Skip to main content
Consensus Study Report

VIEW LARGER COVER

Download Free PDF
Read Free Online
Buy Paperback: $46.00
Buy Ebook: $36.99

While there are examples of successful weapon systems acquisition programs within the U.S. Air Force (USAF), many of the programs are still incurring cost growth, schedule delays, and performance problems. The USAF now faces serious challenges in acquiring and maintaining its weapons systems as it strives to maintain its current programs; add new capabilities to counter evolving threats; and reduce its overall program expenditures. Owning the technical baseline is a critical component of the Air Force's ability to regain and maintain acquisition excellence.

Owning the technical baseline allows the government acquisition team to manage and respond knowledgeably and effectively to systems development, operations, and execution, thereby avoiding technical and other programmatic barriers to mission success. Additionally, owning the technical baseline ensures that government personnel understand the user requirements, why a particular design and its various features have been selected over competing designs, and what the options are to pursue alternative paths to the final product given unanticipated cost, schedule, and performance challenges.

Owning the Technical Baseline for Acquisition Programs in the U.S. Air Force discusses the strategic value to the Air Force of owning the technical baseline and the risk of not owning it and highlights key aspects of how agencies other than the Air Force own the technical baseline for their acquisition programs. This report identifies specific barriers to owning the technical baseline for the Air Force and makes recommendations to help guide the Air Force in overcoming those barriers.

RESOURCES AT A GLANCE

Topics

Suggested Citation

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2016. Owning the Technical Baseline for Acquisition Programs in the U.S. Air Force. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/23631.

Import this citation to:

Publication Info

82 pages |  7 x 10 | 

ISBNs: 
  • Paperback:  978-0-309-44903-8
  • Ebook:  978-0-309-44906-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/23631
Chapters skim
Front Matter i-xviii
Summary 1-9
1 Context of the Study 10-14
2 Strategic Value of Owning the Technical Baseline 15-22
3 Recommendations and Barriers to Implementation 23-48
Appendixes 49-50
Appendix A: Statement of Task 51-51
Appendix B: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members 52-59
Appendix C: Meetings and Speakers 60-62
Appendix D: Memorandum from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center 63-64

What is skim?

The Chapter Skim search tool presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter. You may select key terms to highlight them within pages of each chapter.

Copyright Information

The National Academies Press (NAP) has partnered with Copyright Clearance Center's Marketplace service to offer you a variety of options for reusing NAP content. Through Marketplace, you may request permission to reprint NAP content in another publication, course pack, secure website, or other media. Marketplace allows you to instantly obtain permission, pay related fees, and print a license directly from the NAP website. The complete terms and conditions of your reuse license can be found in the license agreement that will be made available to you during the online order process. To request permission through Marketplace you are required to create an account by filling out a simple online form. The following list describes license reuses offered by the NAP through Marketplace:

  • Republish text, tables, figures, or images in print
  • Post on a secure Intranet/Extranet website
  • Use in a PowerPoint Presentation
  • Distribute via CD-ROM
  • Photocopy

Click here to obtain permission for the above reuses. If you have questions or comments concerning the Marketplace service, please contact:

Marketplace Support
International +1.978.646.2600
US Toll Free +1.855.239.3415
E-mail: support@copyright.com
marketplace.copyright.com

To request permission to distribute a PDF, please contact our Customer Service Department at customer_service@nap.edu.

loading iconLoading stats for Owning the Technical Baseline for Acquisition Programs in the U.S. Air Force...