The DoD Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) is the DoD office responsible for cost estimating. A Cost Estimate (also known as a Life-Cycle Cost Estimate) is a detailed estimate of acquisition and Total Ownership Costs (TOC) for an acquisition program. It’s normally required for high-level decisions.

A DoD Component Cost Estimate is provided to the Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) at Milestones A, B, C and the Full-Rate Production Decision Review (FRPDR) as required by DoD Instruction 5000.02. It also directs that it must also be provided to the Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (DCAPE). DCAPE reviews all cost estimates and cost analyses conducted in conjunction with MDAPs and MAIS programs. In order to accomplish this, 10 U.S.C. § 2334(b) requires that DCAPE promptly receive the results of all cost estimates and analyses conducted by military departments and Defense Agencies. [1]

Website: DoD Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE)

Guide: OSD Operating and Support Cost Estimating Guide – March 2014

The generic term “DoD Component Cost Estimate” is used to provide considerable latitude to each military service or defense agency as to the actual responsibility for this cost estimate. In some cases, a military service assigns the responsibility to the program office, which then provides a Program Office Life-Cycle Cost Estimate (PLCCE). In other cases, the DoD Component may adopt a more corporate approach, where an initial program office cost estimate is subject to considerable review and possible adjustment as determined by the Service Cost Center or defense agency equivalent. [1]

Each DoD Component establishes a DoD Component-level cost position for all Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP) and Major Automated Information System (MAIS) programs at milestone reviews. To support the DoD’s full funding policy for acquisition programs, as well as statutory certifications and regulatory requirements, the DoD Component is expected to fully fund the program to this cost position in the current President’s Budget Future Years Defense Program (FYDP), or commit to full funding of the cost position in the next President’s Budget FYDP, with identification of specific offsets to address any funding shortfalls that may exist in the current FYDP. In addition, the appropriate Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Military Department for Cost and Economics (or defense agency equivalent) signs for the DoD Component-level cost position, and the DoD Component Acquisition Executive and the Component Chief Financial Officer endorses and certifies that the FYDP fully funds the program consistent with the DoD Component-level cost position. This policy was promulgated in the OSD Memorandum, “Required Signed and Documented Component-level Cost Position for Milestone Reviews,” – 12 Mar 2009. [1]

AcqLinks and References:

• [1] Defense Acquisition Guidebook (DAG)
• OSD Operating and Support Cost Estimating Guide – March 2014
• GAO Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide
• Website: CAIG Operating and Support Cost-Estimating Guide
• Website: OSD Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (DCAPE)

Updated: 6/18/2018