Independent Verification and Validation(IV&V)
An independent assessment of software or systems to verify correctness and validate that requirements are met, performed by a team separate from development.
Overview
Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) is a systems engineering process in which an organization separate from the development team evaluates whether a product meets its specifications (verification) and fulfills its intended purpose (validation). IV&V is widely used for mission-critical and safety-critical software in federal programs.
Why It Matters in GovCon
Federal agencies frequently award separate IV&V contracts to ensure objective quality oversight of high-risk systems. For contractors, IV&V work represents a distinct market segment—but it also means that development contractors must build transparent, well-documented systems that can withstand independent scrutiny.
Key Details
- Independence: The IV&V team must be organizationally and financially independent from the development contractor.
- IEEE 1012: The primary standard governing IV&V processes for software systems.
- Risk-Based: IV&V effort is typically scoped based on the criticality and complexity of the system.
- Continuous: IV&V activities run concurrently with development, not just at the end.
- NASA and DoD: Both agencies mandate IV&V for mission-critical and safety-critical systems.
Related Terms
- Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)
- Systems Engineering
- Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
- Technology Readiness Assessment (TRA)
More Products Terms
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