CHARTER

1. PURPOSE

   This charter affirms the establishment of the Acquisition System Advisory Group (ASAG) by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator. The purpose of this charter is to document and communicate the vision, mission, roles, and responsibilities of the ASAG.

2. DISTRIBUTION

   This document is available via the FAA Acquisition System Toolset (FAST).

3. BACKGROUND

   The FAA Acquisition Management System (AMS) establishes policy and guidance for all aspects of the acquisition life cycle, from the determination of mission needs to the procurement, installation, in-service management, and ultimate disposal of products and services that satisfy those needs. The AMS is the exclusive source for acquisition management and procurement policy and guidance within the FAA. Section 1.9, "AMS Configuration Management," identifies the ASAG as a corporate cross-functional body that evaluates all proposed changes to ensure it improves the AMS and is consistent with agency direction.

4. VISION

   ASAG is an effective and efficient team with a collective view that strengthens the usefulness of FAA. s acquisition management and procurement policy and guidance. This is achieved by working together with a common goal, respect, and a "system view" across all lines of business (LOB).

5. MISSION

   The ASAG mission is to perform configuration management of the AMS by developing, approving, and updating acquisition management and procurement policy and guidance. Through the ASAG, the AMS is strengthened and improved to make it more useful to the acquisition work force as well as providing management with an efficient tool to manage its resources.

6. SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES

The ASAG. s mission and duties include:

• Evaluating AMS change proposals to determine if the changes improve the AMS and are consistent with agency direction.

• Ensuring all acceptable change proposals are fully developed and made ready for inclusion in the AMS.

• Endorsing all fully developed change proposals for approval by the appropriate authority.

• Identifying opportunities for improvement, as well as problems, weaknesses, inconsistencies, etc., in the AMS and initiating appropriate corrective action.

• Consulting and coordinating with the Mission Analysis Steering Group (MASG), and other similar groups, regarding change proposals.

• Facilitating communication among all organizations impacted by AMS change proposals.

• Providing a focal point for discussion of AMS policy and guidance topics.

• Identifying AMS-related issues and facilitating resolution at the appropriate management level.

• Accomplishing a variety of work activities. For example: ASAG members can develop changes or solicit the help of other individuals and groups. Members may establish working groups and occasionally lead such groups. ASAG members may also monitor and influence the content of acquisition management guidance developed by non-ASAG-sponsored working groups.
   

7. ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION

A. Membership

The ASAG is a corporate cross-functional body, co-chaired by the AMS Configuration Manager and an ASAG member from an LOB other than ARA. Membership is primarily composed of representatives of each LOB. In addition, there are members who provide a knowledge base for each of the five phases of the AMS life cycle. As necessary, ad hoc members will be requested to assist the ASAG.

Although ASAG members are from each LOB or AMS life-cycle phase, they represent broad aspects of the acquisition life cycle. ASAG members conduct their deliberations to improve the acquisition management process and to provide useful information to the agency, operating within the identified process. ASAG members should attend each monthly ASAG meeting.

B. Co-Chairperson

AMS policy (section 1.9) identifies the Manager, Acquisition Policy and Procedures Division, ASU-100, as the Configuration Manager of the AMS. As the AMS Configuration Manager, ASU-100 is the standing co-chair of the ASAG.

The ASAG will have a second, rotating, co-chair from an LOB other than ARA. The co-chair will be selected by the ASAG from among its members and will serve for a period of one year. The co-chair will chair the ASAG when necessary. The co-chair will also provide a cross-functional view of the ASAG activities and support the ASAG mission. The co-chair will also co-sign significant change proposals prior to being forwarded for approval.

8. DECISION MAKING PROCESS

   Minor change proposals will be processed by the AMS Configuration Manager and sent directly to the approving official, with notification to the ASAG of such action.

   Significant change proposals will be forwarded to the ASAG by the AMS Configuration Manager. The ASAG will evaluate and, if necessary, fully develop the change, establish and direct work groups where necessary, and coordinate with impacted organizations and managers to resolve issues and achieve consensus. When consensus is reached, the AMS Configuration Manager will forward the change to the proper approval authority.

   Through deliberations, the ASAG informs, solicits guidance, resolves issues, and facilitates consensus, as necessary, among the managers appropriate for the change proposals. Associate and Assistant Administrators and all FAA managers are responsible for participating fully in policy and guidance development and supporting the work of the ASAG. When consensus is reached within the ASAG member. s designated responsibility, the fully coordinated change is presented to the ASAG for overall consensus. When consensus is reached, the change proposal is sent to the approving authority first and then to the issuing authority for inclusion in the AMS and FAST.

   The ASAG defines consensus as:

   A state of mutual agreement where all legitimate concerns of ASAG members have been addressed to the satisfaction of the ASAG. Agreement is not conformity, or a majority of members agree, or everyone agrees about everything. Agreement is a decision that all ASAG members can live with and will fully support.

   If the ASAG is unable to come to consensus, the AMS Configuration Manager and ASAG co-chair and ASAG co-chair will consult with management and bring them into the process.

9. DOCUMENTATION

   Meeting notes shall be kept and distributed as the official record of decisions made by the ASAG.

10. APPROVAL PROCESS

    Minor changes are those that do not alter the intent of existing policy or guidance and are supportive of it. Significant changes are those that alter AMS policy or guidance substantively.

    The Configuration Manager will forward minor changes directly to the approving authority. Significant changes will be endorsed by the ASAG, before the Configuration Manager submits the changes to the approving authority.

    The AMS Configuration Manager will present fully developed policy changes to the Administrator or guidance changes to the Director, Office of Acquisitions, for approval.

11. REPORTING

Changes will be incorporated into FAST by the fifth of the month following approval by the Administrator or the Director, Office of Acquisitions.

12. EFFECTIVE DATE AND APPROVAL OF CHARTER

This Charter and any amendments thereto become effective immediately upon the signature of the Administrator.

(Original Signed)                                                                       Date:  May 13, 1999.

Jane F. Garvey                                                                                   (Revised)   

Administrator