The Acquisition Handbook

Jargon BusterKey User Requirements (KURs)Capability requirements or constraints identified from within thewider set of user requirements which are assessed as key to theachievement of the mission, or which are for some reasonassessed as of particular interest to management. KURscharacterise the whole URD and are used to measure projectperformance.Main GateAn exacting approval hurdle, between the Assessment andDemonstration Stages. A Business Case at Main Gate shouldrecommend a single technological and acquisition option.Manufacture StageThe fourth stage of six. The IPT delivers the solution to the militaryrequirement, completing system development and production. TheCapability Manager conducts Systems Acceptance. The transfer ofthe line management of the IPT to the DLO, and of the leadcustomer function to the Second Customer, takes place.OCCARThe organisation for joint armament co-operation, created by theUK, France, Germany and Italy, which aims to provide improvedmanagement of collaborative defence equipment programmes andbuild a centre of expertise using principles of best acquisitionpractice.PartneringAn open, co-operative and interactive relationship between MODand Industry, aimed at meeting or bettering time, cost andperformance parameters while identifying and implementinggainshare opportunities. The contractual and organisational patternof partnering will vary according to the needs of a particular IPT.(N.B. Partnering should not be confused with partnership, abusiness arrangement in which each partner is fully liable for theactions of other partners.)Peer GroupDPA IPTs are gathered into peer groups of projects sharing similarcharacteristics. Peer groups are intended to be a valuable butinformal source of advice for an IPT Leader and members.Performance MeasureA direct measure of output performance against which targets canbe set.ProcurementThat part of the acquisition process concerned with managing thedevelopment and production of a system to an agreed UserRequirement.51