CDFM Module 2 Exam Questions and Answers (Graded A)

What law identifies the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the senior ranking member of the Armed Forces? - ANSWER The Goldwater-Nichols DoD Reorganization Act of 1986 The military operational chain of command r ...

What law identifies the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the senior ranking member of the Armed Forces? - ANSWER The Goldwater-Nichols DoD Reorganization Act of 1986 The military operational chain of command runs from the President to whom? - ANSWER The SecDef to the Combatant Commanders The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the principal military advisor to which officials and/or organizations? - ANSWER The President, The National Security Council, and the SecDef Who serves as the Chairman of the National Security Council? - ANSWER The President Name the three major phases of the PPBE process that result in the DoD portion of the President's budget that is submitted to congress? - ANSWER PPB-Planning, Programming, Budget What is the name of the process used by DoD to determine the dollar amounts for programs to be submitted to Congress as part of the President's budget? - ANSWER PPBE process What is the title of the senior OSD official responsible for the planning phase of the PPBE process? - ANSWER Undersecretary of Defense-Policy What is the title of the senior OSD official responsible for issuing programing guidance? - ANSWER Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) What is the title of the senior OSD official who is the principal advisor and assistant to the SECDEF for budget and fiscal matters? - ANSWER USDC/CFO (Under Secretary of Defense-Comptroller The Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisitions, Technology and Logistics) serves as the Chairman of what Board? - ANSWER DAB (Defense Acquisition Board) Assume today's date is 1 March 2014 and your organization knows about a new project or requirement that will require its initial funding in FY 2021, What is the first PPBE-related document in which you could identify resources for that requirement? - ANSWER POM 2017-2021 What is the title of the final document of the planning phase? - ANSWER DPG-Defense Planning Guidance What is the title of the document prepared by the D, CAPE and USD(C) in the May to June time frame that provides guidance to Components for preparation of the POM and BES submissions? - ANSWER Integrated Program/Budget Review Guidance What is the name of the automates database that summarizes all forces, resources, and equipment associated with programs approved by the SECDEF? - ANSWER FYDP Future Years Defense Program What is the phase of the PPBE process in which programmatic decisions are translated into requested resources in an appropriations format? - ANSWER Budgeting (Budget Development) What is the name of the document prepared by the Joint Staff after its review of POMs submitted by the Military Departments that focuses on the balance and capabilities contained in those POMs? - ANSWER CPA Chairman's Program Assessment Near the end of the budget review process, the SECDEF and DEPSEC may conduct a review of Component major policy or budget issues that have not yet been resolved. Resolution of these issues may displace other programs within the fixed DoD topline. What is the name of this review? - ANSWER Issue Resolution Following a review of Component's budget submission and a potential budget hearing in the fall timeframe, the reviewing USD(C) budget analyst prepares a draft document that is submitted to the DEPSECDEF of SECDEF for a decision. Once signed by one of those senior officials, what is that document called? - ANSWER RMD-Resource Management Decision After all resource-related decisions have been made by the DEPSECDEF of SECDEF to determine the Defense portion of the President's Budget, the USD(C) posts final decisions into a database in the proper appropriation account format. What is the title of this database? - ANSWER CIS Comptroller Information System Advance Procurement is an exception to what funding policy? - ANSWER Full Funding Within what type document does Congress specify the number of fiscal years that an appropriation account remains current and available for new obligations? - ANSWER An appropriation bill (becomes a law when signed by president) There are two primary methods by which DoD obligates the vast majority of its appropriations. Name those two methods - ANSWER Contracts and MIPRs What is the term used for shifting funds between appropriations - ANSWER transfer What is the long-term financial goal of WCF? - ANSWER to break even A WCF has an officer (O-4) properly assigned to the organization and that officer is doing the work that would normally be performed by a GS-13. For managerial cost accounting purposes, is the "cost" of that officer's pay and benefits "charged" at the military O-4 rate or civilian GS-13 rate? - ANSWER Civilian GS-13 rate Assume your organization overpaid a ctr on a contract awarded with an appropriation that is now in the cancelled status, and the ctr has sent in a check for that overpayment. What can your organization do with that refund from the ctr? - ANSWER Credit the refund to misc. receipts of the U.S. treasury Monies not appropriated by Congress that are generated