Streamlining of Army Acquisition Category (ACAT) IV programs

摘要

The 1986 Packard Commission review of Defense management recommended a consolidation of the Services' materiel acquisition regulations under an umbrella regulation, DoD 5000. Adopted in 1991, this regulation created four levels of management oversight, Acquisition Categories (ACAT) I - IV, and it encouraged streamlining of the process for the smaller ACAT III and IV programs. This study examines the streamlining of DoD 5000 procedures across the smallest U.S. Army programs (ACAT IV). It investigates differences among Commands and streamlining techniques that are most prevalent and useful. The basis of the study consisted of literature searches, interviews, and a questionnaire, with questions that required numeric and essay responses, that was distributed Army-wide to all ACAT IV managers, and synthesis of this collection of information. A total of 19 managers responded. The study concluded that there are no significant differences among the U.S. Army Commands concerning the application of acquisition streamlining techniques. In addition, it identified which techniques were most prevalent, which saved the most program time and funding, and the reasons for differences among Commands and between small and large programs. The study recommends that the Army establish an ACAT IV baseline development management process that incorporates the most prevalent and useful streamlining techniques.