Commercial Off-The Shelf (COTS) Software Management Process

Overview .

This "COTS Software Management Process" has been prepared as guidelines for the developer and/or subcontractor software project manager for satisfying the requirements for the projects when applied to incorporating COTS, GOTS, reused, and other NDI products.

This document has been prepared using the requirements determined by MIL-STD-498 and ISO/IEC 12207.

This process will also be continued for the process improvement and enhancement activities after the initial standards baseline has been established.

Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Software Management Policy

Definition: COTS computer resources consist of commercially-available software packages, readily available in identical form to any developer/subcontractor.

The COTS software management policy goals are to:

Ø Promote acquisition of COTS software as an alternative to in-house development;

Ø Increase customer satisfaction by ensuring availability of existing software capabilities;

Ø Reduce software development and maintenance costs and software delivery time by eliminating redundant development;

Ø Control modification of COTS software to ensure standardization;

Ø Ensure compliance with this 'COTS Software Management Process' document.

Policy is:

For each COTS software package, the project office shall obtain a system/software identifier and data system designator and appoint software project manager, in accordance with established management procedures.

All managers for COTS software acquisitions shall follow the guidance and procedures set forth in this document.

Software project managers shall co-ordinate COTS software acquisitions.

Project managers shall ensure that appropriate licensing requirements are satisfied to authorize operational use of the software at planned implementation sites.

Project managers for COTS software acquisitions shall ensure acquired software resources are fully tested and satisfy user requirements.

Project managers shall not allow development or maintenance of local code that in any way changes the use or functionality of the COTS software without approval. This includes, but shall not be limited to, front-end or back-end processors and changes to vendor documentation. Waivers or deviations (if necessary) shall be submitted i.a.w. the SCMP and co-ordinated with programme organizations.

SMG shall maintain this document. Users of this document may report deficiencies and or corrections using the format provided by the attached Document Change Request (DCR) form. SMG shall configuration manage this data as part of the process improvements initiative.

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