primarily from the sale of goods and services are known as what? - ANSWER Non-appropriated Funds The Defense Acquisitions System is the management process that guides DoD acquisition programs and is basically the process by which programmatic risk is managed. What are the three programmatic risks that must be successfully managed? - ANSWER Cost, Schedule, and Performance Risks What are the appropriations that may be used to fund acquisition programs? - ANSWER RDT&E, Procurement, O&M, MILCON, and MILPERS What is the acquisition approach that delivers capability to the warfighter in a set of increments spread over time with a known desired end-state capability-rather than in a single effort, because technology is not yet available to provide that end-state capability? - ANSWER Evolutionary Aquisition What is the term used to describe dollars shown in the life-cycle cost estimate wherein the effects of inflation are not considered? - ANSWER Base year dollars or Constant year dollars What cost structure does MIL-STD-881C represent? - ANSWER Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) What concept is based on the axiom that the best time to reduce cost is early in the process? - ANSWER Cost As an Independent Variable (CAIV) What cost estimating method is based on direct comparison with historical information of one similar system? - ANSWER Analogy Method Which cost estimating method is known as a statistic method or top-down method? - ANSWER Parametric Approach Which cost estimating method requires extensive knowledge of the product or process? - ANSWER Engineering Approach What are methods/steps in conducting the Delphi technique - ANSWER Query expert opinion Seek supporting rationale or information from each expert Summarize results Gather second opinion Continue iteration until consensus or near consensus is reached What is the theory that as the quantity of output doubles, the man-hours required to produce the quantity decreases at the fixed rate? - ANSWER Learning Curve Theory What is the name of the integrated management tool intended to relate ctr actual performance on a contract ot the ctr's planned cost and schedule, that measure the work progress in objective terms and that states the value of the work completed in dollars? - ANSWER EVMS-Earned Value Management System What is the EVM-related term when there is a difference between budgeted cost of work performed (BCWP) and actual cost of work performed (ACWP) on a cost reimbursable contract? - ANSWER Cost Variance What is a systematic approach to the problem of choosing the best method of allocating scarce resources to achieve a given objective? - ANSWER Economic Analysis Cost Savings, Cost Avoidance, and Productivity Improvements are examples of what type cost benefits? - ANSWER Quantifiable Benefits In regards to measures of central tendency, what is a mean? A mode? A median? - ANSWER Mean is the arithmetic average Mode is the most frequent Median is the middle of arrayed values What does correlation measure? - ANSWER Correlation measures the degree of relationship between two or more variables. For a perfect correlation to exist, what would be the coefficient? - ANSWER 1.0 When evaluating a proposed investment or project with costs and benefits occurring not only in the current year but also future years, it is necessary to bring back to todays dollars all those costs and benefits. What is the process determining? - ANSWER Net Present Value of the proposed Investment or project The mission of the _______ __________ ____________ is to provide military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country. - ANSWER Department of Defense The ____________ is the principal Defense policy advisor to the President and is responsible for the formulation of general Defense policy and policy related to all matters of direct and primary concern to the DoD and for the execution of approved policy. - ANSWER SECDEF-Secretary of Defnese Consists of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Chief of Staff of the Army, The Chief of Staff of the AF, the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau - ANSWER The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) The National Security Council consists of whom? - ANSWER President (Chairman), Vice President, SECDEF, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Energy The National Security council advisors include: - ANSWER Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Director of National Intelligence The _________ ____ ______ sets forth the posture of the United States; global and regional trends; and the US political, economic and defense strategies. It emerges from the National Security Council - ANSWER NSS-National Security Strategy Prepared every four years following a Presidential election to summarize the military goals, objectives, and strategy for the coming four years. The ODR is required by law to be submitted to Congress in February of the second year of a presidential administration - ANSWER Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) Developed by the Chairman JCS (CJCS-operators perspective) to address objectives in the DoD Strategic Plan that require military response. - ANSWER The National Military Strategy (NMS) Prepared by the Secretary of Defense to focus on demands on the DoD concerning