The Acquisition Handbook

Incremental AcquisitionIncremental AcquisitionIncremental Acquisition provides for a capability to be upgraded in a planned way, from the initialdelivery of a specified baseline capability to eventual achievement of a higher full capability. Thediagram below illustrates this approach.ConceptAssessmentDemonstrationMain Gate establishes planned “full” capabilityie. Baseline plus envelope of planned increments and theoverall project cost limitFinaliseBaselineCapabilityDefine 1stIncrementDefine 2ndIncrementDisposalOperationalFeedbackImplementBaselineCapabilityImplement1stIncrementImplement2ndIncrementEquipment In-ServiceThe advantages of acquiring equipment in this progressive way are:• a reduction of the risk inherent in introducing large improvements in capabilitythrough a single major technological step• systems can be developed and put into service which can progressivelyincorporate evolving technology as it becomes available•conversely, avoiding early commitment to a specific approach which may result inthe delivery of obsolescent equipmentIncremental Acquisition should be considered in drawing up the procurement and supportstrategy for all projects and be detailed in the TLMP. These strategies will need to take accountof research programmes underway or planned in the Applied Research Programme or in otherareas. Incremental Acquisition is particularly beneficial in the acquisition of all systems with asignificant element of IT hardware and software (including commercial off-the-shelf equipment),and of high performance sensors or other sub-systems in areas where technology is evolvingrapidly. It is also particularly relevant to the acquisition of platforms that hold or are designed tohold several weapons systems or other sub-systems. However, Incremental Acquisition may alsohave disadvantages such as a lack of competitive pressure for later increments and thepossibility of managing a non-identical fleet.19