Aviation Week: DOD Reports Nunn-McCurdy Cost-Growth Breaches
The Pentagon has listed eight programs in its recently released Selected Acquisition Reports (SARs) that breached their Nunn-McCurdy unit cost-growth limits, where the program or average unit costs have increased by 15 percent or more to their current acquisition program baselines (APB) or by 30 percent or more to their original APB.

Award-Term Contracting: The Right Tool for the Right Environment
This article, written by Dayton Aerospace consultants Gary Poleskey and John Slinkard and appearing in Contract Management Magazine, challenges a previous Award Term article entitled "Award-Term Contracts: Good for Business?" Messrs Polesky and Slinkard assert that the authors of the previous article unjustifiably attacked the award-term technique and strongly discouraged contracting officers from even considering its use.

Dayton Aerospace Supports the Wright Brothers Heritage Foundation at the Paris Air Show
With Dayton Aerospace support, promoters of Dayton's Aviation Heritage Plan attended the International Paris Air Show to trumpet the city where the Wright Brothers got aviation off the ground before taking their work to Europe.

Defense Acquisition Guidebook (Online)
The Defense Acquisition Guidebook (DAG) is designed to complement DoD Directive 5000.1 and DoD Instruction 5000.2 by providing the acquisition workforce with discretionary best practices that should be tailored to the needs of each program.

DoDI 5000.2, Operation of the Defense Acquisition System (Online)
This DoD Instruction (DoDI) establishes a simplified and flexible management framework for translating mission needs and technology opportunities, based on approved mission needs and requirements, into stable, affordable, and well-managed acquisition programs that include weapon systems and automated information systems (AIS).

FAR Subpart 6.3, Other Than Full and Open Competition (Online)
This subpart prescribes policies and procedures, and identifies the statutory authorities, for contracting without providing for full and open competition.

OUSD (AT&L) Contract Pricing Reference Guides (Online)
The Contract Pricing Reference Guides are a set of five reference volumes that were developed jointly by the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) and the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). The Guides are now maintained by the Office of the Deputy Director of Defense Procurement for Cost, Pricing, and Finance (DP/CPF). The Guides were developed to provide instruction and professional guidance for contracting personnel. They provide detailed discussion and examples applying pricing policies to pricing problems.

Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS)
PPIRS is a web-enabled, government-wide application that provides timely and pertinent contractor past performance information to the Federal acquisition community for use in making source selection decisions.

PM Magazine: Best Value Formula
This article, from Defense Acquisition University's (DAU) Program Manager (PM) Magazine, is an excellent primer on Best Value and offers a formula/process for making a best value judgment during a source selection.

State Department Directorate of Defense Trade Controls ITAR (Online)
The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls website contains the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) and links to other reference material

AF-HDBK-38-210, Air Force Best Practices Clearinghouse
This handbook provides the necessary guidance to assist Air Force Best Practices Clearinghouse customers in submitting best practices, searching for best practices and accessing various informational areas of the clearinghouse.

AFI 63-101, Operations of Capabilities Based Acquisition System
This Air Force Instruction applies to technology projects and acquisition programs procured under DoD 5000.2 and serves as a tool to ensure a systematic framework approach is utilized when acquiring Air Force capabilities.

AFMC Award Fee & Award Term Guide
The purpose of this guide is to provide assistance on the application of award fee and award term incentives.

AFMCPAM 63-101, Risk Management
This pamphlet is intended to provide program managers and their program management team a basic understanding of the terms, definitions and processes associated with effective risk management.

AFPD 62-5, Standards of Airworthiness for Commercial Derivative Hybrid Aircraft
This directive establishes policies to ensure the Air Force's commercial derivative hybrid aircraft used for operations, surveillance, training, and test and evaluation maintain high levels of safety and to ensure the Air Force does not duplicate activities performed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), such as Type Certification (TC) or Supplemental Type Certification (STC) pertaining to those aircraft.

Air Force Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) Guide
This document sets policy, assigns responsibilities and provides procedures for systematically assessing contractor performance as required by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 42.

Air Force Guidance on Procurement of Automatic Test Systems and Equipment
In response to GAO reports, ATS/ATE requirements will be coordinated through WR-ALC for approval.

