ACQ 101 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Major Capabilities Acquisition Pathway Structure - Answers- The structure of a DoD
acquisition program and the procedures used should be tailored as much as possible to
the characteristics of the product being acquired, and to the totality of circumstances
associated with the program, including operational urgency and risk factors.
Major Capabilities Acquisition Pathway Structure- Milestones - Answers- The Major
Capability Acquisition pathway uses "milestones" to oversee and manage acquisition
programs.At each milestone a program must meet specific statutory and regulatory
requirements before the program can proceed to the next phase of the acquisition
process.These are the three milestones:
Milestone A: initiates Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction
Milestone B: initiates Engineering and Manufacturing Development
Milestone C: initiates Production and Deployment
Major Capabilities Acquisition Pathway Structure- Phases - Answers- 5 phases-
Material Solution Analysis
Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction
Engineering and Manufacturing Development
Production and Development
Operations and Support
Major Capabilities Acquisition Pathway Structure- Decision Points - Answers- The Major
Capability Acquisition pathway also consists of these four decision points:
Materiel Development Decision (MDD)
Capability Development Document Validation (CDD-V)
Development Request for Proposal (RFP) Release Decision
Full-Rate Production (FRP) Decision
Material Development Decision (MSA) - Answers- In the Materiel Solution Analysis
phase, we pick the most promising technology to meet the user need identified in the
Initial Capabilities Document.(Pick the Most Promising Technology)
Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) - Answers- In the Technology
Maturation and Risk Reduction phase, we reduce risk by proving the reliability of the
technology through competitive prototyping. This ensures that we select the most
adequate and compatible technology.Reducing Risk through Competitive Prototyping
and Demonstration of Critical Technologies
Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) - Answers- In the Engineering and
Manufacturing Development phase, we complete the build to design. This involves
building a specified number of prototypes based on the selected design to prove that
the design works and the technology can be manufactured or produced.
Complete the Build-to Design
, Prove the Design Works through Testing
Can the Design be Manufactured
Defense Acquisition System Governing Documents - Answers- The Defense Acquisition
System is the management process by which DoD develops and buys weapons and
other systems.It is governed by:
DoDD 5000.01, "The Defense Acquisition System"
DoDI 5000.02, "Operation of the Adaptive Acquisition Framework"
This course will focus on the Major Capability Acquisition Pathway and is governed by:
DODI 5000.85, "Major Capability Acquisition"
The Defense Acquisition System also utilizes the best business practices described in
the Defense Acquisition Guidebook (DAG). This guidebook provides the non-mandatory
guidance on best practices, lessons learned, and expectations.
How does the Defense Acquisition System interact with other defense support systems?
- Answers- The Defense Acquisition System cannot operate properly unless it has good
interaction with other decision support systems.The other decision support systems are
the:
PPBE—how a program gets its budget
JCIDS—where the Warfighter documents capability needs (requirements).
Let's first look at how the JCIDS documents interact with the Major Capability
Acquisition pathway phases and milestones.
Major Capability Acquisition Pathway and JCIDS Relationship - Answers- DDoD
defines and validates requirements through the JCIDS and develops technology,
produces weapons systems, and provides logistics support through the Major Capability
Acquisition pathway.The diagram below illustrates the interaction between the
requirement process and the acquisition process.
Major Capability Acquisition Pathway and JCIDS Documents - Answers- The
Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA) process produces a validated Initial Capabilities
Document (ICD). The ICD summarizes the results of the CBA's identification of
warfighting capability gaps, as well as potential solutions that can mitigate or resolve
those gaps.ICDs that recommend a materiel approach to resolving capability gaps
support a MDD by an acquisition MDA.The ICD then becomes the basis for the MSA
phase. During the MSA phase, an AoA is conducted to consider the potential solutions
to the capability gaps identified in the ICD.The Draft CDD supports the Milestone A
decision and the Validated CDD supports the Development Request for Proposal
Release Decision (DRFPRD) and Milestone B. If necessary, the CDD is updated to
support Milestone C and beyond. The capabilities documents are integrated in the
Defense Acquisition System and drives the requirements as the technology is matured
and refined.
