DoD 5000.2 Adaptive Acquisition Framework

The DoD Instruction 5000.2 is a recent effort to improve the business transactions between the Defense Department and the defense industrial base. DoD Instruction 5000.2, titled, The Operation of the Adaptive Acquisition Framework was implemented on January 23, 2020. The framework supports the sustainment objectives categorized in title 10 of the United States Code by providing Milestone Decision Authorities (MDA’s), Decision Authorities (DA’s), and Program Managers (PM’s) alternative development processes and strategies that match the characteristic capability of the system being acquired.  MDA’s will approve appropriate acquisition strategy at all major decision points and PM’s will employ innovative, but disciplined approaches relative to program management objectives.

The new framework redefines responsibilities under the current defense acquisition systems. Materiel development, engineering, and manufacturing decision points are consolidated within the Undersecretary of Defense Acquisitions and Sustainment. The Undersecretary for Research and Engineering will have discretional approval over Military Department-conducted independent technical risk assessment reviews. The framework creates a new position, the Component Acquisition Executive head, who will decide when to submit waivers or requests for exception applicable to the authority outlined in in DoD 5000.1 and DoD 5000.2.  The Program Executive Officer will balance the risk, cost, schedule, performance, interoperability, sustainability, and affordability of a portfolio of acquisition programs and will deliver a cohesive group of mission effective capability to users.

Under general procedures, program managers develop acquisition strategies for the MDA that match the appropriate acquisition pathway. However, the new Adaptive Acquisition Framework outlines multiple acquisition approaches. Urgent Capability Acquisitions allow capabilities to fulfill urgent existing or emerging operation needs for a quick reaction in less than two years. Middle Tier Acquisitions help rapidly develop fieldable prototypes within an acquisition program to demonstrate new capabilities with proven technologies that require minimal development. Major Capability Acquisitions modernize military programs that can provide sustaining capabilities. Software Acquisitions facilitate the rapid delivery of software systems.  Defense Business Systems support pathways that apply to business operations. Defense Acquisition of Services implements a pathway to acquire the services from the sector.

The purpose of the adaptive DoD instruction is to revamp the tedious acquisition process governed by the Defense Federal Acquisitions regulations. Implementing multiple pathways will improve the speed of defense acquisitions and will strengthen the defense industrial base. The new framework. The framework also cleans up bureaucratic roadblocks inside the acquisition process by giving more say so to the Program Managers and Decision Authorities on the front end to avoid any processing delays on the back end. The framework also consolidates major authority within the offices of Undersecretary of Acquisitions and the Undersecretary of Research & Engineering which improves the deliver speed of critical defense acquisitions.

For more information on the Adaptive Acquisition Framework, see the DoD’s 5000.2 Instruction here.

Topics: Acquisition, Defense Department