Codifying ATS software components for acquisition and procurement

Abstract

It is the purpose of this paper to discuss how to codify software components, specifically Automatic Test System (ATS) domain type software components for introduction into the Defense Department's (DoD) logistic system, Automatic Test System (ATS) domain type software components are the ATS COTS products of the future. This paper outlines a codification process similar to the Federal Cataloging System (FCS). The process provides for codification of several types of software components. The paper opens with a brief review of the FCS followed by a discussion of Automatic Test Systems (ATS) and logistics. Various types of software components that are now beginning to appear in the component market place are differentiated A spectrum of component granularity is discussed and specific examples of ATS domain components are located in she spectrum. All of she above sets the stage for a codification process that utilizes a set of categories to capture descriptive and reference data. The codification process will be applied as an example to a set of ATS domain components under development by Hamilton Software, Inc, (HSI) for the Air Force SBIR funded project AF98-252 entitled "AI-ESTATE Implementation". The paper ends with a discussion on expected economic impact PREFACE.