Performance Specification Guide SD-15
COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTIONS
While commercial item descriptions (CIDs) are not labeled as performance specifications, by their very nature, CIDs are performance-oriented documents. A CID is intended to be a short, simplified specification that describes the functional, performance, and physical interface requirements of commercially-available products that will meet the Government's needs. While there are examples of CIDs written with excessive detailed design requirements, if a CID is written following the criteria required by the General Services Administration's Federal Standardization Manual, it may generally be considered a performance specification. CIDs are indexed in and available online without charge from the Acquisition Streamlining and Standardization Information System (ASSIST) database at https://assist.daps.dla/quicksearch/.
DEFENSE PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS
Defense performance specifications are intended to standardize on military-unique materials, parts, components, equipment, subsistence and support items, and potentially any item below the system level for items that are intended for use across multiple systems or equipment or in multiple applications. The format and content requirements for defense performance specifications are covered in MIL-STD-961, Defense and Program-Unique Specifications Format and Content. These documents are often referred to as "MIL-PRFs" because the document identifier begins with the letter "MIL-PRF" (e.g., MIL-PRF-1234). Defense performance specifications are indexed in and available online without charge from the ASSIST database at https://assist.daps.dla/quicksearch/.
GUIDE SPECIFICATIONS
Guide specifications (also referred to as specification guides) identify the essential performance parameters normally associated with development of a class of like end items. Guide specifications are a standard template starting point for developing a program-unique specification for a type of system, subsystem, equipment, or assemblies. Guide specifications are not for a specific item, but cover the generic requirements for a type of product. So for example, there would be a guide specification for air systems, but there would not be a guide specification for the F-35. The guide specification for air systems would serve as a template for developing the program-unique system specification for the F-35. Guide specifications should not be used for reprocurement purposes, and generally, should not be used for the acquisition of components, parts, and materials. The format and content requirements for guide specifications are flexible, but the minimum requirements are in DoD 4120.24-M, Defense Standardization Program Policies and Procedures. Guide specifications are indexed in and available online without charge from the ASSIST database at https://assist.daps.dla/quicksearch/.
The guide specification identifies the performance capabilities that must be included or considered when developing the program-unique specification. Typically, specific performance
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