If you’ve ever had trouble writing a statement of work (SOW) or performance work statement (PWS), DAU has developed a tool that can assist you.  The Automated Requirements Roadmap Tool (ARRT) is available for download from the Service Acquisition Mall (SAM). ARRT is a Microsoft Access file and you’ll need MS Access 2007 or later on your computer to use ARRT.  There are instructional videos on using ARRT on the SAM site to help get you started.

ARRT provides a systematic approach for developing requirements by answering questions A thru H.  It follows a work break down structure starting with your Vision (what you are trying to achieve) for the requirement (WBS level 1).  Then define the High Level Objectives (HLO) (WBS level 2) required to achieve your vision.  Finally it guides you thru developing the task statements needed to support each HLO (WBS level 3).  In ARRT a task has three components, first a result or outcome of the task, second a context or what does the result apply to, and finally what action do you need to be taken to achieve the result.  As you define the components of the task, ARRT writes the task statement for you.  Check out the samples contained in ARRT for ideas on results and actions.

After you’ve defined the task you must define what performance standards apply to the task.  Standards basically come in three categories: quality, timeliness and cost.  A task statement can have multiple standards, so use them to capture all the aspects of how well a task must be done to be successful. Once you’ve defined the standards, ARRT moves you on to define how you will verify that the task was performed successfully.  This involved defining what you will inspect, how you will inspect it, who will perform the inspection and if there are any incentives or remedies for exceeding or failing to meet the performance standards.

By completing this task development process for each task, under each HLO you’ve defined, ARRT will create a PWS, Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) and Performance Requirement Summary (PRS) for you using standard templates for each document.

For more information on ARRT and how to improve your skills in developing performance requirements contact the DAU Service Acquisition team at: [email protected]. 

In addition, students taking DAU's ACQ 265 Mission-Focused Services Acquisition course have the opportunity to apply the ARRT while in the classroom. Because ACQ 265 is one of the “choose one of four” options for DoD life cycle logisticians as part of your DAWIA Level III certification requirements, encourage you to consider taking this course as well being afforded the opportunity to develop a PWS, QASP and PRS by leveraging the powerful capabilities offered by the ARRT.