3

The cost/schedule/performance goals the PM agrees to meet are documented in the project's

Acquisition Program Baseline (APB)

Ensuring a system's support is designed is part of the goal of

Life Cycle Logistics

A T-2 Modification is required to

Support Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation

Digital twins can help with all of these production and sustainment concepts EXCEPT

eliminating the need for physical assets during testing

Intangible but identifiable tasks done by people like the efforts of support contractors in the program office are

Services

The loss or impending loss of manufacturers or suppliers of items or raw materials is

DMSMS

Within the Acquisition of Services pathway, AFPEO/CM is responsible for all of these EXCEPT

Providing funding for acquisition of services

A modification to an Air Force or Space Force system begins with

Identification of a need

A PM discovers that the program has failed to meet a cost objective in the Acquisition Program Baseline. This is

Not necessarily a big deal

Which of these Earned Value Management terms provides a new estimate for the total cost of the program?

Estimate at Completion (EAC)

Your EV data show your contractor has a CV of -$50K and an SV of $80K. Your program is

Over budget and ahead of schedule

The Armed Services Committees are responsible for appropriating funding to support the govt

False

Building an EV Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB) includes all of these EXCEPT

Calculating the Program Acquisition Unit Cost

Program offices would be the primary managers of which of these R&D funding categories?

6.4

Product Support is

the set of activities to establish/maintain a system's readiness

Which best describes the budget execution term "obligation?"

Funds are legally reserved, tying the government to a liability

Security assistance is important because it

assists our allies in acquiring the capability for self-defense

helps allies tackle economic and political instability

fosters human rights, democratic values and institutions

The movement of technology from AFRL to further development in a DoW program office is called

Technology Transition

The FMS process starts when a country requests information on defense articles via a

Letter of Request (LOR)

All of these are true regarding the Government Accountability Office (GAO) EXCEPT

The GAO is part of Congress and, therefore, creates new legislation

All of these are major players in Foreign Military Sales EXCEPT

Joint Chiefs of Staff

The three phases in the 7-step process for Acquisition of Services include all of these EXCEPT

Create

The AFMC center charged with installation & mission support functions such as civil engineering & security forces is

AFIMSC

All of these are part of the purpose of T&E EXCEPT

Eliminate 100% of program risks

The DoW is not allowed to use more than 50% of its depot maintenance funds to contract for support because of

the 50/50 Law

The link in the acquisition chain of command often referred to as the "single face to the user" is the

Program Manager (PM)

The Air Force's independent Operational Test Agency which does OT&E for ACAT I and II programs is

AFOTEC

Within the Acquisition of Services pathway, what does the Performance Work Statement (PWS) emphasize?

desired service outcomes and performance standards

The "who, what, when, where, and how" for daily execution of testing is in the

Test Plans

Digital threads are used to

link models and create an authoritative source of truth

Providing a process for determining needs and required resources is the purpose of

Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE)

Explain the importance of security assistance and FMS

Assists allies in acquiring, maintaining, and employing self-defense capabilities

Allows for the transfer/sale of US military articles and services

Helps allies tackle economic and political instability

List the major players involved in FMS

POTUS

Secretary of State

SECDEF

Congress

Describe the key elements of the process for accomplishing FMS

Letter of Request (LOR) = Need, initial requirements, starts the process

Price and Availability (P&A) – SAPM’s cost/schedule estimate

Congressional Notification – Required for most sales

Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) = Government to Government Contract with sale specifics (Total Package Approach)

Initial Deposit to U.S. Treasury / Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS)

Active Case

Define the Future years Defense Program (FYDP)

Official DoW database / summarizes DoW program forces and resources / 5 year master plan

Living document developed via PPBE process (documented in POM)

Describe the overall purpose of the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) system

provides logical for determining needs and resources to meet needs

Describe the key objectives of the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) system

Plan, program, budget for providing best mix of forces, equipment and support within fiscal constraints

Explain the role/responsibilities and importance of a Program Element Monitor (PEM)

