Toward Efficient and Effective Contracting Structures and Processes for Systems-of-Systems Acquisition

Acquisition of a system of systems can be an all new acquisition of multiple systems that are intended to operate together as a system-of-systems. Much more common in the DoD is acquisition of one or more new systems that are intended to interoperate with existing systems as a system of systems with new capabilities. In either case, successful acquisition of systems-of-systems (SoS) necessarily depends on effective contracting structures and processes for systems-of-systems acquisition. In this paper, a set of system-of-systems issues that need to be addressed in SoS acquisition are identified and the current findings in this on-going research are discussed. The findings suggest sustainment of extensive systems engineering effort within the SoS acquisition and change to the existing contracting structures and process and organizational structures to maximize the probability of SoS acquisition success. The resulting changes will be applied to current and future DoD SoS acquisitions.