Air Force Guide - Award Term/Incentive Options
This guide provides general guidance on ways to use Award Term provisions in Air Force contracts.

Air Force Implementation of Spiral Development
This briefing, presented by SAF/ACE, outlines the definition of spiral development, the Air Force's focus on implementing spiral development, the new spiral development process and lessons learned.

Air Force Software Management Guidebook
This guidebook is the second product of the Air Force Software Systems Strategic Improvement Program (AFSSIP) working group, and provides the next level of definition in setting Air Force acquisition expectations for systems that have significant software content or software-driven functionality.

An Orientation to Manufacturing Readiness Levels and Assessments
This briefing, presented by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), outlines the purpose and procedures for using Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Assessments (MRA).

Army Probability of Program Success Operations Guide
The probability of program success initiative is designed to improve the Army's ability to accurately assess a program's probability of success, and clearly / concisely represent that success probability to Army leadership.

CMMI for Development (CMMI-DEV) Version 1.2
CMMI(TM) for Development (CMMI-DEV), Version 1.2 is an upgrade of CMMI-SE/SW/IPPD/SS, Version 1.1. The focus of the CMMI Version 1.2 effort is on improving the quality of CMMI products and the consistency of how they are applied.

DAU Earned Value Management (EVM) Gold Card
The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) Earned Value Management (EVM) Gold Card provides a handy EVM reference.

Defense Acquisition Guidebook, Chapter 3: Affordability and Life-Cycle Resource Estimates
This chapter of the Defense Acquisition Guidebook addresses acquisition program affordability and resource estimation. It provides explanations of the program and pre-program activities and information required by DoD Instruction 5000.2, and discusses the support and documentation provided by the Office of the Secretary of Defense staff elements.

Defense Acquisition Guidebook, Chapter 4, Systems Engineering
This chapter of the Defense Acquisition Guidebook facilitates compliance with mandatory systems engineering direction.

Defense Acquisition Performance Assessment (DAPA) Report (Kadish Report)
On June 7, 2005, the Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense, Gordon England, authorized a sweeping and integrated assessment to consider "every aspect" of acquisition, giving rise to the Defense Acquisition Performance Assessment Project.

DoD Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) Policy Guide
This document sets policy, assigns responsibilities and provides procedures for systematically assessing contractor performance as required by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 42.

DoD Template for Application of TLCSM and PBL in the Weapon System Life Cycle
The purpose of this template is to provide program managers, their staff, and logistics participants in the acquisition process a tool to assist them in ensuring that effecting sustainment is addressed and accomplished over the life cycle.

Evolutionary Acquisition: EA Template
This template is intended to assist the Program Manager and staff in the preparation of an acquisition strategy reflecting an evolutionary approach to systems development and acquisition.

FY09 President's Budget (USAF)
This briefing presents a top-level view of the USAF portion of the FY09 President's Budget.

GAO Cost Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Estimating and Managing Program Costs
Because federal guidelines are limited on processes, procedures, and practices for ensuring credible cost estimates, this Cost Guide is intended to fill that gap. Its purpose is twofold - to address generally accepted best practices for ensuring credible program cost estimates and to provide a detailed link between cost estimating and Earned Value Management (EVM).

Introduction to Defense Acquisition Management (Seventh Edition)
This seventh edition provides an update of the regulatory framework from Department of DoDD 5000.1 and DoDI 5000.2 governing the defense acquisition system.

Joint Memorandum: Test and Evaluation Policy Revisions
This joint memo (OT&E and AT&L) implements six new policies; integrated DT&OT, increased emphasis on user needs, using both government and contractor data, and others.

Manager's Guide to Technology Transition in an Evolutionary Acquisition Environment
This OUSD (AT&L) guide is intended to be a source of information to promote collaboration among team members. It provides an overview of the processes, communities, programs, and challenges associated with technology transition.

MIL-HDBK-516B, Airworthiness Certification
This document establishes the airworthiness certification criteria to be used in the determination of airworthiness of all manned and unmanned, fixed and rotary wing air vehicle systems.

MIL-HDBK-882D, Standard Practice for System Safety
This standard practice addresses an approach useful in the management of environmental, safety, and health mishap risks encountered in the development, test, production, use and disposal of DoD systems, subsystems, equipment, and facilities.

