3.2.2  Assessment of Risks

Program managers should not rely solely on their own personal skills and experience and those of the program office team and staff experts to identify, quantify, and develop plans to manage risk.  They should include the users and maintainers--the experts on the requirement.  Industry should be included in the risk identification and assessment process, since they will frequently point out risks that might not occur to the Government experts.  Industry can provide useful insight when assessing the relative criticality and manageability of the various risks.  Potential offerors are often valuable contributors.  Although it is not necessary to include them at the initial risk assessment meetings, it is important to include industry in the risk identification process at some point during RFP preparation.  Offerors must also be challenged to identify risk areas and to propose abatement plans that lessen these risks to acceptable levels.  Emphasis must be placed on the offerors' demonstrated ability to identify and manage cost, schedule, and technical risks.