A Time and Materials (T&M) contract is normally used in construction and product development when a company or employee agrees to be paid for their “Time” and the “Material” used for the development of a product. T&M contracts are used when you can not estimate the size of the project or any of the changes […]
A Trade Study is a decision-making study that identifies a preferred solution from a list of qualified solutions. The trade study will examine these solutions against criteria such as cost, schedule, performance, weight, system configuration, complexity, the use of Commercial Off-the-shelf (COTS), and many others. Trade Studies are performed throughout an acquisition program, from concept
The Statement of Work (SOW) is a document that enables the offeror to clearly understand the government’s needs for the work to be done in developing or producing the goods or services to be delivered by a contractor. It defines (either directly or by reference to other documents) all work (non-specification) performance requirements for a
A Working Group (WG) is an interdisciplinary collaboration of people working on a project or problem that would be difficult to develop under a traditional organizational structure or funding mechanisms. The lifespan of the WG can last anywhere between a few months to several years and can be a collaboration of a Cross-Functional Team makeup.
Systems Engineering Technical Review (SETR) Process is an iterative program timeline that maps the technical reviews to the acquisition process described in DoD 5000 documentation. Below are the major technical reviews that are required during the acquisition process. System Requirements Review (SRR) The SRR is a technical review conducted during the Technology Development (TD) Phase
Total Life-Cycle Systems Management (TLCSM) is a system development approach of managing the development of a system from inception to disposal. The Program Manager (PM) is the single point of accountability for accomplishing program objectives for TLCSM. Consequently, the PM is responsible for the implementation, management, and/or oversight of activities associated with the system’s development,
A Technical Performance Measurement (TPM) is a process that measures the risks inherent in a given project. It involves predicting the value of a critical technical performance parameter of the higher-level end product under development based on current assessments of products lower in the system structure. TPMs track and measure progress toward achieving the specified
A Request for Quotation (RFQ) is a method of soliciting offers from suppliers for customer’s requirements for suppliers or services that fit within the dollar amount for supplies or services; >$3000. This is used when the aggregate amount involved in any one transaction is relatively small. The FAR allows an RFQ for government-unique items to
Time Management is the act or process of exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase efficiency or productivity. Time management may be aided by a range of skills, tools, and techniques used to manage time when accomplishing specific tasks, projects and goals. This set encompasses a
A Request for Proposal (RFP) is a solicitation used in negotiated acquisition to communicate government requirements to prospective contractors and to solicit proposals. The RFP describes the work to be done, how it will be judged, and the terms and conditions of the proposed agreement. It also tells the supplier how to send their proposal