Naval Open Architecture Guidebook
This Contract Guidebook is recommended for Industry representatives who are incorporating Naval Open Architecture (NOA) principles into National Security System (NSS) acquisition programs.

NDIA PMSC ANSI/EIA-748-A, Standard for Earned Value Management Systems Intent Guide
This Intent Guide was created by the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Program Management Systems Committee (PMSC) to provide additional insight into the Earned Value Management System (EVMS) guidelines included in Section 2 of the ANSI/EIA-748-A Standard for Earned Value Management Systems. It is applicable to either government or industry communities for the purpose of documenting how their earned value management system complies with the ANSI/EIA 748 EVMS Guidelines.

OFPP Memorandum on Incentive Contracts
The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) issued a policy letter on incentive contracting. It is their attempt to echo the GAO findings of a year or so ago – ensure incentives are tied to cost, schedule, and performance goals and that incentive payments are tied to demonstrated results; i.e., performance-based.

OUSD (AT&L) Memorandum: Performance Based Logistics - Purchasing Using Performance Based Criteria
This memorandum issues guidance on purchasing weapon system logistics support using performance based criteria.

OUSD (AT&L) Memorandum: Product Support Boundaries
Through efforts to implement innovative product support strategies to improve readiness and reduce costs, several areas were identified where policy should be adjusted and international standards employed to ensure individual weapon system support strategies fit within our overall support structure for the joint force and coalition operations. These are captured in the reference document "Product Support Boundaries", attached to this memo.

OUSD (AT&L) Memorandum: Proper Use of Award Fee Contracts and Award Fee Provisions
The purpose of this memorandum is to state the Department's policy with regard to the proper use of award fee contracts and award fee provisions.

OUSD (AT&L) Memorandum: Prototyping and Competition
Many troubled programs share common traits - the programs were initiated with inadequate technology maturity and an elementary understanding of the critical program development path. To rectify these situations, all Military Services and Defense Agency pending and future programs must formulate acquisition strategies and funding that provide for two or more competing teams producing prototypes through Milestone (MS) B.

OUSD (AT&L) Memorandum: Total Life Cycle Systems Management (TLCSM) Metrics
This memorandum provides specific definitions of Total Life Cycle Systems Management (TLCSM) metrics formulas for use across DoD and directs their use as the standard set of metrics for evaluating TLCSM.

OUSD (L&MR) Memorandum: Life Cycle Sustainment Outcome Metrics
This memo establishes the Materiel Readiness/Sustainment Key Performance Parameter (KPP) and Material Reliability and Ownership Cost KSAs, along with a Mean Down Time definition. Further, it lists 14 Life Cycle Sustainment (LCS) "Enablers".

Presidential Memorandum - Agency Use of Alternate Means of Dispute Resolution
This Presidential Memorandum designates Interagency Committees to facilitate and encourage Agency use of alternate means of dispute resolution and negotiated rulemaking.

Risk Management Guide for DoD Acquisition
The purpose of this guide is to assist Department of Defense (DoD) Program Managers (PMs), program offices, and their Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) in effectively managing risks within their acquisition programs.

Rules of the Road - A Guide for Leading Successful Integrated Product Teams (IPT)
In May 1995 the Secretary of Defense directed the Department to apply the Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD) concept of using Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) throughout the acquisition process. The Rules of the Road guide is a "living" doucment, and the guidelines are designed to assist the Program Manager by engaging both OSD and Service staffs in the IPT process.

SAF/AQ Memorandum: Air Force Policy for Award Fee Contracting
This memo endorses the additional policy issued by OUSD/AT&L, DPAP with respect to award fee contracts. In accordance with this policy, when award fee contracts are used the award fee will be earned only when the contractor meets the minimum essential contract requirements.

SAF/AQ Memorandum: Use of Non-Government Personnel in Air Force Source Selections
This memo addresses the proper procedures, including organizational conflict of interest, required when using non-government personnel to support an Air Force source selection.

Systems Engineering Plan (SEP) Preparation Guide
This document guides program teams in generating their program's Systems Engineering Plan (SEP) regardless of the acquisition category (ACAT) level of the program.

