1、 Guide for Performance Specifications Defense Standardization Program August 24, 2009 STDZ SD-15 Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-Perform
2、ance Specification Guide SD-15 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION. 1 PURPOSE 1 BACKGROUND 1 CATEGORIES OF SPECIFICATIONS. 2 Performance Specifications. 2 Detail Specifications 2 PERFORMANCE VERSUS DETAIL SPECIFICATIONS 3 DOCUMENTS APPLICABLE TO THIS GUIDE. 4 CHAPTER 2: PERFORMANCE SPECIFI
3、CATION POLICIES 6 GENERAL 6 FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) 6 DOD 4120.24-M, DEFENSE STANDARDIZATION PROGRAM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. 7 DEFENSE ACQUISITION GUIDEBOOK. 7 CHAPTER 3: DEFINING REQUIREMENTS. 9 IDENTIFYING AND DEFINING USER NEEDS. 9 MARKET RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS 10 DEVELOPING PERFORMA
4、NCE REQUIREMENTS. 11 CHAPTER 4: TYPES OF PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS. 13 NON-GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS 13 COMMERCIAL ITEM DESCRIPTIONS 14 DEFENSE PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS 14 GUIDE SPECIFICATIONS. 14 Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS
5、-,-,-Performance Specification Guide SD-15 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) PROGRAM-UNIQUE PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS 15 CHAPTER 5: WRITING PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS 17 PERFORMANCE VERSUS DETAIL SPECIFICATION COMPARISON 17 EXAMPLE 1 COMPARISON OF SECTION 2, APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS. 22 EXAMPLE 2 COMPAR
6、ISON OF SECTION 2, APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS. 25 EXAMPLE 3 MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS 27 EXAMPLE 4 DESIGN REQUIREMENTS. 29 EXAMPLE 5 INTERFACE, INTEROPERABILITY, AND COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 31 EXAMPLE 6 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS 32 EXAMPLE 7 PROCESS REQUIREMENTS 33 EXAMPLE 8 PROCESS REQUIREMENTS 34 EXAMPLE
7、9 PROCESS REQUIREMENTS 36 EXAMPLE 10 CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS 37 VERIFICATION. 39 Qualification Provisions in Defense Specifications. 40 First Article Inspection. 41 APPENDIX A: DEFINITIONS. 43 APPENDIX B: EXAMPLE OF A GUIDE SPECIFICATION PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT. 46 APPENDIX C: EXAMPLE OF A PROGRAM
8、-UNIQUE PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION 51 Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-Performance Specification Guide SD-15 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION PURPOSE This document provides guidance information on performance specifications focusing primarily
9、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 Proc
10、edures, 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
11、writing performance specifications found in MIL-STD-961, Defense and Program-Unique Specifications Format and Content. BACKGROUND There is a widely-held belief that the DoD policy to state requirements in terms of performance, whenever possible, began with Secretary of Defense William Perrys June 29
12、, 1994 policy memorandum on Specifications and Standards A New Way of Doing Business. In fact, stating requirements in performance terms has been emphasized, whenever practicable, since the establishment of the DSP in 1952. What changed with Secretary Perrys policy memorandum was (1) a waiver was re
13、quired to cite detailed military specifications as requirements in all major acquisition category (ACAT) programs as defined by DoD Instruction 5000.02, Operation of the Defense Acquisition System and (2) the creation of a new type of document designation, the military performance specification, or
14、MIL-PRF. Prior to the beginning of acquisition reform in 1994, no distinction was made between those military specifications whose requirements were stated in performance terms, detailed design terms, or more likely, a combination of both. Once Secretary Perry required waivers to cite detailed milit
15、ary specifications as requirements in ACAT programs, it became important to clearly distinguish between detailed military specifications and performance military specifications, since performance military specifications did not require waivers for use. It also became important to provide guidance on
16、 what constituted a performance specification and how to write performance requirements, hence the original issuance of this guide in June of 1995. From 1994-2000, the DoD reviewed over 29,000 military specifications and standards, resulting in 6100 documents being canceled without replacement and 3
17、500 being canceled and superseded by non-Government standards, commercial item descriptions, handbooks, and defense performance specifications. Today, there are nearly 2600 defense performance specifications under the DSP. Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without
18、license from IHS-,-,-Performance Specification Guide SD-15 2 On March 29, 2005, DSP Policy Memo 05-3, Elimination of Waivers to Cite Military Specifications and Standards in Solicitations and Contracts, was issued. The elimination of the waiver requirement was the result of the progress made in DoD
19、towards specifying requirements in performance terms, increased use of non-Government standards and commercial item descriptions, and when conditions demanded defense specifications and standards, ensuring their proper application and tailoring of requirements. One of the persistent misperceptions a
20、bout the acquisition reform initiative of the 1990s is that all detail military specifications and standards were canceled. While thousands of these documents were canceled or replaced by non-Government standards, commercial item descriptions, or defense performance specifications, the DoD retained
21、thousands of detail specifications that continue to play an important role in the defense acquisition process today. It is important to understand when it is most appropriate and beneficial to DoD to develop and use a performance specification. This guide helps provide some of that understanding. Mu
22、ch has changed since the SD-15 was first issued in 1995. This update reflects the latest policies, procedures, and philosophy for performance specifications and captures some of the lessons learned and examples. CATEGORIES OF SPECIFICATIONS There are many ways to categorize specifications. They can
23、be categorized by the entity that develops them: for example, government specifications, industry specifications, and company specifications. They can be categorized by geographic origins: for example, international specifications, regional specifications, and national specifications. They can be ca
24、tegorized by functional use: for example, system specifications, component specifications, software specifications, and material specifications. And, they can be categorized by the way they state requirements: for example, performance specifications and detail specifications. Performance Specificati
