Major Capability Acquisition
Acquisition Categories (ACATs)
Activities Across Phases
Technical Reviews
Develop Strategies
Program Management
Cost Estimation/Affordability
MDD
MSA PHASE
Develop Requirements
Analysis of Alternatives
Study Contracts
Milestone A
TMRR PHASE
Mature Requirements
Prototype Contracts
Prototyping
Develop Preliminary Design
CDD Validation
Dev RFP Release Decision
Milestone B
EMD PHASE
Development Contracts
Complete System Design
Develop System
Developmental Testing
Milestone C
P&D PHASE
Production Contracts
Low Rate Initial Production
Operational Testing
FRP Decision
Full Rate Production/Deployment
O&S PHASE
Sustainment Contracts
Sustain System
IOC/FOC
Develop System
Draft new language for AAF
The previous activity (Complete System Design) culminates in a Critical Design Review (CDR), which aims to establish an initial product baseline and confirm that the system’s functions and capabilities satisfy the program’s requirements. That baseline design serves as the primary guidance for developing the initial system.
The contractor now uses the CDR-approved design to produce initial test articles to be used in Developmental Testing. These articles should be representative samples and/or prototypes which accurately represent the planned design. However, developmental test articles should also be inexpensive and flexible enough to be modified in response to initial test results. Developmental tests are likely to uncover opportunities to modify and improve the design, so artifacts produced during this activity should be built with thrift and adaptability in mind.
Realization
Reference Source: DAG Ch 3-4.2.4 Implementation Process
Realization is the process of building the system elements using specified materials and fabrication and production tools/procedures identified during design. Early fabrication and production planning is critical for the successful realization and delivery of the needed capability. System elements are built to the product baseline and should meet quality standards. Realization activities may include:
- Obtaining or acquiring access to materials and tools required to build system elements.
- Obtaining external system elements as applicable.
- Building system elements in accordance with implementation procedures, tolerances and applicable ESOH, security, and privacy.
- Determining system elements functionality against specified product quality characteristics.
- Document fabrication and production issues and associated corrective actions.
- Delivering implemented system elements for integration and verification.
The output of the Implementation process is the physical system elements as identified in the product baseline, including fabrication and production methods.