Total Package Procurement

[2] TPP involves combining as a single package for the procurement a number of related requirements including the design, development, production and support of major systems.

[3] This concept was a "pendulum reaction" to the prior cost reimbursement policies in major weapon systems.

[4] Total Package Procurement was not successful and was abandoned shortly after MacNamara left office.

[5][6] TPP is a method of procuring at the outset of the acquisition phase under a single contract containing price, performance and schedule commitments, the maximum practical amount of design, development, production and support needed to introduce and sustain a system or component in the inventory.

[5] Upon taking office as Deputy Secretary of Defense in 1970, David Packard issued a May 28, 1970 memorandum that contained a number of major reforms designed to address "the real mess we have on our hands."