Program Engagement and Independent Assessments

Abstract

Program Engagement and Independent Assessments program activities include the following functions: • Conducts and approves Independent Technical Risk Assessments (ITRAs) on Acquisition Category (ACAT)-1D Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs). Reviews and approves ITRAs on select high priority ACAT 1B/1C MDAPs. • Conceive plans and conducts Preliminary and Critical Design Review Assessments of MDAPs under the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) purview. • Pursuant to U.S.C. 10 Sec 2366 requirements, provides basis for critical technology and manufacturing process determinations and certifications of MDAPs under OSD purview. • Satisfies U.S.C. 10 Sec 2448a requirements by providing risk assessments to support the development of cost, schedule, and performance targets. • Support acceleration of USD(R&E)’s critical technology initiatives in accordance with the National Defense Strategy. • Conduct other technical reviews as requested, such as Nunn-McCurdy certification reviews, Non-Advocate Reviews, focused technical assessments, and software readiness reviews to identify and mitigate program risk. • Oversee Service and other Component organizations’ implementation of engineering initiatives and approve or conduct independent assessments. • Guide Service and other component organizations in the development planning process to ensure proposed MDAP programs are executable within acceptable levels of risk. • Provide Systems Engineering support to MDAPs. Review the systems engineering plans (SEPs) and activities for MDAPs. • Monitor and advise the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (USD(R&E)) and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment USD(A&S) on technical and engineering aspects of MDAPs and select alternate acquisition pathway programs to ensure they are adequate to support fielding and the achievement of cost, schedule and performance goals to include readiness, i.e. producibility, reliability, maintainability, sustainment, and other considerations.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: 144_0605142D8Z_6_0400_PB_2025

Tags

Readers

• Defense Acquisition Program Management