scope:

FOREWORD

1. This Standard is approved for use by all Departments and Agencies of the Department of Defense (DoD). It is for direction and should be included as a contract requirement.

2. This Standard addresses mandatory procedures for all programs subject to DoD Instruction 5000.02.

3. This military standard is applicable to all defense materiel items (or major modifications) (a) established as an integral program element of the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP), or (b) otherwise designated by the DoD Component or the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition). This Standard is mandatory for all Acquisition Category (ACAT) I, II, and III programs.

4. A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) provides a consistent and visible framework for defense materiel items and contracts within a program. This Standard offers uniformity in definition and consistency of approach for developing all levels of the WBS. Generating and applying uniform work breakdown structures improves communication in the acquisition process. It also provides direction to industry in extending contract work breakdown structures.

5. This Standard supersedes MIL-HDBK-881A, dated 30 July 2005 and MIL-STD-881B, dated 25 March 1993 entitled Work Breakdown Structures for Defense Materiel Items. MIL-STD-881C is based on the cooperative efforts of the military services with assistance from industrial associations. Changes to the Standard specifically address advances in technology and modifications of the acquisition process, and incorporates new materiel items, developmental concepts, and approaches.

6. Comments (such as recommendations, additions, or deletions) and any pertinent information, which may be useful in improving this document, should be addressed to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Performance Assessments and Root Cause Analysis (OASD(A))/PARCA, 3620 Defense Pentagon, RM 5A 1082, Washington DC 20301-3620. Since contact information can change, you may want to verify the currency of this address information using the ASSIST online database at https://assist.daps.dla.mil.