The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Product Support has approved the release of the highly-anticipated updated DoD Independent Logistics Assessment (ILA) Guidebook. This is the first major update since the original Logistics Assessment Guidebook was published in 2011. Of note, the new version officially adds the term "Independent" to the title and incorporates changes in statute, policy, and guidance, as well as other fact-of-life updates to key references.

The updated foreword reminds us that "...while much has changed, the fundamentals of an effective ILA remain the same. ILAs are a disciplined, tailored review of a program’s supportability and are conducted prior to key acquisition decision points (including milestone decisions). Program Managers (PMs) and Product Support Managers (PSMs) utilize ILAs to ensure system design and product support performance are integrated to achieve sustainment objectives and identify corrective actions needed to prevent degraded materiel readiness or Operating & Support (O&S) cost growth. The early identification and resolution of findings have proven key to controlling weapon system costs, mitigating risk to the system's product support package, and providing the best possible support to our Warfighters."

Other updates to the guidebook include updated graphics; description of the relationship between ILAs and Sustainment Reviews (SRs); consolidation of post-Initial Operational Capability (IOC) ILA information into a single new appendix; removal of Service-specific content; and a new references section.

By way of a reminder, the key statutory requirement related to ILAs is 10 U.S.C. 4325, Major Weapon Systems: Assessment, Management, and Control of Operating Costs which requires military departments to "conduct an independent logistics assessment of each major weapon system prior to key acquisition decision points (including milestone decisions) to identify features that are likely to drive future operating and support [O&S] costs, changes to system design that could reduce such costs, and effective strategies for managing such costs.” From the policy perspective, this statutory requirement has been incorporated into DoD Instruction (DoDI) 5000.91 Product Support Management for the Adaptive Acquisition Framework. Section 4.10 states that "The ILA identifies features that are likely to drive future O&S costs, changes to system design that could reduce such costs, and effective strategies for managing such costs" and that "ILAs are conducted prior to key acquisition decision points, milestone decisions, and the full rate production decision."

For additional insights into ILAs, recommend planning to join us for the upcoming “Sustainment Series: Independent Logistics Assessments - Driving Effective Assessment of Product Support Strategies” webinar event scheduled for next Tuesday April 18, 2023 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm EDT featuring Ms Smith and a panel of Service experts. The session will also include an opportunity for attendees to pose questions to the panel members. Additional details and registration instructions are posted to the Event page. Also recommend checking out our updated ILA ACQuipedia article which includes DoD and Service information and resource links. Lastly, look for an update to our LOG 0160, Independent Logistics Assessments online training course that reflects the updated guidebook in the coming weeks.

Special thank you to Shawn Harrison for his invaluable contributions to this blog post and related DAU learning assets.