Performance Specification Guide SD-15
On March 29, 2005, DSP Policy Memo 05-3, Elimination of Waivers to Cite Military Specifications and Standards in Solicitations and Contracts, was issued. The elimination of the waiver requirement was the result of the progress made in DoD towards specifying requirements in performance terms, increased use of non-Government standards and commercial item descriptions, and when conditions demanded defense specifications and standards, ensuring their proper application and tailoring of requirements.
One of the persistent misperceptions about the acquisition reform initiative of the 1990s is that all detail military specifications and standards were canceled. While thousands of these documents were canceled or replaced by non-Government standards, commercial item descriptions, or defense performance specifications, the DoD retained thousands of detail specifications that continue to play an important role in the defense acquisition process today. It is important to understand when it is most appropriate and beneficial to DoD to develop and use a performance specification. This guide helps provide some of that understanding.
Much has changed since the SD-15 was first issued in 1995. This update reflects the latest policies, procedures, and philosophy for performance specifications and captures some of the lessons learned and examples.
CATEGORIES OF SPECIFICATIONS
There are many ways to categorize specifications. They can be categorized by the entity that develops them: for example, government specifications, industry specifications, and company specifications. They can be categorized by geographic origins: for example, international specifications, regional specifications, and national specifications. They can be categorized by functional use: for example, system specifications, component specifications, software specifications, and material specifications. And, they can be categorized by the way they state requirements: for example, performance specifications and detail specifications.
Performance Specifications
A performance specification states requirements in terms of the required results and the criteria for verifying compliance, without specifically stating how the results are to be achieved. A performance specification describes the functional requirements for an item, its capabilities, the environment in which it must operate, and any interface, interoperability, or compatibility requirements. It does not present a preconceived solution to a requirement.
Detail Specifications
In contrast to a performance specification, a detail specification provides preconceived solutions to requirements and describes exactly how an item is to be produced. A detail specification identifies materials to be used, specific parts and components, and how the item is to be
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