New DoD Major Capability Acquisition Pathway Policy
The Department of Defense yesterday released the new DoD Instruction 5000.85 for Major Capability Acquisition adaptive acquisition framework pathway. I highly encourage all life cycle logisticians and product support managers to read this document, particularly if you are supporting a program in this pathway, as it contains detailed product support policy in Appendix 3D starting on page 36. A few things would recommend taking particular note of:
- this new DoDI 5000.85 incorporates and cancels Enclosure 6 "Life-Cycle Sustainment" in the DoDI 5000.02T Operation of the Defense Acquisition System.
- this new instruction applies specifically to "acquisition of major capability acquisition programs, including major defense acquisition programs (MDAPs); other programs categorized as acquisition category (ACAT) I; major systems, usually categorized as ACAT II; automated information systems (AIS) (not managed by other acquisition pathways); and other capabilities developed via the major capability acquisition pathway." It does not apply to the other five AAF pathways.
- OSD is concurrently developing a separate DoDI 5000.uq "Product Support for the Adaptive Acquisition Framework" which will provide detailed product support policy for all six AAF pathways. We don't anticipate that document being published before September. Your DAU logistics colleagues will be developing rapid deployment training (RDT) for the DoDI 5000.uq policy once it is issued.
- Key product support terminology in Appendix 3D of the new DoDI 5000.85 has evolved, in several instances fairly substantially from earlier DoD policy. For example, the term "Life Cycle Sustainment Plan (LCSP)" has been replaced by "Product Support Strategy (PSS)". Similarly, the term "Performance Based Logistics"/ "Performance-Based Life Cycle Product Support" (PBL) has been replaced by "Performance-Based Support Packages".
- For additional information, please visit the DoD Adaptive Acquisition Framework (AAF) website hosted by DAU.