M&S Support to Acquisition: Summary of M&S Policy in Defense Acquisition System Directives

M&S Support to Acquisition: Summary of M&S Policy in Defense Acquisition System Directives

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approach_sba.doc 977.00 kB

2001.08.31

This paper describes the Department of the Navy's approach to realizing advanced acquisition environments, such as have been described under the term Simulation Based Acquisition (SBA). A current assessment of SBA is presented. In accordance with its responsibility as DoN lead for SBA, the Navy Acquisition Reform Office (ARO) is developing a campaign plan to realize the goals of SBA and related initiatives. Current Navy SBA-related efforts are reviewed. A plethora of other activities related to SBA are identified, all of which seek to achieve advanced information sharing and product development environments under different names. These exist across both government and industry. In the aggregate, these activities cause confusion across the acquisition landscape, frustrating program managers but also offering the opportunity for synergy and the accelerated realization of SBA. A methodology is proposed for considering these various activities and achieving these benefits cooperatively. This involves focusing on the underlying strategies and the associated enablers for each, then cooperatively crafting a composite plan of action. The rationale for concerted DoD action is presented. The Navy's management strategy, for accomplishing the tasks at hand and achieving the broad cultural changes envisioned, is described. Some solution elements are identified, including the need for DoN involvement with commercial standards bodies.