The Program Manager's Guide to the Integrated Baseline Review (IBR) Process
This Guide is the principal IBR reference and should be used to implement an integrated baseline discipline on an acquisition program. Program Manager's are strongly encouraged to use this Guide during IBR training, when preparing for an IBR, and then again during the actual execution and conduct of the IBR.

US Army Materiel Command: Partnering for Success
Too often the acquisition process is undermined by adversarial relationships, suspicion between the government and industry, volumes of paperwork and costly litigation. We can no longer afford to do business in this manner. This Guide provides the acquisition community with a tool that can maximize the potential for achieving contractual objectives. This tool is called Partnering.

USAF Source Selection Revisions
This SAF/AQCP briefing describes the new USAF Source Selection policy revisions. The new policy elevates cost/price risk as a separate evaluation factor.

Winning Proposal Fundamentals - Back to Basics
This briefing, developed by Dayton Aerospace for an industry business development workshop, covers ten fundamentals for winning proposals.

AFMCPAM 63-5, Integrated Master Plan and Schedule Guide
Dayton Aerospace was tasked by AFMC to author a revision to the AFMCPAM 63-5, Integrated Master Plan and Schedule Guide.

Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) Request for Proposal (RFP) Improvement Study
Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command (HQ AFMC) contracted with Dayton Aerospace to investigate and better understand issues surrounding current government Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Specifically, Dayton Aerospace was tasked to gather data, analyze the data, determine findings, and develop recommendations from industry for HQ AFMC on how Air Force RFPs can be improved.

Common Low Observables Verification System (CLOVerS) Independent Review Team
In a rapid response mode, DAI put together a multi-disciplined team and executed an independent review of the complex Common Low Observables Verification System (CLOVerS) program.

Guide for Integrating Systems Engineering into DoD Acquisition Contracts
Dayton Aerospace was tasked by OUSD (AT&L) to author a guidebook with the primary purpose of aiding the Program Manager and Lead (or Chief) Systems Engineer to effectively integrate systems engineering requirements into appropriate contracting elements in support of system acquisition.

Integrated Project Management Handbook
Dayton Aerospace was contracted to write this handbook for OSD. It is based on the premise that the multi-functional disciplines inherent to both Government and industry acquisition agencies are integral parts of program management and must be fully integrated to ensure successful integrated project management of DoD programs.

Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Performance Based Logistics (PBL) Business Case Analysis (BCA)
Dayton Aerospace conducted the Business Case Analysis (BCA) to assess the Performance Based Logistics (PBL) approach against the organic alternative of logistics support using a tailored process we developed and refined on a similar effort for the CV-22. Click 'Read More' to view extended coverage on how we successfully completed this effort.

OUSD (AT&L) Modular Open Systems Approaches (MOSA)
In support of the OUSD (AT&L) initiative to revitalize systems engineering and obtain the benefits of acquisition initiatives such as evolutionary acquisition and modular open systems approaches (MOSA), DAI consolidated a set of systems engineering and management concepts designed to improve the execution performance of DoD programs.

SAF/AQ Early Issue Identification and Resolution (EIIR) Workshop Development
Dayton Aerospace and its subcontractor, Center for Dispute Resolution (CPR), successfully developed and delivered the Early Issue Identification and Resolution (EIIR) Workshop for SAF/GCD.

Airworthiness Certification - From Winning Proposals to Delivering Capable Systems
Dayton Aerospace experience shows that many programs do not recognize how the Airworthiness Certification process impacts proposal preparation, systems engineering efforts during systems development and demonstration, and maintenance of airworthiness of operational systems.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) - A Different Approach to Solving Problems
The wisdom and concepts underlying Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) have been around a long time. But somehow the world of government contracting evolved into an increasingly rigid and inflexible system. That rigid system is changing. The Dayton Aerospace process for implementing ADR was developed while successfully facilitating actual ADRs for multimillion dollar disputes on major weapon systems.

Building Better RFPs - More Effective Communication with Industry
Dayton Aerospace consultants are seasoned experts who have led and participated in numerous Government source selections and industry proposals. We offer a powerful combination of both RFP and subject matter experts. Our RFP development support is tailored to specific client and solicitation needs, evolving as requirements change.

