Using a partly open component generally means that the system is using a component's nonstandard features or that it is using a component that has been locally modified to meet some performance need. Using such extensions of a standard component requires that additional documentation and guidance be generated to manage and limit the usage of the non-standard features to a minimum. Consequently, the costs associated with maintaining the system will rise to cover the additional costs associated with porting code. The documentation associated with the open standards interfaces being maintained is critical to achieving open benefits. If undocumented use of non-standard features takes place, then porting, integration, testing, and other tasks may yield indeterminate results, again costing additional effort until resolution.
Education is key to promoting change.
Provide appropriate RFP language. Section M can contain evaluation factors that evaluate a contractor's open systems architecture, its life cycle support strategy, its technology insertion program, strengths of market knowledge, etc.