A NAVAIR CIO-sponsored Lean Six Sigma AirSpeed team embarked on a journey to improve the IT Approval process, a service that ensures procurements containing IT (including embedded and platform IT) are in compliance with Federal DoD, DON and Navy statutory and regulatory requirements. The team is focused on reducing cycle time by 50% (38 days to 19 days) for procurements greater than $25,000; increasing the number of first-time approvals (43% to 80%); and achieving an 80% increase in the number of IT Spend Plans.

As the project enters its Improve Phase tollgate, four improvements have been identified. The first improvement involves automation of the IT Approval/IT Spend Plan forms into a fully automated, Web-based process. Kathy Steele, Deputy CIO for NAVAIR, stated, “We identified the constraints and bottlenecks in our process, which enabled us to better understand where and how our customers were being impacted. The solution to lengthy, confusing forms was to create a shorter, user-friendly, Web tool that can be used by anyone at NAVAIR who requires an IT Approval.”
The tool is located on the MyNAVAIR portal, and is accessible via a government-issued Common Access Card (CAC) and a MyNAVAIR account. Paper-based IT Approval forms will only be accepted for classified requests. The new tool is scheduled to “go-live” in May 2007.

As a second outcome of a CIO-sponsored Black Belt initiative, the Senior Executive Service (SES)/Flag signature requirement has increased. Program Manager, Deputy Program Manager, or National Level II signature is required for all procurements that contain IT greater than $25,000. Procurements greater than $250,000 still require SES/Flag signature. NAVAIR Office of CIO will provide quarterly reports to the SES/Flag level to ensure proper awareness of IT expenditures within the competencies/PEOs.

A third improvement involves the implementation of a “Speed Pass” for Clinger-Cohen Act (CCA)-compliant weapons systems with Platform IT. Finally, the Office of CIO has prepared a communications plan and will meet with each competency/PEO to provide an overview and training on process enhancements and improvements. Education will produce shorter processing times and a better customer understanding of the statutory laws and regulations governing IT acquisition at NAVAIR.

For more information, visit the NAVAIR CIO website within MyNAVAIR at https://mynavair.navair.navy.mil/cio.