Manage Program Element (PE) (aka Congressional Checking account), Advocates for Program, Pentagon Eyes and Ears, Fights for and defends (justifies) programs (Voice of the program in Pentagon and Congress)

FYI – also have a Financial Manager – key member of PMO/SPO team, helps program team plan and manage the program, builds budget, certify funds are available, tracks obligations and expenditures, prepares exhibits (R/P-Doc, J-Book),

Describe the key documents produced within the planning phase

translate top-down guidance (e.g. NSS) into plans and requirements - DoD decides which objectives to pursue/fund

Key documents: Defense Planning Guidance (DPG) – converts National Defense Strategy (NDS), National Military strategy into SECDEF’s Guidance for PPBE Planning (resource goals, priorities and objectives)

Describe the key documents produced within the programing phase

Links planed requirements with the resources needed to fulfill them

Key Documents: AF Program Objective Memorandum (POM) – POM balances capabilities and needs to support mission areas

Describe the key documents produced within the budgeting phase

ties dollars to the programs/needs of DoD; firm request for money is in President’s Budget (PB) and submitted to congress for approval

Key Document: OSW Budget Estimate Submission (BES), and President’s Budget (PB) – firm request for money to meet program needs (to Congress for approval)

Describe the key documents produced within the execution phase

use appropriated dollars to meet program goals

Key Documents: Obligations (on contract), and expenditures (paid the bills)

Describe appropriation accounts (colors of money), funding policy (annual, incremental, full)

Differentiate between Below Threshold Reprogramming (BTR), and Above Threshold Reprogramming (ATR)

BTR – PEO moves funds in coordination with SAF/AQ or SAF/SQ

Limited to lesser of $15M or 20% of appropriated amount

ATR – moving funds in excess of BTR limit requires congressional approval

Describe Continuing Resolution Authority (CRA)

Congressional joint resolution, signed by POTUS -- used when Congressional APPROPRIATIONS BILL is not passed by 1 Oct

Allows government to operate for limited amount of time and using limited amount of $$

Replaced by Authorization and Appropriations Acts (once passed/signed)

Describe Continuing Resolution Authority (CRA) rules

Rules:

(1) applies to all appropriations accounts (colors of $)

(2) Service ID’s short term funding needs

(3) No new contract awards (no new starts)

(4) funding limited to lowest between last years levels, or this years committee marks

Explain the following budget execution terms: budget Authority, Commitment, Certification, Obligation, Expenditure, and outlay

Budget Authority – authority to spend government $ / funds loaded into program element

Commitment – administrative reservation of funds / the planned $ used for a specific effort

Certification –DAF comptroller’s certification funds are available, in correct year, & correct appropriation (our double-check to ensure legal compliance)

Obligation – legal reservation/liability (on-contract) to pay for goods and services when bill comes in

Expenditure – charge against available funds / approving payment to contractor

Outlay – money actually moves from Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) to the vendor to pay the bill

Explain the life cycle of various appropriations in terms of active, expired, and canceled.

Active Funds – available for obligation / timeframe depends on color of $ (RPM = 235)

Expired Funds – previously obligated funds available for adjustment or expenditure only

Cancelled (closed) Funds – no longer available for any purpose (obligation, adjustment, or expenditure)

Explain the importance and necessity of tracking obligations and expenditures

Avoid cancelling (not using) appropriated funds

Make POM adjustments (rephasing POM) as necessary (~2 year lead time)

Re-program/move extra $ to a different project

Identify when more funding will be required

Note: OSW and AF have obligation (on contract) and expenditure (paid bills from contractor) goals – not meeting goals is a reason for OSW/AF to “pull” funds from program office to “protect” DAF (AF, USSF) obligation authority

Describe the purpose of the Anti-Deficiency Act (ADA)

Total amount spent restriction (Includes both civil and criminal penalties for violations) - Must not spend more $ than congress has appropriated

Example - Illegal to pay a contractor more money than congress has appropriated for the effort

