MIL-STD-881 was reinstated on 3 October 2011 with the release of Revision C so that it can be used for new and existing designs and acquisitions. Titled “Work Breakdown Structures for Defense Materiel Items,” the new revision replaces both the MIL-STD-881B from March 1993 and the MIL-HDBK-881A from July 2005 (which is cancelled by this new release).
A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) provides a consistent and visible framework for defense materiel items and contracts within a program. This Standard offers uniformity in definition and consistency of approach for developing all levels of the WBS. Generating and applying uniform work breakdown structures improves communication in the acquisition process. It also provides direction to industry in extending contract work breakdown structures.
MIL-STD-881C presents direction for effectively preparing, understanding, and presenting a Work Breakdown Structure. It provides the framework for Department of Defense (DoD) Program Managers to define their program’s WBS and also to defense contractors in their application and extension of the contract’s WBS. Section 1 defines and describes the WBS. Section 2 provides instructions on how the WBS is applied as well as how to develop a Program WBS in the pre-award timeframe. Section 3 provides direction for developing and implementing a Contract WBS and Section 4 examines the role of the WBS in the post-award timeframe. This Standard also provides WBS definitions for specific defense materiel commodity systems in Appendices A through K. Appendix L addresses WBS elements that are common to all systems.
The document supports mandatory procedures for all programs subject to DoD Instruction 5000.02. It is is applicable to all defense materiel items (or major modifications) (a) established as an integral program element of the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP), or (b) otherwise designated by the DoD Component or the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition). This Standard is mandatory for all Acquisition Category (ACAT) I, II, and III programs.
MIL-STD-881C and all publicly distributed (non-classified) military specifications and standards are available from Document Center Inc. at our website, www.document-center.com. You can also reach us by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (650-591-7617). We have been known throughout the years for low prices on these government documents, with superior notification services for updating information on changes.