Downloaded from https://www.everyspec.com made by the procuring agency, in coordination with the T&E WIPT principals (see chap 8), to ensure production compliance with the specification and to determine the need for additional DT or OT. d. System evaluations are always required to support the Milestone Decision Authority in determining whether to authorize a reprocurement when there has been a significant break in production. If market investigations reveal that an item previously procured is no longer available, has significant configuration changes, or technology advances have occurred, then a new acquisition strategy and associated system evaluation are required. 3–6.
Test and evaluation in support of science and technology development and transition Technologies will transition only when they have matured, been thoroughly demonstrated, and been proven to have military utility. When a technology is transitioned to an acquisition program, T&E is required. Technological advances in the form of modifications or upgrades to existing systems will be tested and evaluated as discussed in paragraph 3–3. Life-cycle activities for new development of technologies are contained in the Defense Acquisition Guidebook. 3–7.
Test and evaluation to support materiel release Assessments or evaluations, conducted by the system evaluator (including the safety confirmation), will support materiel release actions for new procurement, reprocurements, and system changes. (See AR 700–142.) 3–8. Testing and evaluation in support of the joint test and evaluation program a. The office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) sponsors the JT&E Program to conduct tests and evaluations and provide information required by Congress, OSD, the Commanders in Chief, the Joint Staff, and DOD components relative to joint operations.
The purpose of the JT&E Program is to bring two or more services or other Government agencies together to provide information on system requirements and improvements. Other purposes are to examine a system’s joint interoperability, to develop and analyze testing methodologies, or to evaluate technical or operational performance under the realistic conditions of interrelated or interacting weapon systems. b. The Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G–8 (Force Development) (ADCS, G–8–FD) coordinates all JT&E issues with the Army Staff and is responsible for Army’s participation and execution of the JT&E Program.
The ADCS, G–8–FD issues the call for Army nominations and conducts a representative Army board, that reviews, coordinates, approves, and prioritizes those that are forwarded to OSD for consideration. The Army T&E Executive is an advisor to ADCS, G–8–FD and makes recommendations on concepts and nominations to become JT&E. The TEMA has oversight authority on all JT&Es. The USATEC maintains and manages the Army’s Table of Distribution and Allowances for JT&Es, ensures proper administration of Army JT&E personnel, and programs Army resources for all JT&Es. c.
The USATEC provides Army resources for the joint test Forces and coordinates resource requirements to support the conduct of JT&E, including chartered phases (see para 2–22). Participants in JT&E should notify USATEC and coordinate all resources early in the JT&E process. Commands and agencies with expertise in test planning, develop- ment, and execution must support USATEC as appropriate. d. Army organizations or commands submitting JT&E nominations are required to provide an 06 level Joint Feasibility Study director, administrative support, and adequate facilities to house the Feasibility Study for 1 year should the nomination be selected.
For Army-lead chartered JT&E, USATEC provides funding for administrative and facilities support. 3–9. Test and evaluation of multi-Service acquisition programs a. T&E of multi-Service acquisition programs are conducted on systems being acquired by more than one DOD component. Army T&E planning, execution, and report writing are done by agreement among the participating services, including sources of funding and designation of the lead service. The lead service prepares and coordinates a single TEMP, a single test plan, and a single T&E report reflecting system technical performance and operational effectiveness, suitability, and survivability for each service component.
Testing procedures follow those of the lead s e r v i c e , w i t h v a r i a t i o n a s r e q u i r e d , a n d a r e r e s o l v e d t h r o u g h m u t u a l a g r e e m e n t s ( s e e t h e D e f e n s e A c q u i s i t i o n Guidebook). b. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on multi-Service OT&E (MOT&E) in support of joint acquisition provides the basic framework and guidelines for planning, conducting, evaluating, funding, and reporting these programs. The USATEC is the Army proponent for this MOA. The MOA is reviewed and updated annually, and the lead is rotated among the services. See the MOA on MOT&E located at www.hqda.army.mil/tema. 3–10. Foreign comparative testing a.
Foreign comparative testing (FCT) involves the T&E of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and non- NATO allies’ defense equipment to determine whether such equipment meets valid existing DOD needs. b. The FCT Program responds to a growing awareness of the value of using NDI items to accelerate the acquisition process and reduce rising development costs. The principal objective of the FCT program is to leverage NDI items of allied and friendly nations to satisfy DOD component requirements or correct mission area shortcomings. The FCT 16 AR 73–1 • 1 August 2006