Materiel Solution Analysis Phase Overview

Summary

This script offers an in-depth overview of the Material Solution Analysis phase in the defense acquisition process. It emphasizes the importance of selecting the most promising technology to meet user needs, establishing a program management office, and conducting a thorough analysis of alternatives. The script also highlights the collaborative efforts across various functional areas, including systems engineering, testing, software development, and lifecycle logistics, to ensure a well-informed decision at Milestone A, setting the stage for technology maturation and risk reduction in subsequent phases.

Takeaways

• 🚀 The Material Solution Analysis (MSA) is the first phase of the five phases in the defense acquisition system, aimed at selecting the most promising technology to meet user needs stated in the initial capabilities document.
• 📄 To enter the MSA phase, an approved initial capabilities document, study guidance, and a plan to conduct analysis of alternatives are required.
• 🛠️ Establishing a program manager and a program management office (PMO) is crucial for organizing the initial program documentation and strategy.
• 🤝 Interfacing with warfighters and the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) is essential for drafting the capability development document through dialogue and collaboration.
• 💰 Full funding must be established in the future years defense program during the MSA phase, keeping financial management teams busy with budget planning and execution.
• 🔍 Each functional area within acquisition has specific tasks to perform, such as staffing the PMO, analyzing program risks, overseeing the analysis of alternatives, and establishing cost goals.
• 🔄 The contracting team must onboard contractors to support the PMO, plan for studies, and prepare for the next phase by releasing draft RFPs or RFIs for industry feedback.
• 💼 Financial managers are responsible for initial cost estimates, funding requests, affordability analysis of alternatives, and managing funds execution.
• 🔧 Systems engineering plays a central role in understanding requirements, planning technical activities, analyzing technical risks, and establishing system models and simulations.
• 📊 Test and Evaluation teams must ensure requirements are measurable and testable, and integrate modeling and simulation into the test evaluation master plan.
• 🛡️ Software development should start early, with a focus on program protection planning, considering cybersecurity and evaluating software implications for each alternative.
• 🏭 Production quality and manufacturing assess the producibility of alternatives and plan the initial production strategy, while also analyzing manufacturing risks.
• 🔄 Lifecycle logistics must evaluate supportability and affordability, plan the support strategy, and conduct a business case analysis for the lifecycle sustainment plan.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the Material Solution Analysis phase?

The primary purpose of the Material Solution Analysis phase is to select the most promising technology that meets the user need stated in the initial capabilities document.

What is required to enter the Material Solution Analysis phase?

To enter the Material Solution Analysis phase, an approved initial capabilities document, study guidance for analysis of alternatives, and a plan to conduct the analysis are required.

What role does the Program Manager and Program Management Office (PMO) play during this phase?

The Program Manager and PMO are established during this phase to oversee the program, manage risks, and ensure the development of initial program documentation including the acquisition strategy, testing valuation master plan, and others.

How does the dialogue with warfighters contribute to the Material Solution Analysis phase?

The dialogue with warfighters helps in drafting the capability development document and ensures that the user needs are well understood and addressed throughout the phase.

Why is establishing full funding in future years defense program important during this phase?

Establishing full funding is crucial to ensure financial support for the program and to allow financial management to plan and execute the budget according to the program's needs.

What is the significance of the Analysis of Alternatives in the Material Solution Analysis phase?

The Analysis of Alternatives is significant as it helps in selecting the best technology from all available options to meet the user needs, and it is a major activity that influences the decision-making process.

What are the key responsibilities of the contracting team during the Material Solution Analysis phase?

The contracting team is responsible for onboarding contractors to support the PMO, planning for contracts related to studies and analysis of alternatives, and managing contract performance to ensure timely completion of tasks.

How does the financial management team contribute to the phase?

The financial management team contributes by establishing initial program cost estimates, analyzing affordability of alternatives, assisting in should cost analysis, and managing the execution of funds for the phase.

What is the role of systems engineering in the Material Solution Analysis phase?

Systems engineering plays a crucial role in analyzing requirements, planning technical activities for the next phase, analyzing technical risks, and establishing initial system models and simulations.

How does the test and evaluation team contribute to the phase even without hardware?

The test and evaluation team contributes by analyzing requirements for measurability and testability, establishing an initial test evaluation master plan, integrating modeling and simulation into the plan, and planning technical demonstrations and testing for the next phase.

What is the importance of early software development in the Material Solution Analysis phase?

Early software development is important for considering program protection planning, validating models for analysis of alternatives, evaluating software implications of each alternative, and understanding software-specific risks and mitigation strategies.

What are the key tasks for production quality and manufacturing during the Material Solution Analysis phase?

The key tasks include analyzing the producibility of alternatives, planning the initial production strategy, analyzing manufacturing risks, and planning mitigation strategies to support the program manager in overall risk management.

What does the life cycle logistics team focus on during the Material Solution Analysis phase?

The life cycle logistics team focuses on analyzing supportability of alternatives, planning the support strategy, developing an initial lifecycle sustainment plan, conducting a business case analysis, and analyzing sustainment risks with mitigation planning.