Views are also provided by other offices which might have significant perspectives regarding cost and schedule. For example, the Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation and the Office for Acquisition Resources and Analysis jointly perform an affordability analysis that considers the affordability of each major weapon system program in a broader context. The third major process is the DAES, which on a quarterly basis, highlights to the Under Secretary the cost, schedule, technical performance, management, and other key parameters of major defense acquisition programs. These reviews of the service POMs consider the balance among force structure, modernization, readiness, and sustainability, seeking to accomplish the established policy goals within available funds. The Department's tactical aircraft programs are included in the potential scope of these reviews, although specific issues raised to the DRB in any given year may or may not include specific tactical air force modernization topics.
Specific issues can vary significantly from year to year depending upon the circumstances.
Throughout these deliberations, as Ms. Druyun can attest, OSD spends significant time examining and understanding the cost and schedule projections presented by each armed service for each of its programs at issue. What I described above refers to the Department's internal process. We also make reports to Congress on program costs. The Selected Acquisition Report is a document required from the Department by the Congress to provide it with cost, schedule, and other information about major development and procurement programs. The Under Secretary also holds program reviews more often for high priority programs.