General guidance for the Final Recommendations section includes:

- In this section there are two major differences from a regular ICD:

1. This document requires the addition of the IT-Box construct, which is found in this section JCIDS Manual (Figure B-3). A template of this table is available in: Show Help >> View Documents >> Excel Tables >> 2021 >> IS-ICD.

2. It also requires the addition of a table of projected lifecycle costs for the program. The required table format is in Figure B-4, and a template of this table is available in the same location as noted above.

- This section of an IS-ICD identifies the path forward to satisfy the capability requirements and close or mitigate associated capability gaps identified in the document through the proposal of an IS solution. Ensure recommendations reflect a thorough understanding of the threat considerations, intelligence support requirements, and capabilities for the functional and operational areas.
- Final recommendations for an IS-ICD include consideration of:

1. DOTmLPF-P Recommendations: Identify DOTmLPF-P recommendations [Both part of and independent of the IS solutions]. You may also recommend DOTmLPF-P recommendations in follow-on Requirements Development Packages (RDPs). Either here (in the IS-ICD) or in follow-on RDPs, address considerations for DOTmLPF-P changes that may occur as the software expands in capability, including any anticipated hardware modification or refresh that may be required. Ensure to address the supportability of any newly introduced COTS/GOTS hardware.

2. Material Approach Recommendation: Given your recommendation that an IS solution is the only the only viable materiel approach to be considered, this sub-section will be different in character than a regular ICD. This is where you should include the IT Box table.

3. IT-Box Construct: Different than a regular ICD, the IS-ICD requires the inclusion of the “IT-Box.” The IT-Box construct is intended to communicate several things. It:

- Describes the overall IS program
- Identifies the delegated validation of detailed follow-on requirement and solution oversight to a flag-level entity within your organization (other than the JROC or JCB)
- Identifies initial minimum values in place of initial objective values so that the baseline capability is clearly specified, and the delegated oversight body has flexibility to further develop capabilities without revalidation of the JCIDS document
- Note: Although the validation of successor documents and requirements has been delegated to the Sponsoring organization, successor documents must still be provided to the KM/DS system for information purposes and visibility in the capability portfolios.

4. Lifecycle Cost Summary: Also different than a regular ICD, this document requires the inclusion of a lifecycle cost summary table, in the format proscribed in Figure B-4. The manual acknowledges that the fidelity of cost estimates can be immature at this time, but the estimates are still required to be generated using established cost estimation procedures for inclusion in this document. The manual also allows for the update of these estimates over time.

5. Acceptance of Operational Risk: Not every identified capability gap needs to be immediately addressed by a capability solution or S&T effort. A relatively low priority of the capability requirement to the overall joint force may not justify the lifecycle costs of taking further action at the present time.

6. Affordability:

- As stated above, an IS-ICD is not solution agnostic, the solution has been determined – software, and a life cycle cost estimate is required.
- A constrained fiscal environment with competing demands for resources requires that you consider affordability in the development of an IS-ICD.
- Identify key factors that may be, or may become, significant cost drivers for potential materiel solutions that may flow from your IS-ICD – this will help focus S&T risk reduction efforts.
- Affordability is a commitment of the service that funding exists in the service's budget to support a program to close or mitigate some or all of the capability gaps identified in the IS-ICD.