Innovation in Acquisition: Case Study of Marine Corps Manpower Information Technology Systems Modernization (MITSM) Portfolio

Abstract

The Program Executive Office for Manpower, Logistics and Business Solutions’ (PEO MLB) Marine Corps Manpower Information Technology Systems Modernization (MITSM) portfolio uses an innovative acquisition approach incorporating agile, user-centered design, existing enterprise services, and Other Transaction Authorities (OTA) to develop complex technology prototypes that mature to become programs of record to support warfighters at the speed of relevance. MITSM’s complex prototypes achieve Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and transition to Minimum Viable Capability Release (MVCR) within 2 years. MITSM’s innovative approach, titled the Prototype to Program (P2P) Process, involves accelerating requirements development, reducing procurement time, allocating resources based on learning, increasing customer satisfaction, and paralleling Information Technology (IT) transformation planning. Using the Software Acquisition Pathway, MITSM’s P2P Process incorporates design thinking and agile user-centered design and uses the flexibility of OTA prototype agreements and existing enterprise services to accelerate the delivery of software prototypes to achieve large-scale enterprise results.