Foreward

Department of Defense policy requires the program manager, as the Total Life Cycle Systems Manager, to conduct logistics management activities througout the life cycle to ensure support system performance, affordability, cost and schedule are continuously assessed and used as key factors in making program tradeoffs and decisions. It is incumbent on the milestone decision authority to validate that the system will meet established performance requirements as well as total ownership cost targets at major program reviews and milestone decisions.

A primary step in achieving this is the periodic assessment of a program's integrated logistics support planning, the implementaion of that planning and the ability of the logistics program to meet established performance requirements. These assessments must be performed at each major milestone. In addition, formal reviews with the warfighter are required at initial operational capability and full operational capability. In other words, the actual performance must be continually compared against performance expectations.

SECNAV Instruction 5000.2 Series and 4105.1 provide the Department of Navy policy regarding the requirement to conduct Independent Logistics Assessments (ILA). To assist program mangers and milestone decision authoritites in meeting this requirement, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Logistics along with the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Logistics (N4) jointly assembled this handbook on the conduct of ILAs. Its purpose is twofold. First, it provides a uniform and systematic approach for program offices to prepare for assessments as well as outline specific evaluation criteria for use by the assessment team. Second, and maybe most important, it provides the program manager with a framework and roadmap for structuring and executing successful logistics support programs throughout the system life cycle.

Use of this handbook and the vigorous, disciplined application of the independent logistics assessment methodology will enhance the supportability, sustainability and cost effectiveness of Department of Navy systems well into the future. It should further ensure that new systems are fielded with support systems fully in place, which enable the warfighter to execute their mission in support of the United States National Security Strategy.