A Study of the Alpha contracting process and its effects on Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD) within selected Army Acquisition Programs

Abstract

This thesis evaluates the sole-source method of Alpha Contracting in the Army's HMMWV, Bradley A3, and AFATDS acquisition programs and examines the advantages and disadvantages associated with its implementation. Specifically, the research focuses on the effects of Alpha Contracting on the Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD) concept and its associated use of Integrated Product Teams (IPTs). The objective is to determine if Alpha Contracting, in concert with the IPPD process, supports DoD's ultimate acquisition goal of providing warfighters with effective systems on schedule at an affordable cost. Ultimately, this analysis will lead to the development of a set of recommendations for its implementation in future acquisition endeavors. The research conducted for this thesis includes an analysis of the Alpha Contracting process, an indepth review of the IPPD management process, a detailed examination of current Army acquisition programs utilizing the Alpha Contracting process to determine the extent of its advantages and disadvantages, and an analysis of the cause and effect of any failed expectations of the process.