0. Materiel Development Decision (MDD) to Milestone A (MS A)
Tom Fritz

1. Lesson Objectives
Determine the key Requirements Manager activities and the role of the ICD leading up to the MDD and during Materiel Solution Analysis (MSA) phase
Explain the inputs to a Materiel Development Decision (MDD)
Explain the outputs from MDD -- decisions and approvals
Summarize the purpose and major activities that take place during the Materiel Solutions Analysis (MSA) phase and the links between those activities
Explain the Milestone A decisions and approvals

2. Materiel Development Decision (MDD)
Full Rate
Prod Decision
Review
Joint Concepts
Capabilities - Based Assessment
MS C
MS B
President
SECDEF
CJCS
CCMDs and other DoD
Components
Strategic Guidance
Incremental Development
MS A
Technology
Development
Engineering & Manufacturing Development
Production & Deployment
Materiel
Solution
Analysis
Technology Opportunities & Resources
ICD
O&S
User Needs
MDD
CDD
CPD
Post CDR Assessment
Pre-EMD Review
Draft
AoA review and Portfolio Assessment
AoA
report
PDR review
MDD is mandatory for all programs.
For DAB oversight programs (ACAT 1D, ACAT 1AM, and selected):
Joint Staff presents JROC Recommendations
DoD Component presents the ICD, including:
Preliminary CONOPS
Description of Needed Capability
Operational Risk
Basis for determining that non-materiel approaches will not sufficiently mitigate capability gap
How is MDD conducted for Service and Agency programs – IC, II, III ..?

3. Materiel Development Decision (MDD) Inputs and Outputs
Full Rate
Prod Decision
Review
Joint Concepts
Capabilities - Based Assessment
MS C
MS B
President
SECDEF
CJCS
CCMDs and other DoD
Components
Strategic Guidance
Incremental Development
MS A
Technology
Development
Engineering & Manufacturing Development
Production & Deployment
Materiel
Solution
Analysis
Technology Opportunities & Resources
ICD
O&S
User Needs
MDD
CDD
CPD
Post CDR Assessment
Pre-EMD Review
Draft
AoA review and Portfolio Assessment
AoA
report
PDR review
Outputs: Approval to enter the acquisition process
Acquisition Decision Memorandum
Identifies acquisition phase of entry and initial review milestone
Designates lead DoD Component
Directs initiation of AoA
Milestone
Decision
Authority
(link)
Inputs:
Initial Capabilities Document (ICD)
Approved AoA Study Guidance & AoA Study Plan (DAU Guidebook and AT&L memo Apr 2010)
Evidence IAW DTM

4. DTM 10-017 - Development Planning to Inform MDD Reviews and Support AoAs
Components shall provide evidence at the MDD Review that will facilitate the Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) determination that:
Candidate materiel solution approaches have potential to effectively address capability gap(s), desired operational attributes, and associated dependencies
Range of technically feasible solutions exist – generated from across the entire solution space, as demonstrated by early prototypes, models, or data
Consideration has been given to near-term opportunities to provide a rapid interim response
Plan to staff and fund analytic, engineering, and programmatic activities supports the proposed milestone entry requirements
DTM , September 13, 2010 extended to 12/31/2012

5. Pre-MDD Activities - Summary
ICD validated (approved for entry into KM/DS, assigned a Joint Staffing Designator (JSD), staffed, reviewed, certifications approved, and validated at JSD level)
ICD recommends type of materiel approach(es) preferred
Analysis of Alternatives (AoA)
AoA Study Guidance & AoA Study Plan approved prior to MDD
Sponsor works with Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (DCAPE) on AoA Study Guidance & AoA Study Plan (JROC Interest programs only – Component process for others)
Sponsor works with MDA’s staff to ensure other additional information is provided to enable the desired MDD outcomes in the MDD ADM

6. MDD to Milestone A Materiel Solution Analysis
Full Rate
Prod Decision
Review
Joint Concepts
Capabilities - Based Assessment
MS C
MS B
President
SECDEF
CJCS
CCMDs and other DoD
Components
Strategic Guidance
Incremental Development
MS A
Technology
Development
Engineering & Manufacturing Development
Production & Deployment
Materiel
Solution
Analysis
Technology Opportunities & Resources
ICD
O&S
User Needs
MDD
CDD
CPD
Post CDR Assessment
Pre-EMD Review
Draft
AoA review and Portfolio Assessment
AoA
report
PDR review

7. MDD to Milestone A Requirements Management Activities
Materiel Solution
Analysis (DoDI 5000 Link)
Materiel
Development
Decision A
ICD
Contract(s) A
AoA
Report
Contract B
Final RFP
Tech
Dvlp
Phase
Contract C
Draft
CDD
ASR
ASR – Alternative Systems Review
Purpose: Assess potential materiel solutions
Major Activity: AoA
Requirements Management Activities
Apply ICD and supporting analysis to guide:
Conduct of AoA (sponsor supports AoA Report briefing for FCB)
Writing of : Test & Evaluation Strategy (TES), Technology Development Strategy (TDS) , System Engineering Plan
Initial estimates for: Affordability Targets, Cost, and PPBE documents
Develop:
Draft CDD – “required” to support MS A and TD phase but not submitted to JCIDS for validation – content may be defined in JCIDS update
Reliability, Availability, Maintainability Cost Rational (RAM-C) Report (linked to Draft CDD and referenced in validated CDD)

