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AOF Acquisition Operating Framework

The high level principles and information that guide how the UK MOD Defence Acquisition Community works

version 2.0.21 – March 2010

Content

The Governance of Head Office

The Defence Council is the senior Departmental committee. It provides the formal legal basis for the conduct of Defence in the United Kingdom.

The Defence Council is chaired by the Secretary of State for Defence and comprises:

  • The other Defence Ministers
  • The Permanent Under Secretary
  • The Chief of Defence Staff
  • Vice Chief of the Defence Staff
  • 2nd Permanent Under Secretary
  • Single Service Chiefs of Staff
  • Chief Scientific Advisor
  • Chief of Defence Material
  • Director General Finance.

The Permanent Under Secretary chairs the Defence Board (DB). The DB is the main corporate board of the MOD, which provides senior level leadership and strategic management of Defence. Its role is to deliver the Defence Aim set out in the Public Service Agreement.

The DB is made up of:

  • Chief of Defence Staff (Joint executive responsibility to take decisions with PUS)
  • 2nd Permanent Under Secretary
  • Single Service Chiefs of Staff
  • Chief Scientific Advisor
  • Chief of Defence Material
  • Director General Finance
  • External, independent Non-Executive Directors.

A number of key corporate Head Office committees support the Board, in particular:

  • Investment Approvals Board
    • Responsible for the approval of all investment projects.
  • Defence Audit Committee
    • Responsible for ensuring corporate governance requirements are met, advising on the adequacy of internal controls and effective risk management.
  • Policy and Programmes Steering Group
    • Provides guidance to the DB on major balance of investment issues
    • Provides guidance on the capability implications of significant changes in resources or policy
    • Identifies coherent capability and policy options for consideration in the planning process.
  • Defence Estates Committee
    • Oversees the development and implementation of policy for Defence Estates.
  • Chiefs of Staff Committee
    • Chaired by the Chief of Defence Staff, it is the main forum in which the collective military advice of the Chiefs is gathered on operational issues.

Further information is available on the Higher Organisation of Defence [PDF]External link to Ministry of Defence Intranet content.

Contacts

Head Office

Owner

Post
Director Organisation and Management Development (DGMO – DOMD)

Point of Contact

Post Email Phone
DGMO Directorate Organisation and Management of Defence – Org DGMO-DOMD-OrgAD@mod.uk
  • Mil: 9621 84292
  • Civ: +44 (0) 207 218 4292
Change History

Change History

The AOF has been updated to Version 2.0.0 on 1st April 2008 following the introduction of the main content in the tactical layer. In addition small changes have been added to the Operational layer. Individual document Change History pages will detail any changes other than minor editorial amendments.

1 October 2009
Minor amendments made for Plain English review.
Major changes made to reflect changes in the Governance of Head Office regarding the Defence Council and the Defence Board.
Content taken from Defence Intranet, not referred back to Content Owner.
1 June 2007
Contact names deleted due to IAW DDefSy Hd InfoSy Pol advice with regards to potential Security and Data Protection Act issues.