Progressive Acquisition and the RUP Lifecycle
If the foregoing description seems like a linear or waterfall approach, it is important to understand how it relates to the RUP. Figure 3 shows how the first delivery maps into the RUP from the perspective of the acquirer.
Figure 3: Acquisition Lifecycle Leading to First Delivery
Note that the acquirer and supplier negotiate the first set of deliverables as part of the initial overall contract determination. These are recorded in the first one or more CWOs.
If the chosen supplier proves to be unsuitable in the "first round," or if the specific value they bring becomes exhausted, then the acquirer can terminate the Head Contract with minimal losses in terms of time, cost, and progress. Otherwise, the parties can initiate each subsequent increment with a new CWO that focuses on the latest known technical requirements, without having to invoke a full traditional and legal RFP process. Instead, they can invoke a simplified and more efficient version of the first stage process that maps to the RUP, as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Acquisition Lifecycle for Subsequent Deliveries
The timing of each subsequent CWO negotiation is critical to the efficient conduct of work for both acquirer and supplier. The trick is for the supplier to avoid loss of momentum and the consequent additional effort that can result from gaps between CWOs. The Inception phase of the next delivery should overlap with the Transition phase of the current delivery, as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5: Product Delivery Lifecycle for Progressive Acquisition
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Two-Level Contracting
