Identify and describe the four phases of the resource allocation
process and relate why they are important in the acquisition
process. Which one is the most important to you? Think carefully.
2) Explain the three major stages of the defense budget process.
Why do we concern ourselves with this process; what are the
issues?
The Resource Allocation Process (RAP) is the method in which all funds for the Department of
Defense acquisitions are provided. This process consists of four phases, with phase 1 consisting
of Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution, phase 2 Enactment, phase 3
Apportionment, and phase 4 Execution. Each phase is vital for the process, but the PPBE is
considered the focus of attention for the activities. PPBE is an annual cycle that produces both
the Defense Planning and Programming Guidance (DPPG), the Budget Estimate Submission
(BES) and the Program Objectives Memorandum (POM) for each military department and
defense agency (Tyszkiewicz & Dagget, 1998) .
Phase I of the RAP consists of several phases. The first phase, planning, consists of defining and
examining alternative strategies, analyzing threats, technology, changing trends, and economic
assessments to understand the consequences of current choices (AcqNotes, 2024) . This phase
involves the planners in the Military Departments, Joint Staff, and the Office of the Secretary of
Defense (Tyszkiewicz & Dagget, 1998) . The Programming phase of PPBE matches available
dollars against a prioritized list of requirements in order to develop a five-year resource proposal
known as a POM (1998). This POM is prepared based on guidance within the DDPG. It
analyzes weapon systems, support systems, and alternative force structures (AcqNotes, 2024) .
The Budgeting phase has a primary purpose of scrutinizing the first two years of a programs
budget to ensure the efficient utilization of resources. It involves the formulation, justification,
execution and control of the budget (2024). Execution is the final component of PPBE, which
includes the real-world application of the PPBE process (2024). It is the implementation review
of previous program budget decisions and runs currently with the annual PPBE activities at OSD
(Tyszkiewicz & Dagget, 1998) .
The second phase of the RAP is the Enactment phase, which is the process by which Congress
review the budget, conducts hearing and passes legislation (1998). This process starts when the
President submits the annual budget to Congress in the beginning of February and concludes
when the President signs the annual authorization and appropriation bills after 9 months (1998).
Programs are approved and specifies the maximum funding levels and quantities of systems to
procure.
The Apportionment phase is the third component of the RAP. This is when the appropriations
and authorization legislation is signed into law by the President and the funds are made available
to DoD and other federal agencies. The Apportionment occurs when the funds are provided to
the DoD and other federal agencies (1998).
The execution phase is the final phase of the RAP process. This happens once the appropriated
funds are obligated and expended to the defense programs. The acquisitions community obtains
the needs of DoD at this time
I find the important phase of the RAP to be
The three major stages of the defense budget process
AcqNotes.
Programming, Budget, and Execution (PPBE) Process Overview:
Planning, Programming, Budget, and Execution (PPBE) Process Overview
Tyszkiewicz, M., & Dagget, S. (1998). A Defense Budget Primer. Congressional Research
Service, 1-67.