The Defense Acquisition Basic Certification Course provides foundational training in U.S. defense acquisition — the system, processes, and roles through which the Department of Defense develops, acquires, and sustains the capabilities required to execute national defense objectives. This course is designed for acquisition professionals, program management personnel, and contracting specialists who need foundational understanding of the defense acquisition framework.
Participants will develop working knowledge of the Defense Acquisition System, key statutes and regulations, the major program phases and decision points, and the roles and responsibilities of the acquisition workforce. The course prepares participants for entry-level Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certifications and serves as a foundational reference for more advanced acquisition training.
Core Topics:
The Defense Acquisition System — Overview of the DAS framework, key policies (DoDI 5000 series), and how acquisition programs are structured and governed.
Acquisition Lifecycle and Milestone Decisions — The major program phases from Material Solution Analysis through Production and Deployment, key milestone decision points, and the documentation required at each.
Requirements and Capabilities Development — How capability requirements are developed, validated, and translated into acquisition program requirements — and how the requirements process affects program execution.
Contracting Fundamentals — An introduction to contract types, source selection processes, and the relationship between program management and contracting in DoD acquisition.
Program Management Essentials — Core program management tools and disciplines as applied in defense acquisition: cost, schedule, performance baselines, earned value management (EVM), and risk management.