Before developing a NATO/Government CALS Concept of Operation (NCoO), the Acquisition Plan(AP) should show a clear signal of commitment to the NATO CALS strategy. For this purpose the AP should include the following statements:

The [XYZ] program will take advantage of existing and emerging automation and integration capabilities to establish a computer -based environment for creating, managing, and storing data elements once for multiple applications across engineering, design, manufacturing, and logistics functions and processes. The program will stress continuous engineering, digital data delivery, and on -line electronic information services in the solicitation process and resulting contract(s). Continuous Acquisition and Life-cycle Support (CALS) standards and specifications for digital technical information exchange will be cost effectively implemented.

The [XYZ] project intends to implement CALS and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) initiatives to reduce life cycle costs, improve product quality, reduce program risk and reduce the schedule of the design, development and production. The technical information required in support of the project will be made accessible through on -line contractor integrated technical information (electronic) services; physical delivery of data required for sustaining support activities will be in accordance with approved CALS format standards and specifications. For contract data requirements not evaluated as cost-effectively delivered to the CALS standards/specifications, delivery will be in mutually agreeable digital formats. The digital formats for all data users and user systems will be determined cooperatively between the government and contractor using the NATO/Government CALS Concept of Operations (NCoO), developed by the project office, as the basis for selection. The draft and final RFPs will incorporate requirements for the offeror to address implementation of concurrent engineering and digital delivery/electronic access of program technical information. Significant weighting will be applied to the CALS and EDI elements in source selection evaluation (not less than 10 percent of the total evaluation/rating).

Offerors will be evaluated on their ability to provide integrated, shared databases environments for engineering analysis, design, manufacturing and logistic processes; and their use of CAD/CAM/CAE methods, product models/databases and simulation tools to improve product design, testing, manufacturing and support system development. The program will integrate specific program solutions with those developed by the NATO and Nations infrastructure modernization initiatives and will implement, where value -effective, joint service CALS and EDI systems for the creation, management and use of digital technical information.