direct threats to the United States and support of civil authorities. Also addresses sharing expertise and technology between military and civilian authorities and sharing international lessons and experience with Federal, State and local authorities - ANSWER Strategy for Homeland Defense and Civil Support (SHD&CS) A systematic method established by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to assess gaps in military joint war fighting capabilities and recommend solutions to resolve these gaps - ANSWER Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) Management process by which the Department acquires weapon systems and automated information systems. Allows for decentralized and streamlined execution of acquisition activities. - ANSWER DAS Defense Acquisition System (DAS) The two key elements in the Quadrennial Defense Review are: - ANSWER 1. Defense Planning Guidance 2. Strategic Portfolio Reviews Contain fiscally constrained programmatic guidance for use by the Military departments and Defense Agencies in developing Program Objective Memoranda and Budget Estimates. Contains specific guidance on particular issues of major importance. Provides performance measures to be used in evaluating execution of programmatic guidance - ANSWER Defense Planning Guidance Intended to enable Defense officials to look across service portfolios of weapon systems to identify redundancies and capability gaps (directed in 2012 by Sec Panetta to Dep Sec Carter). - ANSWER Strategic Portfolio Reviews This phase begins about a year and a half in advance of the fiscal year in which the budget authority will be requested - ANSWER Planning Phase Analysis of this phase is based off the QDR, DSG, NMS, JPD and Military Departments long range plans - ANSWER Analysis of the Planning Phase The focus of this phase is to define Defense Strategic Guidance and NMS necessary to help maintain U.S. national security and to support the US foreign policy two to seven years in the future - ANSWER Planning Phase focus Combatant Commanders prepare a list of high-priority needs across service and functional lines and considering fiscal constraints. They are submitted to the SECDEF, CJCS, and military departments. - ANSWER IPL-Integrated Priority Lists The purpose of this phase is to translate planning decisions, programming guidance, and congressional guidance into a detailed allocation of resource requirements. This is accomplished through a systematic review and approval process that 'costs out' force objectives - ANSWER The Programming Phase Each DoD Component submits its programs that include the following elements: A systematic analysis of missions, objectives to be achieved, alternative methods of accomplishing objectives and allocation of resources. This submittal is known as: - ANSWER The POM Program Objective Memorandum Upon receipt of the components POM submission, OSD (D, CAPE) updates the ______ data base. This then becomes the data base to which RMDs (Resource Management Decisions) are posted to reject resource decisions of the programming/budgeting review process - ANSWER FYDP-Future Year Defense Program data base Regulation maintained by D, CAPE that establishes conventions to be used for entering information in the FYDP database - ANSWER DoD 7045.7-H FYDP Program Structure POMs submitted to OSD by the Components are analyzed by teams organize by the D,CAPE, and issue papers are compiled in __________ _______s. - ANSWER Issue Books issues normally have broad policy, force, program, or resource implications. The Joint Staff conducts a review of the POMS at the same time as the OSD staff is conducting its review. The review focuses on the balance and capabilities of the forces contained in the POMs. The _____ reports the results of that review to the SECDEF prior to the decision in the RMD. This process creates evaluation document - ANSWER CPA-Chairmen's Program Assessment After receiving the CPA and Issue books, decisions are made on the issues by the SECDEF or Deputy SECDEF. These are known as _______ _________ _______ - ANSWER Resource Management Decisions Each DoD component submits a ___________ to OSD no later than the due date specified in the previously mentioned Integrated Program Budget/ Review Guidance; in recent years, this due date for submission of the POM and ____- has been in late July or early August - ANSWER BES-Budget Estimate Submission BES includes data for which years? - ANSWER Prior year, current year and budget year in accordance with FMR 7000.14R Vol 2A and 2B The _________ reviews and identifies all needs that cannot be met by current capabilities. Validates an identified mission need, assigns a joint potential designator for meeting the need and forwards an ICD -initial capabilities document with their recommendation - ANSWER JROC-Joint Requirements Oversight Council-JROC DoD Appropriations and availability - ANSWER MILPERS-1 yr O&M-1 yr RDT&E-2 yrs (Incremental) Procurement-3 yrs (Full Funding) SCN (Shipbuilding and Conversion Navy)-5 yrs (Full funding) MILCON-5 years (Full Funding) Expense type appropriations - ANSWER MILPERS, O&M, RDT&E Investment type operations - ANSWER RDT&E, Procurement, SCN, MILCON Expense/Investment Criteria - ANSWER Under 25K-Expense Over 250k-Investment When funds are shifted 'within' the same appropriation account, it