3.3.4 Research and Development

Question 1

What are Federal Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs)? What do they do?

Answer 1

-An activity sponsored by a Government agency for the purpose of performing,
analyzing, integrating, supporting, and managing basic or applied research
and/or development

-Drive innovation and problem solving by assisting the Government in
conducting research, technology development, systems acquisition and policy
guidance

Question 2

What are examples of Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs)?

Answer 2

– Jet Propulsion Laboratory
– Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
– Los Alamos National Laboratory
– Center for Naval Analyses
– National Defense Research Institute
– Research and Development Corporation (RAND)

Question 3

What are University Affiliated Research Centers (UARC)?

Answer 3

– Formally established in the mid-1990s to ensure the essential engineering and
technology capabilities important to the DoD were maintained
– UARCs benefit from leveraging education and research capabilities available at their universities to meet the needs of their sponsoring agency
– Benefits: adaptability, objectivity, freedom from conflicts of interest, quick
response capability, long-term continuity

Question 4

True/False: Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Level 1 is Low Risk and TRL Level 9 is High Risk

Answer 4

False

Question 5

What is Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL 9)?

Answer 5

Actual system proven through successful mission operations

Question 6

What funds Science and Technology (S&T) continuum categories from basic
research to advanced technologies?

Answer 6

RDT&E budget activities (0601 to 0607)

Question 7

What is Advanced Technology Demonstration
(ATD)?

Answer 7

ATDs are hardware and software prototypes:
– For testing and evaluating non-system-specific solutions to refine basic and
applied research
– For preparing technology for systems development by demonstrating the
feasibility and maturity of an approach at a relatively low cost
– Usually funded by ONR (0603 Activity funds)
– Leave-behind capability is not an objective
– Prototypes
– Limited or no user involvement
– Usually pre-M/S B efforts

Question 8

What do Joint Capability Technology Demonstrations (JCTDS) develop?

Answer 8

Develop Military Utility Assessment (MUA) of concepts and technologies
– Document to capture lessons learned during JCTD
– MUA can substitute ICD for M/S A
– Done by users (COCOMs & Independent Operational Assessors)

Question 9

What is Joint Capability Technology Demonstrations
(JCTDs)?

Answer 9

Objective is to provide for more informed acquisition decisions
– Establish realistic requirements
– Evaluate military utility
– Explore Joint and combined solutions
– Develop real CONOPS and doctrine
– Can result in new program without ICD