AOF Home Page

• Welcome to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) Acquisition Operating Framework (AOF). The authoritative source of policy and good practice for all members of the UK MOD and our Industry partners concerned with acquisition.
• The AOF defines how we conduct, govern and control our Defence acquisition processes. It is a key enabler for improving our delivery to the armed forces and for driving greater value for money for the taxpayer.
• A system of governance is in place to ensure AOF is kept up to date, coherent and relevant. I encourage feedback on any aspect of AOF. Please contact the relevant page owner shown, or the AOF Team directly on +44 (0)1225 883047 (Mil: 9355 83047).
• Please take the time to read the AOF and ensure that you and your staff understand its requirements.

Ursula Brennan (2^nd PUS)

More about the AOF.

• The Defence Acquisition Reform Programme (DARP) is implementing the measures described in the Defence Strategy for Acquisition Reform [PDF] through a detailed Action Plan.
  For further information contact the DARP Programme Manager on +44 (0)207 218 4823 or DARP Communications on +44 (0)207 218 6082.
• The MOD has published the Review of Acquisition for the Secretary of State for Defence [PDF] – an independent report by Bernard Gray.

• The AOF Commercial Toolkit provides guidance on MOD commercial processes and contracting.
• For information on defence business opportunities and selling to the MOD, go to the Defence Contracts Bulletin.
• The Centre for Defence Enterprise Portal provides the opportunity for anyone with a disruptive technology, new process or innovation that has a potential defence application to submit proposals for research online.

• A Project Start-Up Project Foundation mechanism to improve the entry of new projects into the Equipment Programme and their subsequent foundation in DE&S is being piloted between July and September 2010. From November 2010, the complete guidance will be available on the AOF and will apply to all Category A and B projects in DE&S.
• Release 2 of the Capability Delivery Practitioners’ Guidance is now available. The Guide provides information on the programme approach and the operation of Programme Boards within TLCM.
• The following AOF sub-sites have been updated in this release:
  • Commercial Toolkit
  • Support Solutions Envelope
  • Project and Programme Management
  • Managing Quality
  • Safety and Environmental Protection
  • Logistics
  • Engineering
  • Content Owner Guidance

• A number of improvements to the AOF have been implemented in response to your comments in the AOF 2009 Customer Survey.
  • The AOF has been re-organised to bring together information on Acquisition Business topics.
  • A review of all AOF content took place with Content Owners in May 2010. An AOF content update plan and rolling review process is in operation.
  • The AOF search facility has been improved.
• Further improvements are coming soon.

• The AOF is a RNIB Surf Right Accessible Website, further information is available on the AOF Accessibility and Usability page .