Life Cycle Environmental Assessment and Cost Analysis for Major DoD Systems Acquisition 1999-01-0013

This paper considers the issues and provides some lessons learned with respect to implementing a life cycle environmental assessment (LCEA) and environmental cost analysis (LCEC) program within a major DoD system acquisition. The latest revision of Directive 5000.2, Mandatory Procedures for Major Defense Acquisition Programs, requires, among other things, that life cycle environmental aspects be considered early in the design process[1]. Further, the 1995 Defense Appropriations Act, Section 815, requires that environmental costs be an integral part of the system life cycle cost analysis. For this effort project personnel, with the guidance of the Office of the Program Manager staff, developed an LCEA/LCEC Program, trained design teams on the elements of the program and prepared a data collection template to assist in the ongoing data collection effort. Pilot efforts were undertaken in both the environmental and cost aspects to validate the approach and to ensure compliance with customer needs and requirements.

The Army’s Crusader LCEA/LCEC program is being undertaken as a collaborative effort among several organizations. Battelle’s LCAdvantage Plus™ model is being used to store and manage data. Materials and energy data extracted from the database are sent through a post-processor to calculate impact potential indicators. Indicators are rolled up - site-specific, responsible entity, major components, system elements or life cycle stage, as example aggregations - into scores. The score significance is interpreted relative to controls or mitigation in place and locational sensitivity, to support evaluation and justification of design choices. Further, cost data are reported out of the database to correspond to component or element level decision alternatives. Cost estimating relationships for downstream operating and support cost elements are developed using the quantity estimates and additional environmental and regulatory parameters. Tecolote Research’s ECHO model is being used to support this portion of the project. LCEA/LCEC helps substantiate design choices that may increase the design to unit rollaway cost (DTURC) but substantially decrease overall cost-of-ownership.