Defense Acquisition Research Journal Issue 95

January 2021

of the WBS mandated by MIL-STD-881D include ease of normalization of data and information across a variety of commodity types and DoD agencies, and the ability to reference past and current MDAPs to better understand and forecast their own costs, schedules, and overall program. Research on MDAP cost factors in cost estimating is insufficient to fully and efficiently utilize the technique. The Air Force acquisition cost analyst community has conducted unpublished cost factor studies by Wren (1998) and Otte (2015) specific to MDAPs in the EMD phase. These studies, how ever, are very narrow in scope and apply solely to a limited subset of aircraft programs. Wren (1998) focused solely on developing factors relevant to com mon factors in 20 aircraft aviation programs. Otte (2015) updated the work of Wren, but his analysis remained narrowly focused on clean-sheet design aircraft programs. The efforts of Wren and Otte represent a sizable stepping stone towards an exhaustive reference table of factors for DoD analysts, but lack the breadth required to make the studies applicable to more than a specific set of programs based at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Large gaps in cost factor creation exist for additional (e.g., nonaircraft) commodity types, modification programs, subcontractor data, and contract type. Database In an effort to reduce defense program cost growth, Congress enacted Pub. L. 111-23, Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009. This act created a Pentagon office—Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE). CAPE is chartered to provide independent analysis of resource allocation to deliver the optimal portfolio of defense capability through efficient and effective use of public funds (Office of the Secretary of

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Defense ARJ, January 2021, Vol. 28 No. 1 : 40-70