Milestone Decision Authority(MDA)
The designated individual with authority to approve a program's advancement past key acquisition milestones, including Milestones A, B, and C.
Overview
The Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) is the senior official — typically a Service Acquisition Executive, Defense Agency Director, or their delegate — who has the authority to approve or withhold approval for a major acquisition program to proceed through its life cycle. The MDA reviews program status at Key Decision Points and makes go/no-go decisions.
Why It Matters in GovCon
The MDA's decisions directly affect program schedule, funding, and contract flow. Contractors must understand who holds MDA authority for their program, what evidence is required at each milestone, and how to support the program office in preparing for MDA reviews. Delays or restructuring at milestones can impact contract modifications and future competitions.
Key Details
- Delegation: MDA authority can be delegated but is typically held at senior levels.
- Milestones A, B, C: Gate reviews for technology development, engineering development, and production.
- Conditional Approval: MDAs may approve with specific conditions (e.g., reduce scope, address risk).
- Congressional Interface: For MDAPs, MDA decisions may trigger congressional notifications.
Related Terms
- Key Decision Point (KDP)
- Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP)
- Acquisition Program Baseline (APB)
- Defense Acquisition System
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