The specifier shall tailor performance and design
criteria to meet the applications and operating conditions for which the
equipment is intended to be used. The requirements specified herein apply to
Shipboard applications; they may also be applied to other application areas at
the discretion of the program sponsor. This document implements the
acquisition policies of the Department of Defense and the Navy Department as
they relate to electronic equipment purchases.
4.1.1 Applicability. COTS and ruggedized equipment are
acceptable for all applications, including mission critical systems, provided
they meet service requirements and functional requirements. The principal
justification for the use of COTS and ruggedized equipment is rapid
introduction of new technologies into military applications. In some
instances, cost savings may also be possible (see 4.3.3
).
4.1.2 Acquisition Preference. The order of preference for the consideration
of equipment design and selection shall be NDI (which includes COTS),
ruggedized, and militarized (which may also be NDI).
4.1.2.1 NDI. The use of NDI is encouraged. Guidelines are provided in
DOD-HDBK-SD-2. Examples of such items are Standard Electronic Modules (SEM) in
accordance with MIL-STD-1378, MIL-HDBK-246, and certified in accordance with
MIL-M-28787; Standard Battery Systems (SBS); Standard Enclosure Systems (SES)
in accordance with MIL-STD-2200; and Standard Power Supplies (SPS) in
accordance with NAVSEA SE 010-AA-SPN-010. To prevent large numbers of SEM A
and B modules, the specifier shall specify SEM D modules and larger for new
developments, where appropriate.
4.1.2.2 Modified COTS. Where a functional parameter must be modified to
meet operational requirements, the use of modified COTS equipment is the
preferred acquisition option, provided cost and logistic considerations are
favorable.
4.1.2.3 Ruggedized equipment. Where COTS and modified COTS equipment is not
available to meet functional requirements, ruggedization is the preferred
strategy to meet the service requirements of the military environment,
provided cost and logistic considerations are favorable.
4.1.3.1 Specification guidance. Specifications shall follow the general
guidelines of MIL-STD-961 or MIL-STD-490 for format. Commercial item
descriptions (CIDs) shall follow the guidance of DOD 4120.3-M and the format
and instructions for the preparation of CIDs in accordance with FPMR 101-29.
4.1.3.2 Computer-aided Acquisition and Logistics Support (CALS). The end
item logistics specification shall be delivered in the CALS format following
the guidelines set forth in MIL-STD-1840, MIL-D-28000, MIL-M-28001,
MIL-R-28002, MIL-D-28003 and MIL-HDBK-59 for data interchange. The technical
package shall be specified and delivered in accordance with requirements
tailored from MIL-T-31000.
4.1.4 Tailoring of requirements. Applications vary both
in terms of severity and criticality. Two factors of significant importance in
the military environment that are not common in the commercial environment are
survivability and combat system integration. The purpose of the platform is to
carry out its mission in wartime conditions, which may include exposure to
such hazards as shock, fire, and heat. Furthermore, the specifier must
understand constraints and limitations of supporting systems which must
operate under the same conditions, and accommodate the direction of future
system designs, such as integrated combat systems. The requirements contained
in sections 5.1.1 through
5.1.3 apply to all acquisitions including COTS and ruggedized. The
requirements specified in sections 5.1.4 through 5.1.9
apply
to militarized acquisitions; those requirements may also be selectively
applied to COTS and ruggedized acquisitions when it is deemed appropriate by
the program sponsor.
4.1.4.1 Unique Applications. Unique requirements, such as arctic
operations, shall be carefully addressed so that the tailoring does not drive
up the performance criteria and costs unnecessarily for all equipment when the
unique requirement applies to either a small fraction of the units being
acquired or has a very low probability of occurrence. A separate, less
expensive solution shall be considered, such as modification of individual
units and the development of field kits/add-ons to prepare for the unique
application.
4.1.4.2 Commonality. Where similar functions are performed by different
equipment, consideration shall be given to incorporating all required
capabilities into one piece of hardware. Also, the end item specification
shall be nonproprietary so that any qualified manufacturer may provide the
equipment, rather than being a sole-source item.
4.1.4.3 Mission critical equipment. Unless required to meet forecast design
conditions, fully hardened requirements shall be specified for mission
critical equipment only, and then only to the extent applicable. C4I equipment
is not intrinsically treated as mission critical. To be considered mission
critical, equipment shall be specifically identified as such by the platform
sponsor.
4.1.4.4 Equipment specification. The specifier is cautioned in the
tailoring of equipment requirements, that the specification requirements are
driven by the application rather than existing equipment capabilities.
4.1.5 Open system architecture. Where possible, an open system architecture
shall be used.