Which of the following are purposes of Major Capability Acquisition pathway? -
Answers- Develop technology
Produce weapons system
Major Capabilities Acquisition Pathway Structure - Answers- The structure of a DoD
acquisition program and the procedures used should be tailored as much as possible to
the characteristics of the product being acquired, and to the totality of circumstances
associated with the program, including operational urgency and risk factors.
Major Capabilities Acquisition Pathway Structure- Milestones - Answers- The Major
Capability Acquisition pathway uses "milestones" to oversee and manage acquisition
programs.At each milestone a program must meet specific statutory and regulatory
requirements before the program can proceed to the next phase of the acquisition
process.These are the three milestones:
Milestone A: initiates Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction
Milestone B: initiates Engineering and Manufacturing Development
Milestone C: initiates Production and Deployment
Major Capabilities Acquisition Pathway Structure- Phases - Answers- 5 phases-
Material Solution Analysis
Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction
Engineering and Manufacturing Development
Production and Development
Operations and Support
Major Capabilities Acquisition Pathway Structure- Decision Points - Answers- The Major
Capability Acquisition pathway also consists of these four decision points:
Materiel Development Decision (MDD)
Capability Development Document Validation (CDD-V)
Development Request for Proposal (RFP) Release Decision
Full-Rate Production (FRP) Decision
Material Development Decision (MSA) - Answers- In the Materiel Solution Analysis
phase, we pick the most promising technology to meet the user need identified in the
Initial Capabilities Document.(Pick the Most Promising Technology)
Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) - Answers- In the Technology
Maturation and Risk Reduction phase, we reduce risk by proving the reliability of the
technology through competitive prototyping. This ensures that we select the most
adequate and compatible technology.Reducing Risk through Competitive Prototyping
and Demonstration of Critical Technologies
Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) - Answers- In the Engineering and
Manufacturing Development phase, we complete the build to design. This involves
building a specified number of prototypes based on the selected design to prove that
the design works and the technology can be manufactured or produced.
Complete the Build-to Design
, Prove the Design Works through Testing
Can the Design be Manufactured
Defense Acquisition System Governing Documents - Answers- The Defense Acquisition
System is the management process by which DoD develops and buys weapons and
other systems.It is governed by:
DoDD 5000.01, "The Defense Acquisition System"
DoDI 5000.02, "Operation of the Adaptive Acquisition Framework"
This course will focus on the Major Capability Acquisition Pathway and is governed by:
DODI 5000.85, "Major Capability Acquisition"
The Defense Acquisition System also utilizes the best business practices described in
the Defense Acquisition Guidebook (DAG). This guidebook provides the non-mandatory
guidance on best practices, lessons learned, and expectations.
How does the Defense Acquisition System interact with other defense support systems?
- Answers- The Defense Acquisition System cannot operate properly unless it has good
interaction with other decision support systems.The other decision support systems are
the:
PPBE—how a program gets its budget
JCIDS—where the Warfighter documents capability needs (requirements).
Let's first look at how the JCIDS documents interact with the Major Capability
Acquisition pathway phases and milestones.
Major Capability Acquisition Pathway and JCIDS Relationship - Answers- DDoD
defines and validates requirements through the JCIDS and develops technology,
produces weapons systems, and provides logistics support through the Major Capability
Acquisition pathway.The diagram below illustrates the interaction between the
requirement process and the acquisition process.
Major Capability Acquisition Pathway and JCIDS Documents - Answers- The
Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA) process produces a validated Initial Capabilities
Document (ICD). The ICD summarizes the results of the CBA's identification of
warfighting capability gaps, as well as potential solutions that can mitigate or resolve
those gaps.ICDs that recommend a materiel approach to resolving capability gaps
support a MDD by an acquisition MDA.The ICD then becomes the basis for the MSA
phase. During the MSA phase, an AoA is conducted to consider the potential solutions
to the capability gaps identified in the ICD.The Draft CDD supports the Milestone A
decision and the Validated CDD supports the Development Request for Proposal
Release Decision (DRFPRD) and Milestone B. If necessary, the CDD is updated to
support Milestone C and beyond. The capabilities documents are integrated in the
Defense Acquisition System and drives the requirements as the technology is matured
and refined.
Which of the following are purposes of Major Capability Acquisition pathway? -
Answers- Develop technology
Produce weapons system
