and is aggressively pursuing “Design for Life Cycle Readiness and Support” in the PDRR phase of the program. Additionally, the DRPM AAA has sustained their continuous emphasis on life cycle cost reduction with the submission of eight Total Ownership Cost (TOC) Reduction initiatives in 1999. These initiatives have a potential combined total cost avoidance of $424.7M to the AAAV program alone, and an additional cost avoidance of $218.3M to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Navy, and the Air Force. The TOC initiatives range from improved producibility efforts, to a multi-service joint ammunition development, to a revolutionary integrated digital information system (GATOR-LINK) for real-time asset visibility, supportability, and life cycle cost reduction for AAAVs in Marine operating forces around the world.
As part of their extensive life cycle cost reduction program, the DRPM AAA has also extended CAIV to the multi-million dollar major programmatic decisions being made during this early stage in the AAAV's life cycle. For example, in the true spirit of partnership and teamwork between the Government and Industry, the DRPM AAA is working closely its prime contractor on a rigorous CAIV-driven trade study to determine the best and most cost effective site for producing the AAAV. This site must also support the long-term supply and support strategies being simultaneously developed by the DRPM-AAA as part of the PMOLCS program. This type of proactive planning has resulted in the program being able to integrate major, high-dollar production and life cycle cost trade-offs early in the PDRR phase of the program.
As a DRPM, the AAAV Program Manager reports directly to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition (ASN (RDA)), making The acquisition system more efficient, responsive, and timely. To further streamline the acquisition system, the DRPM AAA has direct lines of communication to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the AAAV Resource Sponsor.
