SD-15 Guide For Performance SpecificationsThis document provides guidance information on performance specifications focusing primarily on stating requirements in performance terms and ensuring that sufficient verification means are included in the specification to evaluate conformance. While the focus of this document is on defense specifications developed under DoD 4120.24-M, Defense Standardization Program DSP Policies and Procedures, the principles and techniques can also be applied to program unique performance specifications, performance-based purchase descriptions, commercial item descriptions, or any other type of procurement specification. This guide is intended to supplement the format and content requirements for writing performance specifications found in MIL-STD-961, Defense and Program-Unique Specifications Format and Content.

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Performance Specification Guide SD-15

CHAPTER 3:

DEFINING REQUIREMENTS

"A hiatus exists between the inventor who knows what they could invent, if they only knew what was wanted, and the soldiers who know, or ought to know, what they want and would ask for it if they only knew how much science could do for them.  You have never really bridged that gap yet."

Winston Churchill

The Great War

IDENTIFYING AND DEFINING USER NEEDS

Winston Churchill appreciated the challenge of identifying and defining the warfighter's needs and communicating those needs to the technical community for solutions.  Because the warfighter is the ultimate beneficiary of acquisition and life-cycle support, it's appropriate that the warfighter define the materiel needs.

The Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) is the process that defines the requirements for future defense programs.  What follows below is a very brief description of that process as it relates to identifying and describing materiel requirements.  See CJCSI 3170.01, Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System, for an in-depth description of the JCIDS process.

The JCIDS addresses capability shortfalls or gaps, as identified by combatant commanders.  The JCIDS guides the development of requirements by trying to reflect the needs of all of the Military Departments and focusing on a requirements generation process that identifies needed capabilities in performance terms.  A major emphasis of the JCIDS is to determine whether an operational gap requires a non-materiel solution (e.g. changes to doctrine, training, etc.), a materiel solution, or a combination of both.

The JCIDS process begins with the development of a Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA), which identifies the capabilities required, the capability gaps and associated operational risks, an assessment of the viability of a non-materiel solution, and a potential recommendation for the type of solution.  The results of the CBA are documented in a joint Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership and Education, Personnel or Facilities Change Recommendation (DCR) for non-materiel solutions or an Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) for a materiel solution.  The ICD identifies the capability gap or other deficiency and evaluates materiel approaches.  The ICD ultimately supports the Milestone A decision whether to approve a materiel development decision and demonstrate that a proposed materiel solution is feasible.

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