1. Capabilities-Based Assessments (CBAs)
Initiation to Materiel Development Decision (MDD)

2. Lesson Objectives
Explain the importance of Capabilities-Based Assessments (CBAs) to the Joint Capabilities Integration Development System (JCIDS) and the Defense Acquisition System
Summarize the essential characteristics and qualities of CBAs
Examine the major tasks of an effective CBA effort
Examine CBA outputs and their relation to DOTMLPF Change Recommendations (DCRs) and Initial Capabilities Documents (ICDs)

3. CBAs in JCIDS FCB MS C MS B Incremental Development MS A AoA
Full Rate
Prod Decision
Review
Joint Concepts
Capabilities - Based Assessment
MS C
MS B
FCB
Strategic Guidance
Incremental Development
MS A
Technology
Development
Engineering & Manufacturing Development
Production & Deployment
AoA
Materiel
Solution
Analysis
Technology Opportunities & Resources
ICD
O&S
User Needs
MDD
CDD
CPD

4. CBA Overview CBA: Initiated by: Becomes basis for:
Validating capability needs
ANY DoD organization
CBA:
THE analytical basis of JCIDS
Based on:
Approved
Joint
Concept
Recommends:
JROC –
endorsed
CONOPS
SWarF
results
ACTION w/o excessive rigor
JROC,
COCOM,
service, or
DoD agency
endorsement

5. Major Elements of the CBA
ID tasks, conditions, & standards
“Where we’re at…”
MDD
“Bridge”
ID capability gaps & redundancies “Where we want to be…”
ID possible non-materiel & materiel solutions “How do we get there…”
Seam Between Requirements & Acquisition
ICD
AoA
Acq
Process
JCIDS
Scope of a CBA
(Warfighters & COCOMs)

6. CBA Breadth: How Wide the Analysis?
Scenarios:
Oplans
& DPSs
CONOPS:
Objectives,
Tactics,
Orgs,
etc
Functions:
JCAs
Solution
Types:
Policies
& Treaties
Capabilities
Desired:
Meet
Operational
Objectives
Performance
Attributes:
Metrics
> precision
= more analyses
= more time
Scenarios:
Oplans
& DPSs
CONOPS:
Objectives,
Tactics,
Orgs,
etc
Functions:
JCAs
Solution
Types:
Policies
& Treaties
Capabilities
Desired:
Meet
Operational
Objectives
Performance
Attributes:
Metrics
> precision
= more analyses
= more time ?
CBA or
CBA

7. CBA Depth: How Deep the Analysis?
Low Rigor High Rigor
Complexity of assessment
Solution resources required
Consequences of operational failure
Scenario (future) uncertainty
Solution cost, schedule, performance risk
Low
High
JROC CBA preference: avoid high rigor & time-consuming detail – concentrate on recommending action.
Specialized “Quick Turn” CBAs should take around 30 days.
CBAs focused on recapitalization or replacement should take 60 to 90 days.
More complex CBAs dealing with large uncertainties should take no more than 180 days – NOT including staffing & approval.

8. CBA Info Sources: Strategic Guidance
QDR
QDR
NSS
NSS
NDS
NDS
NMS
NMS
CBA:
THE analytical basis of JCIDS
UCP
JSCP
UCP
JSCP
Classified
Guidance
GEF
DPPG
GEF
DPPG

9. CBA Info Sources: Conceptual Guidance
JOE**
USJFCOM
JOE**
USJFCOM
CCJO
JOC
CCJO
JOC
JOpsC
Family of
Documents*
J7 - JFDID
CJCSI B
CJCSI B
CBA:
THE analytical basis of JCIDS
JIC
JCA
JIC
JCA
* Posted at J7 JFDID website - Joint Force Development & Integration Division (JFDID) is responsible for developing & monitoring the implementation plans for joint experimentation & concept development for DoD.
** Posted at USJFCOM website: -

10. THE analytical basis of JCIDS
CBA Info Sources: Misc
DSB
Reports*
DSB
Reports*
COCOM
IPLs
Op Ed In
Defense
Literature
COCOM
IPLs
Op Ed In
Defense
Literature
CBA:
THE analytical basis of JCIDS
Joint
Doctrine
Joint
Doctrine
* Posted at USJFCOM website: -

11. CBA Framework: Joint Capability Areas (JCAs)
JCA Definition:
“…currently the preferred method the DoD uses for reviewing and managing capabilities.”
“Collections of like DOD capabilities functionally grouped to support capability analysis…”
Proposed in 2003, currently there are nine JCAs, tiered as far as five levels:
Force Support
Battlespace Awareness
Force Application
Logistics
Command & Control
Net-Centric
Protection
Building Partnerships
Corporate Management & Support

