1. DMAG Tiger Team Discussions July 11, 2013 December 9, 2013
CTO/FCT Support
DMAG Tiger Team Discussions
July 11, 2013
December 9, 2013

2. To ensure the long term prosperity of the FCT program
Objective
To ensure the long term prosperity of the FCT program

3. Goals Formulate a short message that DMAG members can use as needed
Formulate a longer message that DMAG members can communicate to interested US target groups and individuals. Half a page of text envisioned.

4. Key areas of discussion
Target groups
Message
Tie in to Better Buying Power 2.0

5. Target groups DoD Congress and staffers Lobbyists Consultants
Think Tanks
Industry associations
US Industry

6. Better Buying Power 2.0 Affordable programs/realistic expectations
Requirements/acquisition trade offs
Life Cycle Cost control
Product innovation, fixed price, best value
Competition is key
Under Sec AT&L Frank Kendall, May 23, 2013

7. A thriving FCT program enables the United States to affordably meet its defense technology requirements
The Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) program has recently been under budgetary pressure such that its funding has been drastically reduced from around 30 million to well below 15 million dollars per year.
The FCT program is a unique channel that enables U.S. Armed Services to identify the world’s most innovative companies which can provide technology for testing and acquisition by the US Government.
The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Mr. Frank Kendall, has outlined his vision of how to reform the US Acquisition system in Better Buying Power 2.0. The ideas discussed are, in our view, perfectly aligned with the FCT program.
Some Better Buying Power 2.0 themes include how to deal with program affordability versus realistic expectations, requirements and acquisition trade offs, life cycle cost control, product innovation, fixed price, best value, and competition.
Global companies have much to offer in all these areas. The US Department of Defense should strive for a deeper integration and inclusion of international technologies and solutions in future acquisition programs for the benefit of the warfighter and the US tax payer. A solid start would be to expand the FCT program rather than dismantling it.
The Foreign Comparative Testing program has been very valuable for the US Armed Forces. 7.6 billion dollars have been saved over 30 years in expenditures and acquisition cost.