The mission of the STSC's Software Acquisition Management (SAM) team is to assist organizations acquire software intensive systems that meet or exceed the user's requirements within cost and schedule constraints. We assist in identifying and implementing realistic, effective, and goal-targeted methods of software acquisition and development.

The SAM team is available to assist other government agencies in the various processes and skill areas necessary to effectively acquire software intensive systems. Specialty areas of this group are estimating cost and schedule, life cycle management planning, evaluation of deliverable documents, analyzing the capability of software development organizations, and assisting in litigation.

Acquisition Process Improvement
• Service: Cost and Schedule Estimation
• Service: Computer Resources Life-Cycle Management Assistance
• Assessment: Documentation Evaluation
• Workshop: Introduction to SA-CMM (Software Acquisition Capability Maturity Model)

Assessments For Acquisition Practices (SCE/SDCE/SA-CMM)
• Assessment: Software Capability Evaluation Service
• Assessment: Software Development Capabilty Evaluation
• Assessment: SA-CMM Using CBA-IPI Method

Software Acquisition Management Services are available to U.S. Air Force organizations that acquire, develop or maintain software intensive systems, on a fee-for-service basis. They are also available to other DoD organizations and non-mission-critical software-intensive systems on a fee-for-service basis with program management approval. The following organizations are a representation of SAM customers:

Wright Patterson Air Force Base
Air Force Material Command
Ogden Air Logistics Center
McClellan Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base
U.S. Navy

Several of the professional employees of the STSC have worked specifically in the field of Software Acquisition Management. Collectively the SAM Team has substantial experience and expertise in software cost estimation, capability evaluation, and effective implementation of software acquisition management principles. The SAM team provides personal hands-on assistance to acquisition organizations. The SAM team regularly receives support from Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Loral, NCI, SAIC, Software Engineering Inc., TRW, and Utah Research Institute.