4. The OBS is solely about the service products, deliverables, or outputs (hereafter referred to as "outputs") required by the Authority. The OBS is a statement of 'what' is required by the user; the outputs are what is consumed by the user.
5. The OBS is not a specification of 'how' the user's needs should or could be met; nor is it a description of the equipment, assets, infrastructure, facilities and other resources (hereafter referred to as "inputs") that the Contractor will need to provide in order to deliver the output. The OBS should not envisage the solution to the user's need nor should it contemplate the inputs that might constitute the best solution.
6. The OBS should be entirely focused on the use to which the equipment, assets, infrastructure, and other resources will be put. For example:
• the provision of a flight simulator does not constitute an output; the output is the provision of flight simulator sorties to train and practice flight and emergency procedures in a safe environment in order that the user can achieve the outcome of qualified and current aircrew;
• the provision of a single-living accommodation block is not an output; the output is the provision of accommodation for service personnel to sleep, keep their personal belongings, work/revise, watch TV and surf the Internet in order that the user can achieve the outcome of good morale and improved recruitment and retention;
7. The OBS must also set out the functionality or performance characteristics required for each output. For example:
• the flight simulator must replicate the flight controls and flying characteristics of the aircraft and deliver flight simulator sorties that practice/teach all aircraft flying manoeuvres and emergencies as detailed in Aircraft Publication (x) and Course Specification (y);
• the accommodation must include a single bed, a wardrobe, chest of drawers, bed-side cabinet, an armchair, a desk and office chair, an Internet connection (2mbs), TV aerial point, telephone and telephone connection e.t.c. in a floor area of not less that 10m2.
8. The Output Specification should also identify, at the very highest level the volume of use for each output. For example:
• 2,500 simulator sorties per annum, 48 hours per week and 9 hours per working day between the hours of 0800 hrs to 1800 hrs.
• single living accommodation for 100 people per day (1100 hrs to 1100 hrs the following day) for 365 days per annum.
9. The OBS will also have to set out the constraints within which bidders will have to devise their solution, and the eventual contractor will have to comply during the operation of the service. These constraints must be kept to an absolute minimum and should not act as a hindrance to innovation or be a source of unnecessary cost. This is particularly important if Defence Standards or Military Specifications would normally, in an 'input-based specification', be applicable. Such Defence Standards or Military Specifications should not be used if there are equivalent civil standards, or the purpose of the Defence Standards or Military Specifications is to ensure the quality of the input.