ADPE acquisition: the acquisition of the Naval Postgraduate School computer, a case study

Abstract

The federal computer acquisition process is examined by studying one particular major computer system acquisition. The manner in which the principals involved conducted the acquisition in relation to the political and regulatory environment is examined and displayed in a case study format. Although the situational facts involve a computer acquisition for the Naval Postgraduate School, broad issues are developed which apply universally to public and private sector computer systems acquisition. The case exposes the reader to the issues of specification development, conversion costs, benchmark testing, and the role of competition in computer acquisition. Attention is focused on the environment in which a computer system need is developed and how that need is 'marketed' through the review and support process of a large organizational buying system.