Selection of equipment to leverage commercial technology (SELECT)

One of the primary effect of acquisition reform has been to inject uncertainty into the procurement process for both the Department of Defense (DoD) and its contractors. Of particular concern is the quantification of reliability performance and risk assessment for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment that is targeted for use in environments more severe than that for which it was originally designed. The mismatch between the design and end-use environment is compounded by several COTS-unique issues, including (1) a potential shift in predominant COTS equipment failure mechanisms versus their military equivalents in identical applications, (2) the effects of commercial quality practices on inherent COTS reliability, (3) the ability of commercial packaging to withstand severe environments, and (4) the reliability risk mitigation options which can make the COTS equipment suitable for the application. Acquisition personnel currently lack the tools necessary to translate these figures-of-merit to the more severe environmental requirements inherent in military field operations, or to assess and manage the risks that will allow them to make informed decisions in selecting between competing designs. The SELECT tool will address these issues.