AMS Policy vs Guidance

The Acquisition Management System (AMS) is the collective body of information within the FAA Acquisition System Toolset (FAST). FAST is the official record of the AMS and contains all approved acquisition management policy and guidance.

Defining AMS Policy and Guidance

Acquisition Management Policy

Mandatory agency-wide requirements applicable to all activities associated with the identification, planning, acquisition, deployment, in-service management, and eventual disposal of investment assets and services necessary to fulfill the FAA mission. This includes the determination and prioritization of agency service needs; the specification of operational and performance requirements; the analysis of alternative solutions; the establishment of investment programs; the allocation and expenditure of resources; the procurement and deployment of investment products and services; the in-service management of fielded assets; and the disposal of obsolete resources. Acquisition management policy applies to all investment programs of any cost and any appropriation, including programs managed at headquarters, regions, service areas, FAA technical and logistics centers, and other field activities. Only the FAA Acquisition Executive may grant waivers or deviations from AMS policy.

Acquisition Management Guidance

A set of guidelines, processes, instructions, templates, databases, handbooks, checklists, manuals, and other information approved for inclusion in AMS that supplement, expand, illustrate, or implement acquisition management policy. This information guides and supports the workforce in planning and executing acquisition management policy and all related lifecycle management activities and processes. Acquisition management guidance is derived from acquisition management policy and should be followed unless there is a rational basis for adopting a different approach.

Exceptions

AMS policy and guidance do not apply to the following:

  • Airport Improvement Grants. These grants are executed using different procedures specified in Public Law.
  • Operations and Maintenance funding for the salaries and benefits of FAA employees.

Applying AMS Policy and Guidance

Practitioners must comply with AMS policy as written unless waivers or deviations are obtained from the FAA Acquisition Executive.

Practitioners are expected to comply with AMS guidance as written unless a rational basis exists for alternative action. The rational basis must be recorded in official program planning documentation (e.g., Implementation Strategy and Planning Document, Program Management Plan, Procurement Planning) or contract file, and approved by designated officials.

Examples of "rational basis" include factual statements in planning documents showing that:

  • A deviation from guidance clearly enhances one or more factors of cost, schedule, requirements, or benefits.
  • Congressional direction requires adopting a different approach; for example, a Congressional mandate to procure a specific asset or service.
  • Circumstances clearly show that deviations from guidance are required.

Defining Key Terminology

The following terms, when used throughout AMS, shall be interpreted as follows:

  • Shall, Must, and Mandatory. The terms "shall," "must," and "mandatory" indicate requirements where it is necessary to comply. Waivers are required from the FAA Acquisition Executive in advance if there is intent to not abide by these policy requirements.
  • Should. The term "should" indicates requirements or procedures that allow discretion to adopt different approaches consistent with applicable law and AMS policy. Acquisition practitioners are expected to use the principle of reasoned decision-making when defining the rational basis for adopting a different approach. The rational basis must be recorded in program planning documents or contract file and approved by designated officials in AMS instructions and templates.
  • May. The term "may" confers authority to exercise full discretion by the user in implementing the applicable part of AMS where the term is used.

Identifying Policy versus Guidance

AMS policy is accessed from the FAST home page, under the major heading "AMS Policy." Unless specifically and clearly marked as "policy," all information displayed in FAST is officially designated as guidance.