ACQUISITION REFORM UPDATE - OPEN SYSTEM APPROACH

ACQUISITION REFORM UPDATE - OPEN SYSTEM APPROACH

[Alfred M Selgas]

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______________________________ Forward Header __________________________________
Subject: ACQUISITION REFORM UPDATE - OPEN SYSTEM APPROACH
Author:  Alfred M Selgas at SPAWAR-MC1
Date:    2/5/97 11:33 AM


     OPEN SYSTEM APPROACH TO THE ACQUISITION OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS
                        "THE CURRENT POLICY"

     If your looking for a basic understanding of DON Acquisition Reform
     for Computer Resources, please consider the following:

     "Most DON systems have become fundamentally dependent on computer
     resources.  For the past 30 years, the DON has directed the use of
     Navy-developed standard computer resources as Government Furnished
     Equipment under the Standard Embedded Computer Resources (SECR)
     program.  In recognition of the rapid growth of commercial technology,
     the increasing use of computer resources, and the high cost of
     requiring full military specification for computer resources, the
     Department of Defense (DoD) and DON policy is emphasizing the use of
     commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and other nondevelopmental items (NDI)
     where consistent with operational requirements.  In implementing the
     policy, the DON will employ an open systems approach which emphasizes
     the use of open system interface standards and widely available
     commercial computer resource products that meet system requirements and
     provide a growth path to meet anticipated and unanticipated
     requirements.  This approach should allow the DON to more effectively
     benefit from the technology innovation and cost competitiveness
     inherent in the commercial computer resources market.  Further, this
     approach will facilitate the adoption of business and systems
     engineering strategies to reduce acquisition development time and
     costs.  For some systems, a transition to this approach will be
     required, wherein current computer resources will continue to be
     supported and the open systems approach will be used for modifications
     and upgrades." - FROM: SECNAV INSTRUCTION 5200.32A, ACQUISITION
     MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPUTER RESOURCES 03 MAY 1993,
     THIS IS WHERE THE COINAGE OF THE TERM "OPEN SYSTEMS APPROACH" WAS
     ORIGINALLY DOCUMENTED.


        "SECNAVINST 5200.32A directs developing agents/program managers to
     use an open systems approach in the design, procurement, and support of
     computer resources.  The Open System Interface Standards List (OSISL)
     facilitates the acquisition of computer resources under this
     direction." - FROM: SECNAV NOTICE 5200 ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT POLICIES
     AND PROCEDURES FOR COMPUTER RESOURCES of 20 MAY 1993.

        THIS POLICY WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED IN A SPAWAR 03Y POA&M OF 1985
     WHEN THE TERM NEXT GENERATION COMPUTER RESOURCES (NGCR) WAS COINED.
     SINCE THIS POLICY WAS FINALLY PROMULGATED IN 1993.  IT HAS BEEN
     AMPLIFIED AND EXTENDED.

        THIS POLICY WAS PARTIALLY AMPLIFIED IN 1994 BY SECDEF, DR. PERRY'S,
     MEMO "NO MIL-STDS."

        THIS POLICY WAS GREATLY AMPLIFIED BY THE "DASN C4I CRM STUDY" OF
     1995 AND THE LATTER'S MARINE CORPS ADDENDUM OF 1996.

        LAST MONTH, JANUARY 1997, THIS POLICY IS REITERATED IN A NAVSEA
     ACQUISITION INFORMATION MEMORANDUM.

        ORIGINALS (ELECTRONIC AND HARDCOPY) OF THESE DOCUMENTS ARE
     AVAILABLE FROM AL SELGAS OF SPAWAR AT 602-4493.
       IN PARTICULAR, SECNAVINST 5200.32A 1993, SECNAV NOTICE 5200 1993 ARE
     ATTACHED AS WORDPERFECT FILES. THE NAVSEA AIM IS ATTACHED AS A MSWORD FILE.

     RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
     AL SELGAS 602-4493
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