Test & Evaluation

Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP)

The Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) describes an acquisition program’s planned Test and Evaluation (T&E) activities over a program’s life-cycle and identifies evaluation criteria for the testers. It serves as an executive summary and provides a framework within which to generate detailed T&E plans and document schedule and resource implications associated with the T&E program. The TEMP identifies and integrates all of the T&E requirements with the program’s Acquisition Strategy and requirements. A draft is due for the Development RFP Release Decision and is approved at Milestone B.

Definition: The Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) is a document that describes the overall structure and objectives of the T&E program and articulates the necessary resources to accomplish each phase. It provides a framework within which to generate detailed T&E plans and documents schedule and resource implications associated with the T&E program. The TEMP serves as the overarching document for managing a T&E program. (DAG Chapter 8)

Purpose of the Test & Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP)

The purpose of the Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEM) is to be the focal point of the development, review, and approval process for detailed Test & Evaluation plans and activities for a project or program. The Acquisition Process requires a TEMP as one of the primary management strategy documents by the Program Management Office (PMO) for supporting the decision to start or terminate development efforts. The TEMP is meant to:

The Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) must:

  • Integrate T&E with the overall Acquisition Strategy
  • Reflect the user’s requirements and describe how these capability needs will be tested in DT&E and OT&E
  • Document the T&E program for the entire life cycle
  • Specify personnel, funding, and test range support requirements
  • Be developed prior to Milestone B Review and updated before each subsequent Program Decision Review
  • Test phase objectives, including entrance and exit criteria
  • Cybersecurity test objectives
  • Program decisions data requirements
  • Data collection requirements
  • Funding sources for all the test planning and resources
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Verification and validation measures

Test & Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) Document Integration

The TEMP must provide the Technical Performance Measurements (TPM) required for review, audits, and risk management. Other documents integrated with the TEMP include the:

  • Configuration Management Plan
  • Requirements Allocation Sheets (RASs) and Design constraint Sheets (DCSs)
  • Test Requirements Sheets
  • Specifications

Test & Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) Approval Process

The TEMP for an OSD Test and Evaluation (T&E) Oversight program is submitted by the DoD Component to the TEMP approval authorities. The Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), and the Director, Developmental Test and Evaluation (DDT&E) approve the TEMP for all programs on the OSD T&E Oversight List. For other programs, the Component Acquisition Executive (CAE), or designated representative, approves the TEMP. [1]

Test & Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) Regulatory Requirements

A draft update is due for the Development RFP Release Decision Point and approved at Milestone B. DOT&E will approve the TEMP for DOT&E Oversight programs (10 U.S.C. 2399 (Reference (g))); Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Developmental Test and Evaluation) (DASD (DT&E)) will also approve the TEMP for Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP) and Major Automated Information System (MAIS) programs and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD (AT&L)) designated special interest programs (10 U.S.C. 139b, Reference (g)); the DoD Component equivalent will approve the plan for other programs.

AcqNotes Tutorials

AcqTips:

  • Proper testing is critical to achieving the sustainment metrics thresholds and objectives. The Program Manager (PM) should therefore ensure the TEMP includes a description of the requirements and test points/methods for each of them as well as any appropriate enabler or logistics consideration. [1]

AcqLinks and References:

Updated: 8/6/2022

Rank: G1

Leave a Reply