The Army CIO developed and deployed a Web-based application to assist PMs in achieving CCA compliance. (U.S. Army photo by Richard Mattox, Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems.)

The CCA of 1996 was the most significant information technology (IT) reform of the last decade. Based on proven practical IT best practices, it is designed to ensure that IT investments provide measurable improvements in mission performance. Accordingly, the CCA assigns the Army Chief Information Officer (CIO) the responsibility of developing, maintaining and facilitating the implementation of a sound integrated technology architecture. The Army CIO is also charged with the responsibility of enforcing standards that enable compliance with the Global Information Grid (GIG), bandwidth management, spectrum management, information assurance and interoperability certification, among others, for systems throughout the Army. Given the pace of change today, fielding systems without considering consequences to the GIG can lead to user dissatisfaction, program failure and severe unintended consequences on the integrity of the Army’s Enterprise Network.

The CCA provides guidance for the Army CIO to manage the Army Enterprise with strategic enablers, such as IT portfolio management and the adoption of business processes for the acquisition of IT, including the consideration of performance-based results and results-based management, enforcement of accountability, interoperability, and capital planning and investment control.

The Army CIO developed and deployed a Web-based application to assist program, project and product managers (PMs) in achieving CCA compliance. The application is available through the Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Enterprise System and Services Acquisition Business Enterprise Hub, in the core application Acquisition Information Management (AIM) tool.

The CIO Compliance Assessment tool helps the Army meet statutory requirements, defines work processes, ensures interoperability across the Army Enterprise and provides a consistent and iterative means of communication between the project management office (PMO) and acquisition oversight throughout a program’s life cycle.

Figure 1. CIO Module within AIM screenshot (Click image to enlarge.)

The PMO’s use of and response to the questions in this Web-based assessment tool allow the Army CIO to evaluate the business implications of the technology being developed. The Army CIO can then determine if the program enhances the Army Enterprise’s capabilities. For additional information, please view Figure 1.

The Army CIO performs a CIO Compliance Assessment on all acquisition category (ACAT) I, II and special interest programs for compliance with statutory, DOD and Army regulations prior to a milestone decision. Upon satisfying the CIO Compliance Assessment’s requirements, the Army CIO confirms the system’s compliance in a memorandum to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. PMs preparing for a milestone decision at the ACAT I, II or special interest level must obtain this confirmation, which is required for Annex C of the Modified Integrated Program Summary (MIPS). Approval to move through the milestone decision process cannot occur without this document in the MIPS.

The Army CIO has delegated the CIO Compliance Assessment process for ACAT III level programs and other qualifying programs to the responsible program executive officers, direct reporting PMs and commanders. The CIO Compliance Assessment process applies to both ACAT and non-ACAT systems and must be completed to support evaluations prior to milestone decisions.

Key areas addressed by the CIO Compliance Assessment tool are the program’s ability to:

• Support the overall mission
• Meet functional requirements
• Identify key (work) processes
• Evaluate a return on investment
• Meet interoperability requirements
• Achieve performance metrics
• Support customer (warfighter) requirements
• Address alternatives
• Provide or enhance quality

The CIO Compliance Assessment tool’s real value is that it enables the Army CIO to efficiently evaluate controls such as regulations, policies, procedures and practices, and mechanisms, including people, facilities, systems and technology, to achieve mission success.

Figure 2. CIO Compliance Assessment Tool Input/Output model (Click image to enlarge.)

The online application component identifies, defines and organizes the activities (inputs) that capture, manipulate and manage the business information to support mission operations (output). It also describes the logical dependencies and relationships among business activities as depicted by Figure 2.

In addition to the CIO Compliance Assessment tool, AIM offers stakeholders a portal to exchange programmatic information such as program mission, funding, schedule and performance, just to name a few.

The Army CIO’s Acquisition Compliance and Certification (ACC) Division is responsible for reviewing and confirming CCA compliance against the responses submitted by the PM in the CIO Compliance Assessment tool. Action officers in the ACC Division serve as liaisons between the PMO and the CIO. As a representative of the CIO, the ACC Division has the responsibility to ensure that program objectives support the Army’s mission, business processes are optimized and programs are not duplicative or stovepiped. The ACC Division can recommend the Army CIO to hold a program in abeyance if there are key issues that need clarification or if a program is not complying with the requirements.

As key processes are being identified and expanded to the entire Army Enterprise, the CIO Compliance Assessment tool is continuously reviewed and updated to ensure the most current guidance, regulations and compliance requirements are addressed.

Today’s IT systems offer the Army unprecedented opportunities to provide warfighters high-quality services tailored to ever-changing needs by delivering IT more effectively, faster and at lower cost. The CIO Compliance Assessment tool supports the warfighter by aligning the right investments to the right technology based on identified field requirements.

For more information about the CIO Compliance Assessment tool or the ACC process, contact ACC Division Chief Marlu W. Vance at (703) 604-7117/DSN 664-7117 or marlu.vance@us.army.mil.