Technology Readiness Assessment Deskbook

Programs that enter the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the Defense Acquisition System and have immature technologies will incur cost growth and schedule slippage. Therefore, Title 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) Section 2366b requires, in part, that the Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) certify that the technology in Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs), including space MDAPS,6 has been demonstrated in a relevant environment (TRL 6) before Milestone B approval. The law allows the MDA to waive the certification requirement (i.e., the technology in the program has been demonstrated in a relevant environment) if it determines that such a requirement would hinder the DoD’s ability to meet critical national security objectives. As a matter of practice, such waivers will be granted only in extraordinary circum- stances.7 The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD(AT&L)) has directed that all MDAs—including the Component Acquisition Executives (CAEs) and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration (ASD(NII))—for MDAPs will certify without delegation, as r