2. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Commercial Industry is Avoiding DoD
“…the epoxy that greases the wheels of progress.”
Norm Augustine
Foreword to 2005 Defense Acquisition Performance Assessment Study
GAO Study, 17-644 (July 2017) on Military Acquisitions
- Many Barriers to Non-Traditional DoD Entities
- Improvement Needed in:
- Cost Accounting Standards - Budget Environment
- Commercial Buying Practices - Streamlined Regulations
3. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASEUNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Investment Trends in Tech R&D
Commercial (non-DoD) industry surging in R&D investment
DoD is being left behind...
GAO Study, 17-644 (July 2017)
4. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
• FY16 and FY17 Language
FY17 NDAA, Sec 901, Restructure from USD AT&L to USD
R&E, USD A&S & USD CMO
New commercial technology,
contracting and workforce
authorities, and acquisition
methods
Leverage commercial
technologies across the
broader marketplace
Even Congress Noticed
5. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Legislation Enabling Agility
FY16 NDAA
Sec 804: “middle tier” acquisition procedures for rapid prototyping and fielding
Sec 805: alternative acquisition procedures for capital /services for critical national security needs
Sec 814: amended 10 USC 2373 to add transportation, energy, medical, and spaceflight to procure
noncompetitively for experimental purposes
Sec 815: amended title 10 USC 2371B, for other transaction authority to carry out prototype projects
Sec 825 amended 10 U.S.C. 2430 to provide Milestone Decision Authority to SAEs for an Major
Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) reaching milestone A after October 1, 2016
FY17 NDAA
Sec 233: pilot program to waive on a temporary basis regulations, policies, and procedures to
enhance research, development, test and evaluation efforts
Sec 806: adds 10 USC 2447b-e, requires Svcs to establish or identify an oversight body for managing
prototype projects; the SAE to select prototype projects through a merit-based selection
process; and authorize the SAE to select a project for a non-competitive, follow-on production
contract or other transaction under certain circumstances.
Sec 807(b): further amends 10 USC 2340 to limit the duration of OSD’s authority to designate a Milestone
Decision Authority other than the SAE for MDAPs that address a joint requirement
Sec 847: further amends 10 USC 2340 to exclude programs or projects under the rapid prototyping
and rapid fielding pathways (FY16 NDAA, section 804) from the definition of a MDAP
6. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Acquisition Agility Mission
Build the
Network
Provide
the Venues
Develop
the Tools
• SOCOM enterprise
• Interagency
• DoD Labs
• Independent Labs
• SOFWERX Ecosystem
• Non-FAR contracts
• Industry Fellows
• Collaboration, Rapid
Prototyping / Experimentation
• SOFWERX
• DirtyWerx >>ThunderDrone
Be the cross-cutting catalyst for SOF
7. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
SOFWERX: An Alternate Pathway
Step (1) Operators define a problem
Step (2) limited number of units for testing, prototyping, user evaluations, etc.
Step (3) decision point to determine further investment and acquisition strategy
SOFWERX projects are non-FAR based, reducing traditional barriers
SOFWERX created in FY15
Alternate acquisition pathway approach for USSOCOM
Access broad commercial non-traditional sources/innovation
Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) with Doolittle Institute
SOFWERX
8. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA)
15 USC §3715: An Agreement that provides an
intermediary to perform services that increase the
likelihood of success in the conduct of cooperative or
joint activities with small business firms, institutions of
higher education, or educational institutions
Competitively announced and established in
September 2015 with Doolittle Institute
Five (5) year agreement, Sep 15 – Sep 20
Sub awards are subject to Department of Defense Grant
and Agreement Regulations (DoDGARs), non FAR
9. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
The Value of the PIA to USSOCOM
Proactive, focused collaboration with innovative, non-
traditional entities
Discovery of new, novel and adaptive technology
solutions
Access to broader commercial and emerging innovative
networks
Assists non-traditional entities to provide solutions/ideas
to USSOCOM
Provides alternate acquisition pathway to reduce
technical risk prior to further investment decisions
10. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
SOF AT&L Non-FAR Acquisition Authorities
15 USC 3710(d) Cooperative Research Development
& Agreement
10 USC 2371 Other Transaction Authority
10 USC 2371(b) Other Transaction Authority for Rapid
Prototyping
10 USC 2374(a) Prize Challenge
15 USC 3719 Prize Challenge
15 USC 3715 Partnership Intermediary Agreement
Pursuing 10 USC 2373 Procurement for Experimental
Purposes
12. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Special Interest Items
Intellectual Property Concerns
Follow-on Activities
Acquisition Agility and the PEOs / Programs
Industry Fellows Program
13. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
What Acquisition Agility IS and IS NOT…
A Short-Cut Around FAR-based Programs
A Way to Avoid Competitive Procurements for Major
Programs
Short-term Fad (see the NDAA Language…)
IS
Streamlined Avenue for Industry / SOCOM Communication,
Collaboration and Rapid Prototyping/Experimentation
Complement to FAR-based and OTA activities (Informs and
Can Accelerate the Requirements Process)
IS NOT
14. UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
For further information…
Kelly Stratton-Feix (Director)
813.826.3016 kelly.Stratton-feix@socom.mil
Joel Fritz (SOFWERX PM)
813.826.7290 joel.fritz@socom.mil
Michael Guinn (SOFWERX APM)
813.826.5149 michael.guinn@socom.mil
THANK YOU!!