Building Winning Proposals - Capture Planning and Proposal Support
The key to a winning proposal is integrating and focusing the proposal team, and then using a disciplined and structure proposal process that is tailored to specific customer requirements. Our proposal consultants are both proposal and subject matter experts - a powerful combination!

Business Case Analysis - Building a Credible BCA
The Dayton Aerospace Team Business Case Analysis (BCA) approach provides highly experienced and credible team leadership able to understand and communicate effectively with your decision makers.

Competitive Assessments - The Right Way to Winning Proposals!
The most effective way to build a Winning Proposal is by starting with a structured competitive assessment tailored to your needs. Our proven process ensures you build the right team, compares you with your competitors, and provides an impartial facilitator.

Corporate Compliance - Ethics and Procurement Integrity
New mandatory compliance requirements established in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 3.10 and effective December 2007 apply to most government contractor companies. The Dayton Aerospace team provides for rapid development and enhancement of complete Contractor Ethics and Compliance Programs for all types and sizes of companies doing business with the Government.

Dayton Aerospace People - Our Greatest Asset!
Dayton Aerospace is a "hands on" partner, with a wealth of experience from both participating in government source selections and assisting with industry proposals. We work shoulder-to-shoulder with your experts.

Early Issue Identification and Resolution (EIIR) - One Key to Better Program Execution
The Dayton Aerospace EIIR Workshop objective is to improve program execution by providing joint training for Government and Industry that promotes early identification and resolution of issues in controversy, facilitates active management of issues throughout their life cycles, and helps to avoid program delays and excessive costs of disputes and litigation.

Full Spectrum Proposal Review Support - Using Cross-Functional Senior-Level Expertise
Winning proposals effectively communicate your strategy in ways which resonate with the source selection team. Our consultants have both built proposals and evaluated proposals - a discriminator!

Government Acquisition Fundamentals Workshop
The Dayton Aerospace Government Acquisition Fundamentals Workshop provides a knowledge-level overview of the DoD Systems Acquisition Process and the interrelating industry activities enabling the business development student to more effectively market within the confines of the DoD customer acquisition process.

Government Modular RFP Workshops Provide Just-in-Time IPT Training
Dayton Aerospace workshops are designed to be provided directly to Government Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) working specific programs.

Industry Modular Proposal Workshops Provide Just-in-Time IPT Training
Our industry modular proposal workshops are designed to assist the program manager in leading the IPT through the acquisition planning, RFP, source selection and program execution process.

Integrated Baseline Review (IBR) - Be Ready to Execute (Government Support)
DoD Program Managers must conduct an IBR on contracts with Earned Value Management (EVM) requirements. Dayton Aerospace has a proven process to help you successfully execute the IBR.

Integrated Baseline Review (IBR) - Be Ready! (Industry Support)
DoD Program Managers must conduct an IBR on contracts with Earned Value Management (EVM) requirements, generally within six months of award. Dayton Aerospace has a proven process to help your program team pass the IBR - the first time!

Integrated Master Schedule - A Foundation for Successful Program Execution
An Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) is a fundamental element of planning and managing a successful program from winning the contract to profitable execution. It provides the visibility and leverage you need in today's competition for limited budgets.

Integrating Schedule and Risk - A Powerful Management Combination
Creating an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) is a critical step in planning a successful program. Equally as important is determining the program risks.

Services Expertise - Producing Winning Proposals
The Dayton Aerospace team provides your team the winning edge - with the extensive breadth and depth of Services expertise to product winning proposals.

Sustainment/Acquisition Composte Model (S/ACOM)
The Sustainment/Acquisiton Composite Model is a validated and approved Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) tool - proven to accurately estimate aggregate Program Office manpower.

The Top 7 Reasons Programs Fail (and the Top 7 Ways to Ensure Success!)
Inevitable, all programs confront the same problems including: unexpected changes/reduction in government program funding, changing user requirements, unpredicted technical unknown-unknowns, unexpected schedule and integration problems and turnover in key people, to name a few. The success or failure of a program depends on the team's ability to execute the program despite these issues.

Training Systems Expertise - Producing Winning Proposals!
For Must Win proposals the Dayton Aerospace team provides the winning edge. Dayton Aerospace has the extensive breadth and depth of Training Systems expertise to produce winning proposals: