Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD)

Abstract

The JCTD Program directly addresses Joint, Coalition, and/or Interagency capability needs expressed by Combatant Commands (COCOMs). Due to significant successes since inception of the program (initially the Advanced Capability Technology Demonstration (ACTD) Program), the JCTD Program is often viewed by COCOMs as a primary means to rapidly develop, assess, and transition time-sensitive capability solutions into operations. Through partnering with other solution providers and resource sponsors, the JCTD Program typically leverages two dollars in partner funding for every dollar in the JCTD budget. Thus, the value and impact of JCTDs to the COCOMs is significantly greater than a traditional Research and Development (R&D) program. Key values demonstrated by the JCTD program are: - The program has a long history of providing enduring capabilities: to date, over 80 percent of completed JCTDs have successfully transitioned capabilities to warfighters. 70 percent of completed ACTD projects successfully transitioned their products. See “Section D. Acquisition Strategy” for transition discussion. - The program delivers capabilities rapidly; projects execute quicker than the traditional Department of Defense (DoD) Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process. The result is that 74 JCTD/ACTD projects delivered capabilities used in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 57 projects delivered capabilities to Operation Enduring Freedom. Most of those capabilities would not have been delivered – or would have been significantly delayed – without the JCTD program. Recent examples are: sensor capabilities for finding and interdicting tunnels delivered to Afghanistan to address a Joint Urgent Operational Needs Statement (JUONS) requirement and to interdict tunnels on the US-Mexico border; autonomous technologies for unmanned aerial resupply of forward operating bases; a sensor capability to provide situational awareness in the riverine environment; and a deployable, integrated system to provide essential services in the immediate aftermath of a crisis event, to include renewable-powered water desalination deployed to all the COCOMs. - The program enables coalition cooperative development by leveraging partner nation expertise and resources; approximately one-third of JCTD projects involve some degree of coalition partner participation. As a result of successful past collaborations, the program now enjoys routine interactions with the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Singapore. - The program enables development and execution of interdepartmental cooperation projects, such as projects with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of State (DOS), and Department of Transportation (DOT). Recent examples are interdepartmental collaborations for maritime awareness, air domain information sharing, tunnel detection and characterization, and Arctic awareness. - The program enables rapid response to new DoD priorities before Service PPBE cycles can respond. For example, the Department has recently established priorities for Anti-Access/Area-Denial, Building Partner Capacity, understanding human terrain, and nuclear forensics. The JCTD Program quickly responded to the new priorities and is providing initial capabilities that are transitioning to Service efforts. MEASURABLE OUTCOMES: Metrics include: all JCTDs will have deliverables within 15 months (analyses, designs, models, etc.) to enable assessment for project continuation; 50 percent of JCTDs will provide an operationally-relevant prototype within 18 months; and 75 percent will complete final demonstration within 24 months of receiving funding. JCTDs will spiral products and deliverables during the demonstration to meet COCOM needs. Capabilities delivered and technologies transitioned are additional key metrics. Transition Achievement: The JCTD program has been achieving actual transition rates of over 80 percent, well in excess of the DoD Strategic Objective 3.5.2D, Performance Measure 3.5.1-2D, goal of 40 percent. The JCTD Program defines transition as all or components of the demonstrated JCTD going to a new or existing Program of Record (POR), providing fieldable-prototypes (residual capabilities) sustained by non-JCTD funds in direct support of operations in theater, or commodity-type capabilities entered onto GSA schedule for procurement by Department users. 13 of 16 completions in FY 2012 were successfully transitioned.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2014
• Source ID: P648_0603648D8Z_3_0400_PB_2014

Tags

Readers

• Defense Acquisition Program Management
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Military Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs