The Department of Defense has released an updated document establishing policy and outlining the procedures for managing middle tier of acquisition, or MTA, for rapid prototyping and deployment of capabilities.
The updated DOD Instruction took effect Monday, Nov. 25, and was approved by William LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment and a 2024 Wash100 awardee.
The changes to the MTA guidance, which was first released in December 2019, include program start date and major defense acquisition program equivalent definitions and references to the Adaptive Acquisition Framework Document Identification, or AAFDID, tool.
The latest document also includes sustainment metrics, exportability considerations and transition plan requirements and clarifying language for classified MTA data and use of the software pathway.
What Is MTA Pathway?
The MTA pathway seeks to address a gap in the defense acquisition system to facilitate the rapid prototyping and deployment of capabilities within five years of a program’s launch.
According to the DOD Instruction, this pathway may be used to expedite capability maturation before transitioning to another acquisition pathway. It may also be used to minimally develop a capability prior to rapid fielding efforts.
Responsibilities of DOD Officials
The defense undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment should determine whether a program is appropriate or not for the MTA pathway, work with decision authorities to ensure streamlined processes and maintain responsibility for prototyping activities within the MTA pathway.
The updated guidance also calls for the DOD undersecretary for research and engineering to manage the department’s rapid prototyping fund and advise DOD components on program planning that anticipates the evolution of capabilities to meet evolving threats, interoperability and tech insertion.
