scope:

This document provides overall guidance in the acquisition, integration, and maintenance support of COTS based hardware. This document provides a framework to develop, manage and execute comprehensive, cost effective, COTS/NDI (COTS/Non-Developmental Items) strategies. These strategies are based on US and UK experiences, they leverage industry experience, lessons learned in other military applications, and current "best practices." It is not intended to detail how to accomplish these tasks, but rather to suggest guidelines that define what must be addressed and considered to ensure success in the application of COTS/NDI products to mission and program needs.