The Life Cycle Model

Question 1

LRIP

Answer 1

Low Rate Initial Production

Question 2

Purpose of LRIP

Answer 2

• Minimum quantities required to support operational testing and other design validation activities
• Establishes an initial production base for the total system
• Provides an efficient ramp-up to Full Rate Production (FRP)
• Maintains continuity in production

Question 3

Define an acquisition program

Answer 3

A directed, funded effort that provides a new, improved, or continuing….

• Materiel
• Weapon
• Information system
• Service capability

…in response to an approved need

Question 4

Two primary reasons for developing an acquisition program

Answer 4

1. take advantage of new technology

2. react to an actual or potential threat

Question 5

Identify the three Science and Technology activities

Answer 5

1. Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD)
2. Joint Concept Technology Demonstration (JCTD)
3. Joint Warfighting Experiments

Question 6

Who conducts basic research for DoD

Answer 6

Universities
DoD and Federal Labs
Industry and Nonprofit organizations

Question 7

Five phases of the Life Cycle Model

Answer 7

1. Material Solution Analysis (MSA)
2. Technology Maturation & Risk Reduction (TMRR)
3. Engineering & Manufacturing Development
4. Production & Deployment
5. Operations & Support

Question 8

Purpose of the Material Solution Analysis Phase

Answer 8

• To assess potential materiel solutions
• Conduct Analysis of Alternatives (AoA)
• CAE will select a Program Manager and establish a Program Office to complete the necessary actions associated with planning the acquisition program
• Satisfy the phase-specific entrance criteria for the next program milestone designated by the Milestone Decision Authority (MDA)

Question 9

MDD

Answer 9

Material Development Decision

Question 10

What is the MDD?

Answer 10

• Formal entry point into the acquisition process
• Mandatory for all programs
• Identifies a gap in capability and develops requirements to fill that gap
• Decision is documented in the Acquisition Decision Memorandum (ADM)

Question 11

Purpose of the TMRR Phase

Answer 11

• Determine appropriate technologies to be integrated into a system
• Competitive prototyping is a statutory requirement for Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP) and a regulatory requirement for all other programs
• Demonstrate critical technologies on representative prototypes
• Reduce technology, engineering, integration, and life-cycle cost risk
• Initiate traceable requirements flow down to complete a preliminary design for the system

Question 12

Purpose of the EMD Phase

Answer 12

• The purpose of EMD is to develop, build, and test a product to verify that all operational and derived requirements have been met and to support production and deployment decisions.

Question 13

Production and Deployment Phase

Answer 13

Purpose of Production and Deployment is to produce and deliver requirements-compliant products to receiving military organizations.

Question 14

Purpose of the Operations and Support Phase

Answer 14

The purpose of O&S is to:

• Execute the product support strategy
• Satisfy materiel readiness and operational support performance requirements
• Sustain the system over its life cycle

Question 15

Most expensive life cycle phase

Answer 15

Operations and Support Phase

Question 16

Most expensive R&D phase

Answer 16

Engineering & Manufacturing Development

Question 17

Two approaches of Acquisition Strategy

Answer 17

1. Single Step

2. Evolutionary

Question 18

Evolutionary Strategy

Answer 18

The ultimate capability delivered to the user is divided into two or more increments, with increasing levels of capability.

Increment 1 of an evolutionary acquisition strategy provides the initial deployment capability (a usable increment of capability called for in the CDD/CPD)

Question 19

What develops the Acquisition Strategy

Answer 19

The Acquisition Strategy Integrated Product Team