Initial operating capability: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Military logistics terms}}

'''Initial operating capability''' (IOC) is the state achieved when a combination of individuals and equipment are initially established and are functioning according to their respective tasks and are available in their minimum usefully deployable or operating forms. The term is often used in civilian and military operations.

{{Use American English|date = February 2019}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}

'''Initial operating capability''' or '''initial operational capability''' ('''IOC''') is the state achieved when a [[Capability Management|capability]] is available in its minimum usefully deployable form. The term is often used in [[government procurement|government]] or [[military]] [[procurement]].<ref>{{cite web |title = AOF Glossary |url = http://www.aof.mod.uk/aofcontent/tactical/randa/content/glossary.htm |archive-url = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121026065214/http://www.aof.mod.uk/aofcontent/tactical/randa/content/glossary.htm |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2012-10-26 |publisher = UK Ministry of Defence |access-date = 2008-01-27}}</ref>

The [[United States Department of Defense]] chooses to use the term ''initial operational capability'' when referring to IOC.<ref>[https://acc.dau.mil/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=28937 Defense Acquisition University] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622051744/https://acc.dau.mil/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=28937 |date=June 22, 2011 }} 2009-07-22.</ref> For a U.S. Department of Defense [[military acquisition]], IOC includes operating the training and maintaining parts of the overall system per [[DOTMLPF]], and is defined as:<blockquote>"In general, attained when some units and/or organizations in the force structure scheduled to receive a system have received it and have the ability to employ and maintain it. The specifics for any particular system IOC are defined in that system’s Capability Development Document (CDD) and Capability Production Document (CPD)."<ref>{{cite web

The time and date at which IOC is achieved often defines the estimated initial operating timeline established by subject matter experts for an associated system or set of actions. Declaration of an initial operating capability implies that the full operating capability will be achieved in the future, for example by modifications or adjustments to improve the individual's or system's performances, deployment of greater numbers of individuals or systems (perhaps of different types), or testing and training that permit wider application of the expected tasks to meet their capability. Once the capability is fully developed and all tasks are met, full operating capability may be declared.

|title = Glossary of Defense Acquisition Acronyms & Terms, 14th ed.

|url = http://www.dau.mil/pubscats/Pages/preface.aspx

|publisher = Defense Acquisition University

|date = July 2012

|access-date = 2013-05-03

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130305091012/http://www.dau.mil/pubscats/Pages/preface.aspx

|archive-date = 2013-03-05

}}</ref></blockquote>The date at which IOC is achieved often defines the in-service date (ISD) for an associated [[system]]. Declaration of an initial operating capability may imply that the capability will be developed in the future, for example by modifications or adjustments to improve the system's performance, deployment of greater numbers of systems (perhaps of different types), or testing and training that permit wider application of the capability.<ref>Defense Acquisition University [https://akss.dau.mil/askaprof-akss/qdetail2.aspx?cgiSubjectAreaID=14&cgiQuestionID=1514 Ask a Professor]{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 1998-05-08</ref> Once the capability is fully developed, [[full operational capability]] may be declared.<ref>Defense Acquisition University [https://akss.dau.mil/askaprof-akss/qdetail2.aspx?cgiSubjectAreaID=12&cgiQuestionID=3060 Ask a Professor]{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 1999-03-01</ref>

For example, the capability may be fielded to a limited number of users with plans to roll out to all users incrementally over a period (possibly incorporating changes along the way). The point at which the first users begin using the capability is IOC, with FOC achieved when all intended users (by agreement between the developer and the user) have the capability. This does not preclude additional users from obtaining the capability after FOC.

Alternatively the specifics of the program may cause a contract and acquisition-defined definition that differs from the concept of available in minimally deployable form, for example IOC on a website, which does not have material production or maintenance, may have been defined as when the training mockup is installed rather than when software or content is ready.

[[pl:Gotowość operacyjna]]

[[Category:Management]]

Finally, IOC may be an informal voiced usage of opinion on how far the development is, or a casual view that some other event constitutes IOC like when it is first turned on. (Both of these are meaningless to formal program state or contractual actions, but the progress or event are meaningful in other senses.)

==References==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* UK Ministry of Defence [http://www.aof.mod.uk/ Acquisition Operating Framework]

* European Union [https://web.archive.org/web/20130815002303/http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/index.cfm/pageid/5020] IOC definition for [[List of European Union directives#Information technology|INSPIRE]] data infrastructure

[[Category:ManagementProcurement]]

[[Category:Military terminology]]