Describe the purpose of the bona Fide Need rule

Year or time restriction - Must use money in correct fiscal year

Example - Illegal to use FY2023 funds for work performed in a FY2021

Describe the purpose of the Misappropriations Act

Color or purpose restriction - Must use money for purpose Congress approved

Example - Illegal to spend aircraft procurement (3010) on RDT&E(3600) needs

Describe the goal of life cycle logistics and its importance

Most program/project costs occur during Operations/Sustainment, but the greatest potential for life cycle cost (LCC) savings is early in the acquisition process

“Loggies” work reliability, maintainability, availability, sustainability (RAM-S) proactively throughout the entire acquisition process (e.g., cradle to grave)

This means goal is to Ensure the design is supportable, and to support the design

List the 12 Integrated Product Support (IPS) Elements

Sustaining Engineering

Supply Support

Tech data

Maintenance Planning

Facilities

Manpower, Personnel

Support Equipment

Computer Resources

Product Support Management

Training, training support

Design Interface

Packaging, Handling

Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS)

Loss or impending loss of manufacturers of items or suppliers of items or raw materials may cause material shortages that endanger a weapon systems or equipment's development, production, or post-production support

Can occur during any phase of the acquisition process (e.g., cradle to grave)

Define Product Support

Continuous and collaborative set of activities establishing and maintaining readiness and the operational capability of a system, subsystem, or end-item throughout its lifecycle

Covers 12 Integrated Product Support (IPS) Elements from system’s cradle to grave

Describe the purpose of Performance-Based Logistics (PBL)

Required strategy for optimizing total system availability while minimizing cost and the logistics footprint

Specify outcome base performance goals (e.g., Availability rate) of a system, assign responsibilities, provide incentives, and facilitate overall life cycle management of system reliability, supportability, and total ownership costs. (Buys performance, not goods/services)

Describe the role of Air Logistics Complexes (ALC)

To provide the DoD an organic capability to overhaul, repair, modify, and sustain new and existing weapon systems.

Describe organic support

Entities, facilities, organizations, and personnel (military and government civilian) within the Government to perform a job.

Includes: depots, flight line and back shop maintainers, wholesale and retail logistics (supply), and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) working together to execute the Product Support Strategy

Describe Contractor Logistics Support (CLS)

product support strategy using commercial vendors to provide support

Contractor responsible for spares, repairs, material, etc

Includes Interim Contractor Support (ICS) bridge to organic and Contractor Sustainment Support (CSS) to supplement organic support, or a CLS/Organic mix

Define Core Law

Maintains our nations organic capability to surge for wartime if needed

Essential for the national defense; core government-owned and government operated logistics capability; ready and controlled source of technical competence and resources; ensure ability to mobilize for national defense emergency (wartime) requirements

Define 50/50 law

No more than 50% of the funds made available in a fiscal year to a military department or a defense agency for depot-level maintenance and repair workload may be used to contract for the performance by non-Federal Government personnel

Describe the Depot Source of Repair (DSOR) process

Process for determining “core” maintenance/sustainment workload to be performed by organic (government) sources

Two part process:

(1) Source of Repair Assignment (SORA) is a pre-Milestone A recommendation

(2) DoD Depot Maintenance Interservice (DMI) Review is final Depot Source of Repair (DSOR) decision documenting organic, contractor, or combination to be use for long-term depot maintenance support

Identify the focus of Digital Engineering and Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)

the focus is on developing/maintaining digital models that represent the system, internal components, external interfaces, and the operational environment

Describe the use of Digital Threads and Authoritative Source of Truth (ASoT)

The Authoritative Source of Truth (ASoT) is created by linking together models and digital artifacts using a digital thread

Describe how Digital Twins help with production and sustainment

Proactively ID potential system or maintenance issues & troubleshoot potential fixes

Track implementation of mods across fleet

Monitor production schedule & quality of items produced & assist with ID of production issues

Simulate changes to production process before implementation

Describe the role of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment (USD(A&S))

responsible to the Secretary of Defense for all matters pertaining to acquisition

Describe the role of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (SAF/AQ)

provides oversight over Air Force acquisition programs

Describe the role of the Program Executive Officer (PEO)

responsible for overall execution of the programs within their portfolio

Describe the role of the Program Manager (PM)

vested with full authority, responsibility, and resources to execute an approved acquisition program on behalf of the Air Force

Describe the overall purpose of the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)

Responsible for developing, building, testing, sustaining, modernizing, and retiring AF weapon systems. Responsible for non-space-based systems. 

