Defense ARJ executive editor.

First I would like to thank every one of our readers for the overwhelming response to our first theme edition published in August of this year. Due to the tremendous feedback, we feel we are on the right track in providing more focused editions and are looking forward to continuing to produce theme editions in the future. Currently planned are publications focused on Communities of Practice (COP) and system-of-systems acquisition. Anticipated future editions will feature articles on Transformation and Leadership, Systems Engineering Best and Worst Practices, and Technology Transition and Implications. If you are doing research in any of these areas and would like to submit an article, please contact Norene Taylor, managing editor, Defense ARJ, at [e-mail]. Similarly, if you are interested in being an article reviewer in any of these areas, we would like to hear from you. We welcome your participation in helping us to ensure this journal meets the needs of the Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (AT&L) workforce.

The thrust of this edition is Performance-Based Acquisition, and as many of you know, the emphasis on performance within the government began in 1992 with the passage of the Government Performance and Results Act. It was further emphasized by former Vice President Al Gore in his National Performance Review and also in subsequent Hammer Award presentaions. Today of course, we accept performance as a focus for all acquisition disciplines and processes. Consequently, the articles presented in this edition, touch on various areas of the acquisition process and ways in which performance is affecting the things we do and the way we think.

Our featured author, Dr. Hank DeVries, is an instructor at the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) West Region and is interested in ways in which Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) is being implemented. His research article entitled, "Performance-Based Logistics-Barriers and Enablers to Effective Implementation," considers the practical aspects of PBL and identifies those items within this practice that can lead to a successful endeavor and those barriers that can confound and seriously effect its successful implementation.

The following three articles document other applied research activities. Berkowitz, Gupta, Simpson, and McWilliams in their paper, "Defining and Implementing Performance-Based Logistics in Government," provide a working definition of PBL and address the infrastructure changes needed for its successful deployment. Mahafza, Componation, and Tippett's, "A Performance-Based Technology Assessment Methodology to Support DoD Acquisition," focuses on the topic of performance risk and suggests the use of a Technology Performance Risk Index (TPRI) as a means of tracking technology readiness. Gaines and Michael's article entitled, "Managing Acquisition of Software-Intensive Systems with Service Level Agreements," provide a prescriptive approach to managing in a performance-based environment.

The next article focuses on lessons learned to assist future performance-based acquisition efforts. Starks paper entitled, "Public and Private Partnerships in Supporting Performance-Based Logistics Initiatives," focuses on lessons learned from combining the best of government support with commercial support for providing an integrated, performance-based supply chain.

Our last three articles are tutorials regarding the implementation of performancebased efforts. Friar's, "Performance-Based Service Acquisition (PBSA), A-76 and Personal Services," discusses the issue of personal services in a performance-based arena. Cavadias' paper entitled, "Contract Administration in a Performance-Based Acquisition Environment is Serious Business," looks at ways in which to conduct contract administration in a performance-based environment. Finally, Barnette's "Test and Evaluation in a Dynamic Acquisition Environment," talks about the incorporation of new test and evaluation procedures to reduce risk and ensure performance expectations.

Therefore, we have provided you with a wide range of articles on the topic of performance-based acquisition. As a follow-on activity to our Journal, we will be conducting a discussion forum in January based on this edition using the authors as discussion leads. Please look for our advertisements toward the end of this journal. We hope that you are interested enough in the topic of Performance-Based Acquisition to join us or to provide questions for discussion. We intend to use the Acquisition Research Community of Practice interest area on the Acquisition Community Connection as a vehicle for sharing discussion information.

Dr. Beryl A. Harman

Executive Editor

Defense ARJ