Urgent Capability Acquisition

Each page in this pathway presents a wealth of curated knowledge from acquisition policies, guides, templates, training, reports, websites, case studies, and other resources. It also provides a framework for functional experts and practitioners across DoD to contribute to the collective knowledge base. This site aggregates official DoD policies, guides, references, and more.

DoD and Service policy is indicated by a BLUE vertical line.

Directly quoted material is preceeded with a link to the Reference Source.

Reference Source: DoDI 5000.81, Adapted from Table 1

Assessment Approach: 10 U.S.C. §2366 and §2399

For programs under DOT&E oversight, operational and live fire test plans will be submitted to DOT&E for approval at the Development Milestone; post-deployment assessment plans will be submitted to DOT&E for approval at the Production and Deployment Milestone. DOT&E will ensure that testing is rigorous enough to rapidly evaluate critical operational issues. Test Plans submitted for DOT&E approval are required to be delivered 60 days before the start of testing.

Programs not under DOT&E oversight are approved at the Service level; the program may require a rapid and focused operational assessment and live fire testing (if applicable) prior to deploying an urgent need solution. The Acquisition Approach will identify any requirements to evaluate health, safety, operational effectiveness, suitability, environmental factors, supportability and survivability.

Course of Action Analysis: Subtitle III of Title 40, U.S.C.

Approved by the MDA.

For JUONs, JEONs, critical warfighter issues identified by the Warfighter SIG, and SecDef or DepSecDef RAA determinations, a copy is due to the Executive Director, JRAC, within 3 business days of MDA approval.

RAA Recommendation: MDA approves the decision to request RAA at the Development Milestone

Reference Source: DoDI 5000.81, Adapted from Table 1

Disposition Authority’s Report to the DoD Component Head: Para. 4.5.e. of this issuance

Based on the disposition official’s recommendation in the Disposition Analysis, the Component Head will determine and document the disposition of the initiative and process it in accordance with applicable Component and requirements authority procedures.

New/revised text from DoDI 5000.02, Enclosure 13, January 2015, is highlighted in red; deletions are shown as strikethrough text.

Entry into development is approved by the MDA. PM Provides: Acquisition Strategy and APB to include program requirements, schedule, activities, program funding, the assessment approach and intermediate decision points and criteria The MDA will:

• Determine feasibility of fielding capability within required timelines to include consideration of the technical maturity of the preferred solution(s). If the MDA determines that the fielding of the capability cannot be accomplished in the required timelines, then the MDA may direct partial or interim solutions that can be fielded more rapidly, or may direct that the program will be managed under a different authority.
• Review the acquisition strategy and program baseline and determine whether the preferred solution:
  • Can be fielded within 2 years.
  • Does not require substantial development effort.
  • Is based on technologies that are proven and available.
  • Can be acquired under a fixed price contract.
  • Provides any exceptions necessary pursuant to section 804 (b)(3) of P.L. 111-383, including exceptions to the requirements of Paragraph (2)(b)1 through Paragraph (2)(b)4 (refers to 1 thru 4 above).

• Approve Acquisition Strategy and APB
• Approve initial quantities to be produced and assessed, to include required assessment and training articles.
• Decide if RRA should be requested from SECDEF or DEPSECDEF to expedite the fielding
• Approve the planned testing approach. A normal test and evaluation master plan (TEMP) is generally not necessary.
  • TEMPs are usually not appropriate for efforts using urgent capability acquisition procedures when there is minimal development work and minimal development work and minimal test and evaluation to execute. Some test planning is usually required, however, in collaboration with the supporting developmental or operational test organization. The MDA may require a highly-tailored and abbreviated test plan. The abbreviated test plan will describe a performance assessment approach that will include schedule, test types and environment, and assets required. An Operational Test Plan for the required pre-deployment performance assessment is generally adequate. If the defense urgent capability acquisition program is under DOT&E oversight, a TEMP is also not normally required; however, the Program Manager should prepare a combined operational and live fire test plan for DOT&E approval. A TEMP is also not normally required if the urgent capability acquisition effort is under DOT&E oversight. The PM, in collaboration with the supporting operational test organization, should prepare operational and live fire test plans for DOT&E approval, however. An operational test plan for the required pre-deployment performance assessment is generally adequate.
  • Approve testing approach. If DOT&E oversight, PM prepares combined OT and live fire test plan for DOT&E approval
  • Approve any waivers to statue or regulation
  • Authorize release of RFPs
  • Document decisions in an ADM