leads to an analysis of the new DOD draft Test and Evaluation Directive 5000.3, dated 7 March 77. This revision to DOD T and E policy emphasizes earlier operator involvement and combined development and operational testing in the acquisition process. A series of interviews with DOD and AF officials was used to compare the current perceptions of the role and effectiveness of IOT and E and AFTEC. The AFTEC view of itself is compared with the other viewpoints expressed in the interviews. Finally, the paper makes recommendations to the PM as to how he can better ensure that he includes all valid operational requirements in his test program. The areas covered are establishing the baseline, organizing and planning with primary emphasis on the latter. GRA N77-32963# Army War Coll.. Carlisle Barracks, Pa. MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS George L. Wooley 3 Jun. 1977 76 prefs (AD-A042859) Avail: NTIS HC A05/MF A01 CSCL 05/1 The intent of this investigative research effort was to perform a critical appraisal of the Department of Defense technological innovation process in the light of recent research in private industry technological innovation. The study focuses specifically on Research and Development and technological innovations for electronic systems. The focus is directed toward electronic systems because of the thesis that electronic technology is progressing rapidly enough to make the life span of technologies less than the optimum DOD system acquisition cycle time. The study concludes that more DOD electronic systems will be fielded with obsolete computer subsystems unless changes are made in the military R and D approaches. The first recommendation is that Department of Defense establish a program of joint service evaluation of competing technologies as part of electronic systems development projects. The study also recommends the establishing of a more meaningful incentive program for government and contractor personnel that is unique to technological innovation. GRA N77-32964# Defense Systems Management School, Fort Belvoir, Va. ACQUIRING AFFORDABLE WEAPONS SYSTEMS (AD-A042777) Avail: NTIS HC A05/MF A01 CSCL 15/3 This project attempts to examine the approaches being taken to reduce the O and S cost implications of systems being acquired, and to examine the potential effectiveness of these approaches. The project was conducted by interviewing key people within OSD and the Services currently participating in outyear cost management, by researching recent available literature on the subject, and by integrating the results into a capsule summary and evaluation of current activities. A series of efforts are ongoing. New draft management directives have been prepared in OSD and the Services aimed at infusing affordability considerations more heavily throughout the acquisition process. O and S cost data banks are being constructed by the Services to provide weapon system and subsystem cost visibility. Innovative procurement procedures and affordability management techniques are being used successfully on some new system acquisitions. Considerably more effort is required before more affordable weapons systems become a reality. This includes integration and increasing responsiveness of diverse organizational units, improvements in cost estimation, building of a suitably detailed cost data base, joint consideration of logistics support, manpower planning with design variables, and development of a more rigorous affordability discipline. GRA N77-32966# Defense Systems Management School, Fort Belvoir, Va. MILESTONE ZERO: ITS CHANGES ON THE AIR FORCE ACQUISITION PROCESS Larry R. Gross May 1977 40 prefs (AD-A042770) Avail: NTIS HC A03/MF A01 CSCL 05/1 This project examines the changes caused by the addition of milestone-0 to the weapon system acquisition process, particularly with respect to the activities leading to a program initiation decision. Since the Air Force has not issued directives to implement this new DoD policy, the unresolved issues are examined. The author made a literature survey to obtain the background and historical focus of past concerns which eventually lead to the current policy; the results are summarized. In addition, structured interviews were conducted at DDRE, HQ USAF and HQ AFSC to obtain perspective on the intent of the new policy as well as insight on methods to implement it. As a result, this report provides some criteria which the Secretary of the Air Force could use in recommending that a major program be initiated. A possible set of mission areas is presented which could be the basis for mission area analyses. Finally, changes to the existing requirements documentation process are offered. GRA Va. N77-32966# Defense Systems Management School, Fort Belvoir, MANAGING TOTAL ACQUISITION TIME: A NEW PRIORITY FOR MAJOR WEAPON SYSTEMS James B. Lincoln May 1977 33 p refs (AD-A043164) Avail: NTIS HC A03/MF A01 CSCL 15/5 The report analyzes the background and evolutionary changes that led to the current weapons acquisition management environment that emphasizes cost controls over all other management controls. The resulting lack of emphasis on time has brought about significant increases in total acquisition time for major systems. Specific causes of increased acquisition time have been lengthy decision processes, contracting procedures and other indirect factors such as economic conditions and multinational considerations. Current conditions of rapidly advancing state of the art and improving enemy capabilities point out the need for reduced, not increased, acquisition time, from inception to operational capability. Author (GRA) constraints retard or frustrate innovation and what policies or actions by the Federal Government, including actions requiring the cooperation of government, industry and other institutions. might enhance the development and utilization of new technologies in order to provide profitable and socially desirable products and services. Data obtained from the survey are analyzed and combined with workshop comments to form the basis for policy recommendations. Statistical data and a technical discussion of the methodology used are included. Findings involve profiles of characteristics of industries, technical objectives, constraints, and policy options. N77-33101# Boeing Vertol Co., Philadelphia, Pa. GRA PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM EVALUATION (AD-A042134; D210-11146-2; USAAMRDL-TR-77-17) Avail: NTIS HC A06/MF A01 CSCL 01/3 This report presents the results of a study to develop an analysis technique for evaluating the cost and operational effectiveness of potential aircraft modifications that affect reliability and maintainability. Author (GRA) (NASA-CR-151521; MDC-G 6922-Pt-3-Vol-4) HC A05/MF A01 CSCL 22A Avail: NTIS A brief description of recommended supporting research and technology items resulting from the space station analysis study is provided. Descriptions include the title; the status with respect to the state of the art; the justification; the technical plan including objectives and technical approach; resource requirements categorized by manpower, specialized facilities, and funding in 1977 dollars; and also the target schedule. The goal is to provide high confidence in the solutions for the various functional system development problems, and to do so within a time period compatible with the overall evolutionary space construction base schedule. Author separate identifiable entities. Cost estimating relationships for subsystem and program-level components were calculated. Author N77-33381# Stanford Research Inst., Menlo Park, Calif. Transportation Center. