Initial operating capability: Difference between revisions

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'''Initial operating capability''' or '''Initialinitial 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 |dead-url = yes |archive-date = 2012-10-26 |publisher = UK Ministry of Defence |accessdate = 2008-01-27}}</ref>

The [[United States Department of Defense]] chooses to use the term Initial Operational Capability (versus ''initial "operating"operational capability)'' when referring to IOC.<ref>[https://acc.dau.mil/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=28937 Defense Acquisition University] 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

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

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

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|archivedate = 2013-03-05

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}}</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] 1998-05-08</ref> Once the capability is fully developed, [[Fullfull operational capability|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] 1999-03-01</ref>

}}</ref> as: "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)."

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] 1998-05-08</ref> Once the capability is fully developed, [[Full operational capability|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] 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.