Although regular readers of this blog are not doubt well aware of the extensive resources, policies, and guidance available in support of the USD AT&L Better Buying Power (BBP) initiative, wanted to point you to three particularly useful websites as handy references and invaluable sources of key information. The first is the Better Buying Power (BBP) Gateway on the Defense Acquisition Portal (DAP). The second is the Better Buying Power (Public Site) on the DAU Acquisition Community of Connection. The third is the Policies Memos, and Guides page on the BBP Public Site. Highly recommend you bookmark these two sites if you have not already done so and visit them regularly.

As part of the BBP reduction of non-productive processes and bureaucracy effort, the September 14, 2010 USD AT&L USD(AT&L) Memorandum for Acquisition Professionals entitled “Better Buying Power - Guidance for Obtaining Greater Efficiency and Productivity in Defense Spending” directed a review of the documentation required in support of the acquisition process. The initial reviews conducted were the Technology Development Strategy (TDS) / Acquisition Strategy (AS), and the Systems Engineering Plan (SEP), accompanied by streamlined and standardized outlines for each in:

·      PDUSD(AT&L) Memo (20 Apr 11):  Document Streamlining - Program Strategies and Systems Engineering Plan

·      PDUSD(AT&L)-Approved Outline (18 Apr 11):  Technology Development Strategy (TDS) / Acquisition Strategy (AS)

·      PDUSD(AT&L)-Approved Outline (18 Apr 11):  Systems Engineering Plan (SEP)

The second in this series of document streamlining memoranda was issued yesterday providing Program Protection Plan (PPP) guidance and a newly developed PPP outline. (Note: the Program Protection Plan should not to be confused with a similar, yet different use of the PPP acronym as in a Public-Private Partnership).  The memo increases emphasis on early program protection planning and reflects a more comprehensive approach to delivering trusted systems. Like the previously issued TDS/AS and SEP outlines listed above, the PPP outline is effective immediately.  Additional implementation details can be found in the memo, which is available at:

·         PDUSD(AT&L) Memo (18 Jul 11): Document Streamlining - Program Protection Plan (PPP)

Finally, as I shared with you in my June 24 blog post entitled “Life Cycle Sustainment Plan (LCSP) Template” we are anticipating a similar streamlining memorandum in the coming weeks with direct application and implications for the Life Cycle Logistics community covering the LCSP. Our plan here at DAU is to of course post links to it on the BBP sites above, as well as to the Logistics Community of Practice (LOG CoP). Once the memo is issued, in the coming months we will also be incorporating this LCSP outline into our DAU courseware, including development of Rapid Deployment Training (RDT), a new (currently not yet fielded) continuous learning module entitled CLL005 Developing a Life Cycle Sustainment Plan (LCSP), and into our LOG 350 Enterprise Life Cycle Logistics Management course, among others. As always, watch this Life Cycle Logistics Director’s Blog for further information!