Describe the overall purpose of the Space Systems Command (SSC)

Tasked with the acquisition lifecycle of space systems. 

Describe the overall purpose of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC)

Focuses on acquisition and product support for AF weapon systems; also oversees Foreign Military Sales. 

Describe the overall purpose of the Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC)

Responsible for the operations support portion and supply chain management.  This Center provides oversight of three Air Logistics Complexes located at Hill, Robins, and Tinker AFBs.

Describe the overall purpose of the Air Force Test Center (AFTC)

Conducts developmental testing and evaluation of air, space, and cyber systems.  

Describe the overall purpose of the Air Force Nuclear Weapon Center (AFNWC)

Ensure safe, secure, and effective nuclear capabilities for the warfighter. 

Describe the overall purpose of the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL)

Focuses on discovery, development, and integration of aerospace warfighting technologies.

Describe the overall purpose of the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC)

Responsible for base support functions across the Air Force.

Describe the role of the Armed Services Committees

To authorize programs and set funding ceilings.

Describe the role of the Appropriation Committees

To assign specific dollar amounts to each program​.

Describe the role of the Budget Committees

To set revenue targets and outlays by continuously studying the effects of budget outlays and proposed legislation.

Describe the role of the Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Examines how government agencies use and control funds appropriated by Congress

Describe the role of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

forecasts/analyzes the impacts of new laws​.

Describe program reporting

A timely assessment and a form of communicating information for defining, managing, and monitoring a program’s health and status throughout its life cycle.

Describe acquisition categories (ACATs)

quickly identify the levels of oversight for acquisition programs.

Acquisition programs or projects are assigned an Acquisition Category (ACAT) based on dollar value and Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) special interest.

Identify the purpose of an Acquisition Decision Memorandum (ADM)

used to document major decisions by the Milestone Decision Authority (MDA)

Identify the purpose of an Acquisition Program Baseline (APB)

documents the PM’s agreement with the MDA (and other stakeholders such as the PEO and Sponsor) to achieve the proposed cost/schedule/performance estimates

Describe program deviation

occurs when the PM breaches (fails to meet) or projects that he/she will fail to meet one of the thresholds in the APB (KPP thresholds, cost and schedule thresholds)

Define the three different types of modifications

T-1: Support a special mission

T-2: Support test and evaluation

P: Permanently modify a system

Describe the overall modification management process

1. Identify a need

2. Document a need- via AF Form 1067 or ICD/CDD

3. CRB and CCB actions

4. Implement the Mod

Describe the purposes of T&E

Mature system designs

Manage risks

Identify & resolve deficiencies early

Provide the acquisition community with knowledge to improve the system performance before production

Provide user community with knowledge to optimize system operations and sustainment

Differentiate between Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E) and Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E)

Developmental: Evaluates design approaches

Operational: Realistic test environment

Describe the purpose of Integrated Test Teams (ITT)

Create and manage the strategy for T&E for the life of each program. CDT & Op Test Org

Describe the responsibilities of the Contractor involved with T&E

DT&E at their facilities, OT&E only support how they would in war

Describe the responsibilities of AFOTEC involved with T&E

Conducts all IOT&E, QOT&E and FOT&E

Describe the responsibilities of LDTO involved with T&E

Lead government entity qualified to conduct and be responsible for overseeing DT&E

Describe the purpose of Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP)

Details the integrated strategy & overarching T&E objectives for a program

Describe the purpose of the Program Introduction Document (PID)

Identifies the requirements for the test program

Describe the purpose of the Statement of Capability (SOC)

LDTO’s response to PID

Describe the purpose of Test Plans

give the “who, what, when, where, and how” for the daily execution of testing