8. Reliability Analysis, Planning, Tracking, and Reporting
Program Managers (PMs) shall formulate a comprehensive reliability and maintainability (R&M) program with reliability growth strategy as an integral part of the systems engineering process
For JROC Interest programs (except Information Systems) Component develops initial RAM-C Report as part of the AoA process.
Attached to the Systems Engineering Plan (SEP) for MS A, updated for MS B and MS C
PM develops reliability growth curves (RGS) for SEP at MS A, updated in the TEMP beginning at MS B.
Programs other than JROC Interest develop RAM-C Reports as determined by DoD Component or PM
See, DoD Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Cost Rationale Report Manual, June 1, 2009 and AT&L DTM
RAM-C Report Executive Summary attached to (or Referenced in) CDD & CPD

9. MDA approves: (usually contained in a single ADM)
Milestone A
MDA approves: (usually contained in a single ADM)
Materiel solution
Affordability Targets (per DAB Templates for Milestones A, B and C)
Technology Development Strategy (TDS), DAG 2.2
Release of final RFP and source selection for TD phase.
Exit criteria for next phase - Technology Development
Milestone A Certification, Title 10 section 2366a
Tailored guidance to complete Materiel Solution Analysis activities or structure TD activities
Full Funding defined with MS B
Notes: A favorable Milestone A decision does not mean a new acquisition program has been initiated. Exception - ship building programs may be initiated at Milestone A. MAIS programs begin tracking funds first obligated a includes 25% cost increase / schedule delay notification for certified MDAPs.

10. ACAT I Program Certification for MS A WSARA 2009 & NDAA 2012 Revisions
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Milestone A Program Certification
As required by Section 2366a of Title 10, United States Code, I have consulted with the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) on matters related to program requirements and military needs for the (name of program) and certify that:
(1) the program fulfills an approved initial capabilities document;
(2) the program is being executed by an entity with a relevant core competency function as identified by the Secretary of Defense;
(3) [include only if the system duplicates a capability already provided by an existing system] the duplication of capability provided by this system is necessary and appropriate.
(4) That a determination of applicability of core depot-level maintenance and repair capabilities requirements has been made;
(5) an analysis of alternatives has been performed consistent with the study guidance developed by the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation;
(6) a cost estimate for the program has been submitted, with the concurrence of the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, and the level of resources required to develop, procure, and sustain the program is consistent with the priority level assigned by the JROC; and,
WSARA Changes highlighted in bold red; NDAA 2012 changes in bold blue italics

11. AoA Plan AoA and AoA report
Linkage: ICD, AoA, draft CDD, & Contract for Technology Development (TD)
Strategic Direction
Joint Operations Concepts
CONOPS
Feedback from field
Cost Estimate & $$ TD
CBA
Capability
attributes
AoA
Plan
MOEs/
MOPs
Preliminary
SPECIFICATIONS to support RFP for TD Phase prototyping
KPPs/ KSAs
Materiel Solution Analysis Phase
Materiel
Development
Decision
Draft
CDD
ICD
Milestone A
Contract
AoA and AoA report
Test & Evaluation Strategy (TES)
Technology Development Strategy (TDS)
System Engineering Plan
Contract A
Final
RFP for
TD Phase 11

12. Back Up Information

13. Oversight & Review DAE CAE PEO IPT’s assist in oversight & review DAB
USD(AT&L)
Defense Acquisition Executive
Acquisition Category
DAE
Makes Decisions
Signs ADM
ACAT ID
DAB-Defense Acquisition Board
ITAB-Information Technology Acquisition Board
$365M RDT&E or
$2.19B Procurement
(FY2000 Constant $)
DAB
ITAB
ACAT IAM
$378M Life Cycle Cost or
$126M Total Prog. Cost or
$32M Prog. Cost
in any single year
(FY2000 Constant $)
OIPTs
Overarching IPT’s
(OIPT’s)
Issue resolution
Component Acquisition
Executive
(Asst Secretary)
ACAT IC/IAC
Configuration Steering Boards
Makes ACAT IC,
IAC & II Decisions
Signs ADM
CAE
ACAT II
Working-Level IPT’s
(WIPT’s)
$140M RDT&E or
$660M Procurement
(FY2000 Constant $)
Component HQ Review
Issue resolution
Program Level
IPT’s
Program Executive Officer
(General Officer/SES Civilian)
ACAT III
PEO
Makes ACAT III/IV
Decisions
Signs ADM
No Fiscal
Criteria
IPT’s assist in
oversight & review
Program Manager
(Col/LtCol/Civilian Equivalent)
ACAT IV PM
Navy
USMC
Return
Note: Some PMs report directly to CAE.

14. Technical Reviews for RMs, Drawn from DAG Chapter 4.2.8 thru 4.2.17