The Avenger Air Defense System: an examination of the nondevelopmental item acquisition strategy

Abstract

With the Department of Defense's (DoD) budget being reduced to ever diminishing levels, DoD acquisition managers must acquire technologically superior weapon systems within fixed time periods with the least amount of resources. One way they can effectively accomplish this is by using a Nondevelopmental Item (NDI) acquisition strategy. One weapon system program that has successfully used such an NDI strategy is the U.S. Army's Avenger Air Defense System Program. This thesis examines the DoD acquisition process and how NDIs are used within the process. The thesis then analyzes the Avenger Program and its NDI acquisition strategy to determine what factors made the program successful. From this analysis, lessons-learned are identified that can be used by other acquisition managers and their staffs to effectively manage future NDI programs. Significant lessons-learned indicate that high-level support, a thorough market investigation and a tailored acquisition process are critical to the success of an NDI program