A New Way to Start Acquisition Programs: DoD Instruction 5000.02 and the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009

The Government Accountability Office GAO made this statement regarding cost growth While there are different ways to measure the extent and nature of cost growth, there is agreement between DOD and us on the sources of the problem1 programs are started with poor foundations and inadequate knowledge for developing realistic cost estimates 2 programs move forward with artificially low cost estimates, optimistic schedules and assumptions, immature technologies and designs, and fluid requirements 3 changing or excessive requirements cause cost growth and 4 an imbalance between wants and needs contributes to budget and program instability.