The fundamental purpose of Test & Evaluation (T&E) is to provide knowledge to assist in Risk Management that’s involved in developing, producing, operating, and sustaining systems and capabilities. The T&E process is an integral part of the Systems Engineering Process (SEP) which identifies levels of performance and assists the developer in correcting deficiencies.
T&E provides knowledge of system capabilities and limitations to the acquisition community for use in improving the system performance and optimizing system use and sustainment in operations. T&E enables the Program Manager to learn about limitations (technical or operational), Critical Operational Issues (COI), of the system under development so that they can be resolved prior to production and deployment.
Instruction: DoD Instruction 5000.89 “Test and Evaluation”
Guide: DoD Test and Evaluation Management Guide – Dec 2010
Guide: Incorporating Test and Evaluation into DoD Acquisition Contracts
Guide: Cybersecurity Test and Evaluation Guidebook – 27 Oct 2015
The main T&E activities conducted during the life-cycle of a system are:
- Test and Evaluation Strategy (TES)
- Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E)
- Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E)
- Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E)
- Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation (FOT&E)
- Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP)
- Operational Assessment (OA)
- Live-Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E)
The main T&E reviews conducted during the life-cycle of a system are:
T&E progress is monitored by The OSD Office of the Director Operational Test and Evaluation throughout the acquisition of a system and submitted T&E Reports. Their oversight extends to Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) or designated acquisitions.
AcqLinks and References:
- Defense Acquisition Guidebook (DAG)
- DoD Instruction 5000.89 “Test and Evaluation” – 19 Nov 2020
- DoD Directive 5000.01 “Defense Acquisition System”
- DoD Instruction 5000.02 “Operation of the Defense Acquisition System”
- Army Regulation 73-1 “Test and Evaluation Policy” – 1 Aug 2006
- Template: DAG Test and Evaluation Master Plan Template
- Template: Test and Evaluation Master Plan
- Guide: DoD Test & Evaluation Management Guide – Dec 2012
- Guide: Air Force Test & Evaluation Guidebook – Dec 2004
- Guide: DAU Test and Management Guide – Jan 2005
- Guide: TEMP Review Guide – 4 April 2010
- Guide: DOT&E and TEMP Guidebook – 28 Mar 13
- Guide: Army TEMP Procedures and Guidelines – 11 Oct 1996
- Guide: Cybersecurity Test and Evaluation Guidebook – 27 Oct 2015
- Website: Title 10 USC 2366 “Survivability testing and lethality testing required before full-scale production”
- Website: 10 USC 2399 “Operational Test and Evaluation of Defense Programs”
- Website: Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC)
- Website: Army Test and Evaluation Command
- Website: Navy Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force
Updated: 6/5/2018