is a ______________ action - ANSWER reprogramming Which position title in OSD has overall responsibility for the planning phase? - ANSWER USD (policy) Which position title in OSD has overall responsibility for the Programming phase? - ANSWER D, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) Which position title in OSD has overall responsibility for the budgeting phase? - ANSWER USD Comptroller Assume today is 1 April 2013, which fiscal year of O&M is being executed? - ANSWER FY 2013 Assuming today is 1 April 2013, which fiscal year of the President's Budget is being reviewed by Congress for the purposes of enacting appropriations bills? - ANSWER FY 2014 Assuming today is 1 April 2013, which fiscal year(s) POM is the Service HQ starting to prepare? - ANSWER POM 2015-2019 (2 yrs ahead, 5 year length) When the Department submits the POM to OSD, which OSD organization will have the lead to review/analyze the submission? - ANSWER D, CAPE (Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation) Assuming today is 1 April 2013, which fiscal year(s) BES is the service HQ starting to prepare? - ANSWER BES FY 2015 When the Department submits that BES to OSD, which OSD organization will have the lead to review/analyze that submission? - ANSWER USD, Comptroller What other high level organization (other than USD, Comptroller) will have the lead to review/analyze the BES? - ANSWER OMB What is the title of the document from OSD that will inform the results of the review/analysis of the POM and BES submitted by all military departments? - ANSWER RMD-Resource Management Decisions (title) This milestone begins the acquisition process by examining alternative concepts to meet a stated mission need. This path starts with a decision to authorize entry into the Technology Development phase. There is only one of these milestones for an acquisition program. Normally successful passage of this milestone does NOT equal program initiation for a new program. - ANSWER Milestone A This milestone authorizes entry into the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase. Programs that enter the acquisition process at this milestone are required to have a system architecture and an operational architecture for their relevant mission area. This milestone is usually the point at which program initiation occurs. Military departments or agencies are required to have adequate funds in the FYDP to finance the acquisition program during this period - ANSWER Milestone B At this milestone, appropriate authority approves the acquisition strategy, an updated development acquisition program baseline, the exit criteria for low rate initial production or limited deployment and all decisions are documents in the Acquisition Decision Memo. - ANSWER Milestone C Three major acquisition activities under the acquisition management system - ANSWER 1. Pre-Systems Acquisition, System Acquisition, Sustainment 5 phases of acquisition activities - ANSWER 1. Material Solutions Analysts 2. Technology Development 3. Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) 4. Production and Deployment 5. Operations and Support The purpose of this phase is to assess potential material solutions and to satisfy the phase-specific entrance criteria for the next program milestone designated by Milestone Decision Authority. Funding in this phase is normally limited to that needed to satisfy the objectives of this phase - ANSWER Material Solutions Analysis (Phase 1-falls under Pre-Systems Aq) Entry into this phase occurs with a successful milestone A decision review. The purpose of this phase is the reduce technology risk, determine and mature the appropriate set of technologies to be integrated into a full system, and to demonstrate critical technology elements (CTEs) on prototypes. - ANSWER Technology Development (phase 2-falls under Pre-Systems Aq) Entry into this phase occurs with a successful Milestone B decision review. The purpose of this phase is to develop a system or an increment of capability; complete full system integration should have already occurred. For most acq programs, Milestone B is considered formal approval for program initiation. PROGRAM INITIATION!!! - ANSWER EMD-Engineering and Manufacturing Development-phase 3-falls under Systems Acq Two important decisions made at Milestone B - ANSWER 1. the quantity of LRIP(Low rate initiation production) items of the system 2. whether advanced procurement will be requested when the system ultimately enters the production and deployment phase Entry into this phase occurs with a successful Milestone C decision review. The purpose of this phase is the achieve an operational capability that satisfies mission needs. During this phase,, the program also achieves its Initial Operational Capability (IOC) which is a specific date by which a specified operational capability provided by the acquisition system is attained - ANSWER Production and Deployment phase-4-falls under System Acq The purpose of this phase is to execute a support program that meets material readiness and operational support performance requirements, and sustains the system in the most cost-effective manner over its total life cycle. During this phase, the program also achieves its Fully Operational Capability (FOC) - ANSWER Operations and Support phase-5- falls under sustainment