Acq Notes

  A System Threat Assessment (STA) is obtained from the Intelligence community during the JCIDS shortfall identification process. It will be obtained primarily from the Capstone Threat Assessments (CTAs) and System Threat Assessment Report (STAR). The CTAs project foreign capabilities in particular warfare areas looking out 20 years. Once the JCIDS Process identifies a materiel

  The Post-Independent Analysis is the final analysis in the Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA) which reviews the previous three functional analyses (Functional Area Analysis (FAA), Functional Needs Analysis (FNA), and Functional Solutions Analysis(FSA)) and selects an approach or approaches that best closes a capability gap(s). The sponsor then produces an Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) or

Key Performance Parameters (KPP) are key system capabilities that must be met for a system to meet its operational goals set by the user/customer. These key capabilities form the foundation of any system and are deemed vital to its performance, function, design, and operations. Any changes to the KPP would significantly impact the system’s performance

A Key System Attribute (KSA) is a system capability considered crucial in support of achieving a balanced solution/approach to a Key Performance Parameter (KPP) or some other key performance attribute deemed necessary by the sponsor. KSAs are listed in the Capability Development Document (CDD) and Capability Production Document (CPD) with threshold and objective values.  They

Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) examines the military utility and provides an assessment of new technology to clearly establish its operational utility and system integrity. The demonstration introduces operational concepts utilizing this new technology to solve important military problems and facilitates technology transition. A JCTD may be a substitute for a formal Capabilities Based Assessment

The Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) documents the need for a materiel approach or an approach that is a combination of materiel and non-materiel, to a specific capability gap.  A capability gap is derived from an initial analysis of materiel approaches executed by the operational user and, as required, an independent analysis of materiel alternatives. It

An Information Support Plan (ISP) describes a systems dependencies and interface requirements in sufficient detail to enable testing and verification of Information Technology (IT) and National Security Systems (NSS) interoperability and supportability requirements. The ISP is required for all Acquisition Category (ACAT) programs that connects in any way to the communications and information infrastructure including

A Concept of Operations (CONOPS) is a document that describes a proposed system concept and how that concept would be operated in an intended environment.  The user community develops the CONOPS to communicate the vision for the operational system to the acquisition and developer community. A CONOPS can also be written by the buyer, developer,

The Force Protection Key Performance Parameter (KPP) is mandatory for all manned systems and is designed to enhance personnel survivability in an asymmetric threat environment. The attributes for the Force Protection KPP are identified in the Capability Development Document (CDD) and Capability Production Document (CPD) and apply to all pre-Milestone C programs. Manual: JCIDS Manual

The Capability Development Document (CDD) specifies the operational requirements for the system that will deliver the capability that meets the operational performance criteria specified in the Initial Capabilities Document (ICD). It outlines militarily useful increments of capability with its own set of attributes and development performance values (i.e., thresholds and objectives) in terms of Key

The Capabilities-Based Assessment (CBA) is the analysis portion of the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) process. The CBA provides recommendations to pursue material or non-material solutions to an identified capability gap that meets an established capability need. The result is that the CBA supports the development of operational capability requirements documents (Initial Capabilities