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Support to the Warfighter: Can Industry Do Better? 25 August, 2005 “Strengthening the Government-Industry Partnership”. Why Are We Here. This is Industry’s chance to identify changes to facilitate their support to the warfighter
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Support to the Warfighter: Can Industry Do Better? 25 August, 2005 “Strengthening the Government-Industry Partnership”
Why Are We Here • This is Industry’s chance to identify changes to facilitate their support to the warfighter • This is the Government’s chance to identify Industry actions that would improve “supporting the warfighter”
Issue 1: Are Government requirements clearly articulated for Industry action? • Findings: • - Support to warfighter is key but the warfighter may not know / may not be able to articulate their requirement • - Situation and requirements will change by the time metal bending begins and when the product is delivered • Observations: • - Acquisition system needs to be responsive • - Spiral development; “plug and play” can contribute; • - Possibilities: Flexible contract vehicles; more application of NRO processes/best practices; commercial practices • - Industry has responsibility to discover/flesh out needs & provide solutions
Issue 2: Are we flexible enough to respond to needs of warfighter? • Findings • - Different systems prevent interoperability • - System Engineer process essential (CDD System Spec) • - Requirements traceability must work both ways • Observations • - Need common set of processes/standards • - Need forums to facilitate gov’t / industry interaction • - Goal is to facilitate Joint and foreign warfighter support
Issue 3: Are we too focused on Systems vs Solutions? (What are we doing to suppress/address User/Operator requirements/needs) • Findings • - Industry focused on profit/fee • - Customer needs more non materiel solutions • - Everything has to have a Joint focus • Observations • - Industry fact of life is “making money and satisfying shareholders” • - More analysis now required by Government due to JCIDS process; Not a timely process • - Multiple Phase A study contracts followed by down select and development can help
Issue 4: How to get from an Idea to execution; more innovation/demos/experiments • Findings • - Limited contractor investment funds; expensive; ?payoff • - ATD/ACTD/TTI/Rapid acquisition program exist • - Need more process for transition to dev programs • - Government wants “something: but Industry “solution” may not be what is needed—Industry can’t do this alone • Observations • - Industry and gov’t need to interact on requirements for future solutions/current needs • - Need more government funded IR&D/CRAD • - More Joint Experimentation • - More extensive use of Battlelabs