2.5.5.5. Affordability. When writing an ICD, the Sponsor should not have a predetermined capability solution in mind, nor the level of required detail to produce associated cost estimates. Additionally, multiple Services may develop capabilities based on a different sponsor's ICD and the initial Sponsor may not have insight into these development efforts. However, a constrained fiscal environment with competing demands for resources requires that Sponsors consider affordability in the development of an ICD.

2.5.5.5.1. The ICD should identify key factors that the Sponsor knows of, that may be, or may become, significant cost drivers for potential materiel solutions that may flow from the ICD. This information can help DoD focus S&T and risk reduction efforts, thereby potentially reducing the resources needed to satisfy joint military capabilities and eliminate or mitigate the associated gaps identified in the ICD.

2.5.5.5.2. This information will inform lifecycle cost, performance, schedule, and quantity tradeoff discussions in follow-on efforts, such as in the AoA, and subsequent requirements and acquisition decision making.

2.5.5.5.3. Since ICDs should be solution agnostic, there may be multiple AoAs and multiple programs associated with a single ICD, making an accurate cost estimate extremely difficult at this point in the development process. Once information is further developed or known, it may be necessary to perform a revised cost-estimate.