SOCOM Agile Acquisition
- 1. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVEDFOR PUBLIC RELEASEUNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Ms. Kelly Stratton-Feix Director, Acquisition Agility USSOCOM Acquisition Agility Directorate/SOFWERX
- 2. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVEDFOR 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: APPROVEDFOR 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: APPROVEDFOR 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: APPROVEDFOR 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: APPROVEDFOR 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: APPROVEDFOR 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: APPROVEDFOR 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: APPROVEDFOR 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: APPROVEDFOR 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
- 11. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVEDFOR PUBLIC RELEASE Opportunities to Join In
- 12. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED DISTRIBUTION A: APPROVEDFOR 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: APPROVEDFOR 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: APPROVEDFOR 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!!