25、ons A performance specification states requirements in terms of the required results and the criteria for verifying compliance, without specifically stating how the results are to be achieved. A performance specification describes the functional requirements for an item, its capabilities, the enviro
26、nment in which it must operate, and any interface, interoperability, or compatibility requirements. It does not present a preconceived solution to a requirement. Detail Specifications In contrast to a performance specification, a detail specification provides preconceived solutions to requirements a
27、nd describes exactly how an item is to be produced. A detail specification identifies materials to be used, specific parts and components, and how the item is to be Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-Performance Specification Guide SD-15
28、 3 fabricated and assembled. Sometimes detail specifications are referred to as “build-to-print” specifications. PERFORMANCE VERSUS DETAIL SPECIFICATIONS Generally, it is considered preferable to state requirements in performance terms to give contractors the flexibility to provide innovative, techn
29、ologically advanced, best-value solutions to meet the customers requirement. Detail specifications tend to lock-in a single solution to the customers requirement. Over time, that solution may not be the best technical or cost-effective solution. It is especially important to use performance specific
30、ations when stating requirements during the pre-production phases of systems or product development in order to keep technical options open. Performance specifications can broaden the number of potential suppliers, especially commercial suppliers, since the requirements are not built around specific
31、 solutions that only a limited number of suppliers may be able to meet. Having more potential suppliers usually means reduced costs, better product availability and support, a stronger and more reliable industrial base, and fewer obsolescence issues. Using performance specifications also shifts the
32、design risk to the contractor since the Government is not telling the contractor how to meet a requirement. In contrast, detail specifications places a greater risk on the government if the item fails to satisfy the required purpose because the government has specified the materials, parts, componen
33、ts, and fabrication and assembly processes. Performance specifications usually require less document maintenance than do detail specifications. This is especially true in areas that experience rapid changes in products and technologies, such as electronics and information technology, where it would
34、be difficult, expensive, and require greater resources to keep a detail specification current. While developing and using a performance specification should be considered first, there are many examples of when it is preferable to develop and use a detail specification. There are instances where the
35、DoD has invested substantial resources to research and develop products or technologies that are unique to the military, have no commercial potential, and due to the nature of the product, are likely to have a very few specialized suppliers, and these specifications would often be detail specificati
36、ons. During the system development process, performance specifications should generally be used during product development and preliminary design. As the product baseline matures and stabilizes to a “build to” description, the specifications will likely be a mix of performance and detail specificati
37、ons. Once a standard solution has been established, the DoD cannot afford the expense, resources, or time to evaluate potential alternative solutions. A few examples of where the DoD has determined that a detail specification is the optimal solution include: The Armys specification, MIL-DTL-11891, f
38、or track systems supporting U.S. military tracked vehicles. Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-Performance Specification Guide SD-15 4 The Navys specification, MIL-DTL-24631, for submarine camouflage paint. The Air Forces specification,
39、MIL-DTL-83406, for anti-g force garments worn by fighter pilots to counteract extreme gravity forces, which is a critical safety item. There are also situations where the nature of the requirement makes it essential to mandate a specific solution in a detail specification. For example: The Army Meda
40、l of Honor Decoration specification, MIL-DTL-3943/1, must provide details in terms of appearance, size, and materials so that each medal is identical. The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency specification for digital display of geospatial symbols, MIL-DTL-89045, must specifically define the cont
41、ent and format for geospatial symbols so that they have a consistent appearance of digital displays across all weapon systems and equipment. DOCUMENTS APPLICABLE TO THIS GUIDE The following is not intended to be a list of all of the cited documents. This guide cites many documents for illustrative p
42、urposes and as examples, which are not listed. The majority of these documents are available from the Acquisition Streamlining and Standardization Information System (ASSIST) database at http:/assist.daps.dla/quicksearch/. The documents listed below are only those documents pertinent to understandin
43、g specific aspects of this guide more fully. CJCSI 3170.01, Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System1Defense Acquisition Guidebook2DoD 4120.24-M, Defense Standardization Program (DSP) Policies and Procedures3DoD Directive 5000.01, The Defense Acquisition System4DoD Instruction 5000.02,
44、Operation of the Defense Acquisition System4Federal Acquisition Regulation5Federal Standardization Manual3MIL-STD-961, Defense and Program-Unique Specifications Format and Content6OMB Circular A-119, Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity
45、Assessment Activities3 1Available from http:/www.dtic.mil/cjcs_directives/cdata/unlimit/3170_01.pdf 2Available from https:/akss.dau.mil/dag/DoD5000.asp?view=document 3Available from Library at www.dsp.dla.mil 4Available from http:/www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/ 5Available from http:/farsite.hill.af.mi
46、l/ 6Available from or http:/assist.daps.dla.mil Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-Performance Specification Guide SD-15 5 Public Law 104-113, National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 19953 SD-5, Market Research: Gathering In
47、formation about Commercial Products and Services6 SD-6, Provisions Governing Qualification: Qualified Products Lists and Qualified Manufacturers Lists6 Provided by IHSNot for ResaleNo reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS-,-,-Performance Specification Guide SD-15 6 CHAPTER 2: PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION POLICIES GENERAL The documents that set forth the DoD policies and proce
