Acquisition and Systems Analysis

MITRE has experts throughout its FFRDCs who focus on estimating cost and schedule resources for system development, production, operations, and maintenance of sponsors' projects.

Overview

Since its beginnings, MITRE has helped its sponsors acquire large, complex systems such as those for the military, for information technology investments, and for the National Airspace System. By developing and communicating ways to conduct economic analyses for large-scale investment decisions, MITRE helps our sponsors to accept and control risks, enhancing their ability to acquire systems that are technically feasible and cost effective.

MITRE employs acquisition and systems analysis experts throughout the company who focus on a variety of tasks. These include estimating cost and schedule resources for system development, production, operations, and maintenance of sponsors' projects; developing acquisition strategies and assisting with source selection; performing cost, price, and technical analyses for contract negotiations; and performing financial analyses and identifying process reengineering opportunities. These experts apply a variety of systems engineering tools to aid in modeling and managing enterprise architectures, understanding complex systems, and assessing and managing risk. For instance, our RiskNav® tool, originally produced for the U.S. government, is designed to capture, analyze, and display risks at a project or enterprise level. RiskNav® is currently deployed throughout the intelligence community, at the Air Force's Electronic Systems Center, at the Federal Aviation Administration, and by other MITRE sponsors.

MITRE also has a technical center of excellence, the Center for Acquisition and Systems Analysis, or CASA, which is committed to providing multi-disciplinary acquisition and investment decisions analysis for our government sponsors. CASA's analysts channel their expertise and ideas into developing ways for MITRE's government sponsors to more effectively manage their information technology investments. CASA employs advanced analytical methods to help sponsors tackle problems that can range from scheduling millions of tons of military supplies to arrive at the correct ports to designing airport lines that minimize wait times for passengers.

In addition, our Systems Engineering Practice Office provides practical advice and guidance about acquisition and systems engineering processes and collects best practices to share throughout the company. The office captures, refines, and shares this information with MITRE and government agencies as it leads the way for process improvement to the benefit of MITRE's sponsors.

Current Work Programs

Some of our projects in this area include:

• Developing the "Program Management Toolkit," a Web-based resource that helps guide program managers through the world of risk assessment and management.
• Developing the "Risk Management Toolkit," which measures the effectiveness of an effort's acquisition strategy and the process for implementing and sustaining the strategy.
• Conducting an in-depth study to learn how government agencies can more effectively comply with requirements from the Office of Management and Budget.
• Supporting the IRS in its organization-wide IT modernization and acquisition strategies.
• Delivering life cycle models tailored to a unique maintenance strategy and risk management tools built around the acquisition strategy and technical characteristics of a sponsor's program.
• Developing case studies and alternatives for the evolution of the air traffic management system infrastructure, especially for en route and traffic flow management systems—and for the communication, navigation, and surveillance systems.

Related Information

Articles and News

• Systems Engineering in Practice Captured in New MITRE Guide
• Getting Key Players Together Results in More Army Radios for Less
• MITRE Works to Change C2 Acquisition, One Capability at a Time

Technical Papers and Presentations

• Patterns of Success in Systems Engineering -- Acquisition of IT-Intensive Government Systems
• Portfolio Influences on Air Force Capabilities-Based Assessment and Capabilities-Based Planning Activities
• Making Acquisition Measurable

Websites

• Our Work: Systems Engineering

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