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

capabilities are left blank in a guide specification and then tailored to the program-specific requirements by filling in the blanks with the needed performance capabilities.  The blanks can be filled in by the Government, the contractor, or a Government-contractor integrated product team to develop the needed program-unique specifications at the appropriate time in the product development process.

Guide specifications provide directions on how the blanks are to be filled in.  In most cases, guidance is provided as to how to state the performance capability in terms of required end results rather than how to achieve the end result.  There is much flexibility in arriving at the performance requirement, but in some cases where there is a known, required interoperability or interface requirement, the guide specification can be specific in citing the required interoperability or interface requirement.

Guide specifications include verification requirements for each performance parameter.  The verification requirements generally provide a range of options that may be selected for a specific application.

Because guide specifications tend to be comprehensive documents anticipating a wide variety of possible performance capabilities that could apply for the item covered, most guide specifications include guidance for tailoring out unnecessary requirements so that only those requirements necessary for the particular program under development will be included.  Guide specifications also usually highlight lessons learned from previous programs to help avoid past pitfalls.

Appendix B provides an example of the type of performance requirements that may be found in a guide specification.

PROGRAM-UNIQUE PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

Unlike defense specifications that apply to multiple programs or applications, program-unique specifications usually only apply to a single program or application.  There are five types of program-unique specifications:  system specification, item specification, software specification, material specification, and process specification.  During system development, these different types of program-unique specifications describe the system at different levels of detail.   The format and content requirements for program-unique specifications are covered in MIL-STD-961, Defense and Program-Unique Specifications Format and Content.  As noted above, guide specifications, if available, can be used as templates to help in the development of program- unique specifications.  Copies of program-unique specifications are generally only available

from the program office or prime contractor.

For a system acquisition, the Government must describe the system in terms of top-level functions, performance, and interfaces derived from the operational requirements established by the user.  This system-level description is documented in a program-unique system  performance specification.

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