Enable breadcrumbs token at /includes/pageheader.html.twig

DoD Reaffirms Software Acquisition Pathway Use

Policy emphasizes the need to update the military’s acquisition process for software solutions.

In 30 days, officials will have an implementation plan to roll out the Software Acquisition Pathway 2.0. Photo Credit: Kishore Newton/Shutterstock

The five-year-old Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) policy authorized by the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act is being reemphasized.

A new memo from the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth specifies that all Department of Defense (DoD) components “must adopt the Software Acquisition Pathway as the preferred pathway for all software development components of business and weapon system programs in the department.”

The memo to senior Pentagon DoD leaders, U.S. combatant commanders and defense agency and field activity directors was dated February 6 and released publicly this afternoon.

“While commercial industry has rapidly adjusted to a software-defined product reality, DoD has struggled to reframe our acquisition process from a hardware-centric to a software-centric approach,” the memo stated.

Originally, the SWP was meant to reduce the acquisition bureaucracy and get software-related capabilities out to warfighters faster, but it was not meant for major defense acquisition programs unless specified.

Now, DoD must also align contracting strategies and maximize the use of existing authorities when purchasing software-related capabilities under the SWP.

“Commercial solutions openings [CSOs] and other transactions [OTAs] are now the default solicitation and award approaches for acquiring capabilities under the Software Acquisition Pathway,” the memo stated.

The policy applies to any software pathway program that is already in the planning phase.

The secretary called on the Defense Innovation Unit and the undersecretary of defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to prepare an implementation plan in the next 30 days.

“Software is at the core of every weapon and supporting system we field to remain the strongest, most lethal fighting force in the world,” the memo indicated. “When it comes to software acquisition, we are overdue in pivoting to a performance-based outcome and as such, it is the warfare fighter who pays the price.”