The Acquisition Handbook

What is this handbook for?This handbook will introduce you to Smart Acquisition — a better way for the Ministry of Defenceto decide what capability is needed to carry out the defence tasks required of it, and how thatcapability should be acquired, i.e. specified, procured, supported and, whilst it is in service,maintained and improved, and safely disposed of at the end of its life.The handbook will:The Acquisition Handbook• Set out the aim and objectives of Smart Acquisition, and how these are supported by certainvalues and beliefs• Describe the roles of the main stakeholders in the capability acquisition process and howthey are working together to produce results• Describe the business processes by which defence equipment is specified, procured andsupported• Outline the management systems in place to select, develop and motivate the peopleinvolved in the acquisition process•Tell you where you can find out more about Smart Acquisition, and explain some of thejargon. If you come across a term you don’t understand — try the jargon buster at the back.The Handbook will be of interest to everyone in Defence and in particular the acquisitioncommunity; the Equipment Capability Customer (ECC), the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA),Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO), the Second Customer, our Industry supplier and otherparts of the Ministry.Fourth editionIn this fourth edition ofthe Handbook, there aresignificant revisions to thesections on theEquipment CapabilityCustomer, the SecondCustomer and Whole LifeCosts, as well as otherminor changes andcorrections.1