The JCIDS Process

Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) Documents

The requirements process known as Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) has now been in use for 6 years. The Department of Defense (DoD) is continually updating the rules by which it develops and fields the capabilities needed by our military forces.  The process articulated and promulgated in the Chairman, Joint Staff Instruction 3170.01 series is complex and time consuming, and requires programs in DoD to be in compliance.

Read more about WBB's JCIDS capabilities:

• JCIDS Overview
• Documents
• Products

JCIDS Overview

JCIDS is a deliberate and analytical process to address future warfighter needs. These analyses are rooted in the Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA) process and formally articulated in an Initial Capabilities Document (ICD).  The analyses conducted in the CBA are:

• Capability Needs Analysis: The Mission Area, Military Problem & Required Capabilities are mapped, analyzed, and developed under a defined set of operating conditions.  Tasks and associated standards are developed to measure the ability of an organization to meet its assigned missions.
• Capability Gap Analysis: The Assessment of How Well an Organization Meets Identified Needs and Associated Risks evaluates current and programmed capabilities and identifies the gaps/risks in capability based on the tasks, conditions and standards defined earlier.
• Non-Materiel Solutions Analysis: The Assessment of Non-Materiel Solutions and Identification of Materiel Solutions analyzes potential non-materiel solutions and identifies materiel approaches to mitigating the capability gaps.

The Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) articulates a capability gap or set of capability gaps identified in the CBA for a specific timeframe.  It summarizes the analysis and recommends that materiel solutions should be considered in order to mitigate the gap or gaps.  The ICD supports the analysis of alternatives and is the foundation for future capabilities documents required by the acquisition system for developing and delivering capabilities to the warfighter.

Solutions to warfighter requirements are defined in the form of DOTMLPF Change Recommendations (DCR), Capability Development Documents (CDD), and Capability Production Documents (CPD).

The DCR identifies potential non-materiel ways to mitigate identified capability gaps where these changes are outside the scope or oversight of the acquisition community.  Elements within the scope of a DCR are: Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel (non-developmental), Leadership and education, Personnel, and Facilities.

The CDD provides a means of defining authoritative, measurable, and testable capabilities to support the system development phase of a materiel solution by the acquisition community.

The CPD provides the information necessary to support production, testing and deployment of an affordable and supportable materiel solution by the acquisition community.

Documents

WBB cultivated an early mastery of JCIDS and understands the processes and organizations that govern the execution of this new and continually evolving approach to establishing capabilities and requirements.

WBB has supported over 150 documents from all four Services and the Joint Staff within DoD’s capabilities-based JCIDS process, including:

WBB represented the Navy as a participating member of the Joint Staff sponsored Joint Undersea Superiority Study (JUSS) and Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA) and led the development of the Joint Integrating Concept (JIC) for SeaBasing.  A more detailed listing of WBB developed JCIDS documents can be found at JCIDS Document Products.

Products

Our JCIDS product line includes, but is not limited to:

• Education: Tailored CJCSI 3170/JCIDS Requirements & Acquisition training courses
• Process: Developing a Requirements Management Process or providing more "hands-on" assistance in navigating the current and changing established policies
• Products: Writing, editing, and staffing of Initial Capabilities Documents (ICD), Capability Development Documents (CDD), Capability Production Documents (CPD), Concepts, Analyses, Assessments, Roadmaps, and Information Support Plans
• Turnkey Solutions: Total requirements management support of a program - from capability analysis and defining of performance attributes, to document development and staffing assistance

Please feel free to contact us for additional information about the JCIDS process and document development at: 703-448-6081 ext. 0