12. Sample JCA & Tiering
2 Battlespace Awareness – The ability to understand dispositions and intentions as well as the characteristics and conditions of the operational environment that bear on national and military decision-making. 2.1 Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance – The ability to conduct activities to meet the intelligence needs of national and military decision-makers Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Planning and Direction – The ability to synchronize and integrate the activities of collection, processing, exploitation, analysis and dissemination resources to meet information requirements of national and military decision-makers Define and Prioritize Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Requirements – The ability to translate national through tactical objectives and needs into specific information and operational requirements for ISR. … 2.2 Environment – The ability to characterize and exploit the meteorological, space and oceanographic information from the sub-bottom of the earth’s oceans up to and including space.

13. Value-Added of Prep & Analytical Work?
Helps CBA team leader & core team to:
Organize logically
Identify priorities
Secure unchallengeable guidance
Avoid pre-determined outcomes
Sets CBA team up for faster, more effective analyses
Ultimately sets up the conditions for a successful acquisition process!!

14. Joint-Level CBA Documentation
Summarizes the CBA findings
Articulates specific capability gaps for a given timeframe
Makes specific recommendations
Non-materiel & materiel solution sets
Should reflect:
Solution sets aligned to specific JCAs
ICD Template - JCIDS Manual
In-Class ICD Review Exercise:
Review an actual ICD
Use Checklist derived from JCIDS Template
Initial
Capabilities
Document
(ICD)

15. 1st Recommendation: Non-Materiel Solutions
Doctrine
Organization
Training
Materiel
Leadership
&
Education
Personnel
Facilities
DCR
DOTMLPF
Change
Recommendation

16. “Common” Non-Materiel Approaches
Alternative Doctrinal & CONOPS Approaches
Investigating alternative CONOPS is a JCIDS requirement
Address doctrinal CONOPS &
Doctrinal alternatives - in an approved joint concept
Policy Alternatives
ID which policies & circumstances contribute to gaps
Consider policy changes that:
allow new applications of existing capabilities or
modifies force posture
Alternatives needing interagency/multinational cooperation must:
contain support for feasibility - DoD cannot act unilaterally
Organizational & personnel alternatives
ID disconnects between force availability & force needs

17. 2nd Recommendation: Materiel Solutions
Development & Fielding of Information Systems
Or similar technologies with high obsolescence rates
Evolution of Existing Systems
Significant capability improvement may include replacing an existing system with a newer, more capable system – or simple recapitalization
Breakout Systems
Differ significantly in form, function, operation, & capabilities

18. JCIDS CBA Substitute Processes
JCTD – Joint Capability Technology Demonstration
Only after a Military Utility Assessment (MUA)
Prototypes
Joint IED Defeat Transition Package
CDD/CPD equivalent - JROC approval & transition to program of record
JUON – Joint Urgent Operational Need (or Service urgent needs process)
May enter JCIDS without an ICD
(FITE)
(JLTV)
(IED robot with Tanglefoot)
(Scan Eagle)

19. What an RM Needs to Take Away From This CBA Lesson
Scope the CBA “Just Right” – both breadth & depth
Emphasize action – thorough, but avoid paralysis by analysis
Cite all appropriate guidance possible to support analyses – build your case…
Track analysis to as many JCAs as possible!
Follow the ICD Template in the JCIDS Manual
Use scenarios to frame the assessment
Write to the CONOPS
Answer all issues described in the template
Ask: is analysis thorough, logical, & support fixing the gaps?
Recommend solid action
Non-materiel solutions 1st, materiel solutions 2nd

20. CBA Results & Recommendations
CBA Bottom Line
AoA
CBA Findings & Recommendations That Support the Warfighter Cascade Through the Entire JCIDS & acquisition processes…
These same results then support the
Materiel Solution Analysis (MSA) Phase
Which starts & supports any resulting
Material Development Decision (MDD)
Which supports the
Initial Capabilities Document (ICD)
Support the
CBA Results & Recommendations

21. Sources for More Detailed CBA Information
CJSCI G, JCIDS, 1 Mar 2009
Top-Level CBA guidance
JCIDS Manual, Feb 2009, Updated 31 Jul 2009
More definitive guidance
J8 CBA User’s Guide, V3, Mar 2009
Geared toward CBA Team Leaders, Core Team members, & Working Groups
Background, context, & detailed CBA procedures
DAU online course CLR 250, Capability-Based Assessments
General CBA overview – more detailed than RQM 310 – access via browse mode
DAU Community of Practice (CoP)