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY FOR FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS. VOLUME 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY R. L. Braun, R. H. Cronin, N. A. David, A. V. Fend, and J. R. Norman May 1977 29 p (Contract DOT-HS-6-01519) (PB-266936/4; DOT-802340-Vol-1) HC A03/MF A01 CSCL 13F Avail: NTIS The results of a six month study to determine feasibility and appropriate evaluation schemes in a real world environment for four Federal motor vehicle safety standards are summarized: (1) fuel integrity; (2) occupant protection; (3) side door strength; and (4) exterior protection. Based on a review of the literature. background material, specifications, compliance tests, and available evaluation methodologies, feasibility was established for the evaluation of three safety standards. Within an augmented National crash severity study program, detailed evaluation plans for motor vehicle safety standards are described and recommended. GRA FEA/B-77/135) HC A03/MF A01 CSCL 10A Avail: NTIS A survey of private firms that have manufactured and sold solar collectors during the second half of calendar year 1976 was conducted for the purpose of obtaining descriptive statistics on economic activity in the solar heating and cooling area and identifying production growth in this industry. Results show that production during the second half of 1976 was 73 percent greater than during the first half of 1976; total production for 1976 was 168 percent greater than that of 1975. GRA N77-34030# Perceptronics, Inc., Woodland Hills, Calif. This thesis investigates the long run implications of short term policy making decisions. Manpower modeling techniques based on Markovian chains are applied to a small fast growing Navy organization. An interactive model is designed here to simulate policy changes and illustrate the interaction between flows, promotions and stocks, relative to a stable set of policy parameters over a period of time. Training and budget planning are addressed in some detail with a focus of the civilian population within the organization. Because real data is not available, the numerical examples are based on hypothetical data. The examples are presented to give the reader a feeling for how the model simulates various policy alternatives. Author (GRA) N77-34033# Defense Systems Management School, Fort Belvoir, Va. MAJOR SYSTEM ACQUISITION: IS A SEPARATE SPARES CONTRACT BETTER Louis Keith Dumas May 1977 48 p refs (AD-A042775) Avail: NTIS HC A03/MF A01 CSCL 15/5 This study seeks to focus attention on the support investment aspect of the weapon system acquisition process and to examine current views on the use of a separate spares contract for the initial provisioning and acquisition of spare/repair parts. The author contrasts historical and current approaches to contracting for initial spare/repair parts in support of aircraft acquisition programs. Historically, spare/repair parts have been provisioned by use of support element contract line items contained in the system production contract. Recently, separate spares contracts have been used to acquire spare/repair parts for major weapon systems such as the F-15, A-10, AWACS and the F-16. The purpose of this study is to describe differences between end item and spares line item relationships on conventional system contracts and separate spares contracts. The study reviews problems anticipated and encountered in contract separation, and reports current comments and evaluations regarding the effectiveness of separate spares contracts in achieving desired benefits. GRA N77-34034# Defense Systems Management School, Fort Belvoir, Va. IMPACT OF COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT ON CONFIGURATION CONTROL Fred Garza, Jr. May 1977 42 p refs (AD-A042876) Avail: NTIS HC A03/MF A01 CSCL 05/1 This report seeks to provide insight into the configuration control problems that can occur after a competitive procurement. The author discusses the configuration control problems experienced by the 5-in./54 MK-45 Lightweight Gun System Program Office as a result of a competitive procurement. Specifically the problem areas include: Configuration identification, Change control and Configuration status accounting. The configuration control procedures formulated and implemented to correct the problems identified are also discussed. The report concludes with the lessons learned and makes appropriate recommendations. The lessons learned were that competitive procurement: (1) can have a significant impact on program configuration control; (2) impacts the production baseline; and (3) affects change control procedures and configuration status accounting. GRA N77-34044*# National Aeronautics and Space Administration. A PREDICTION MODEL TO FORECAST THE COST IMPACT The losses which are experienced after a break or stoppage in sequence of a production cycle portend an extremely complex situation and involve numerous variables, some of uncertain quantity and quality. There are no discrete formulas to define the losses during a gap in production. The techniques which are employed are therefore related to a prediction or forecast of the losses that take place, based on the conditions which exist in the production environment. Such parameters as learning curve slope, number of predecessor units, and length of time the production sequence is halted are utilized in formulating a prediction model. The pertinent current publications related to this subject are few in number, but are reviewed to provide an understanding of the problem. Example problems are illustrated together with appropriate trend curves to show the approach. Solved problems are also given to show the application of the models to actual cases or production breaks in the real world. The use of life cycle cost procurements of window air conditioners, water heaters, refrigerator-freezers, and high-speed printer ribbons made by the Federal Supply Service (FSS), General Services Administration (GSA) was studied. These procurements were part of a program instituted by FSS to apply life cycle costing techniques to its procurement process. Details concerning the screening process used in selecting the products, the preparation of the invitation for bid document, the bids received and the evaluation, analysis and award process were covered. |