Commercial off-the-shelf: Difference between revisions
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'''Commercial, off-the-shelf''' ('''COTS''') is a term for [[Computer software|software]] or [[hardware]], generally technology or computer products, that are ready-made and available for sale, lease, or license to the general public. They are often used as alternatives to in-house developments or one-off [[Government off-the-shelf|government-funded developments]]. The use of COTS is being mandated across many government and business programs, as they may offer significant savings in procurement and maintenance. However, since COTS software specifications are written by external sources, government agencies are sometimes wary of these products because they fear that future changes to the product will not be under their control. |
'''Commercial, off-the-shelf''' ('''COTS''') is a term for [[Computer software|software]] or [[hardware]], generally technology or computer products, that are ready-made and available for sale, lease, or license to the general public. They are often used as alternatives to in-house developments or one-off [[Government off-the-shelf|government-funded developments]]. The use of COTS is being mandated across many government and business programs, as they may offer significant savings in procurement and maintenance. However, since COTS software specifications are written by external sources, government agencies are sometimes wary of these products because they fear that future changes to the product will not be under their control. |
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COTS and COTS-based purchasing by the U.S. Department of Defense has been identified as a way to reduce the cost and risk associated with procurement of advanced systems. A number of prominent programs—the VH-71 Presidential Helicopter, the P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and the experimental FSF-1 Sea Fighter—have been developed from commercial roots with varying success. A February 2009 Defense Science Board (DSB) report examines a number of these cases in great detail.<ref>[http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/2009-02-ICS.pdf Defense Science Board Task Force on Integrating Commerical Systems into the DOD, Effectively and Efficiently - Buying Commerical: Gaining the Cost/Schedule Benefits for Defense Systems]<ref/> |
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Note that most existing [[open source software]] is COTS, as it is licensed to the public. Some claim that fact invalidates the loss-of-control argument since the source code is available. The other school of thought insists on a broader meaning of the loss-of-control argument, equating it with loss-of-functional-control where control is not defined as "access to code", but as not having a "realistic ability to manipulate the code". |
Note that most existing [[open source software]] is COTS, as it is licensed to the public. Some claim that fact invalidates the loss-of-control argument since the source code is available. The other school of thought insists on a broader meaning of the loss-of-control argument, equating it with loss-of-functional-control where control is not defined as "access to code", but as not having a "realistic ability to manipulate the code". |
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Revision as of 14:05, 25 March 2009
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (July 2008) |
Commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) is a term for software or hardware, generally technology or computer products, that are ready-made and available for sale, lease, or license to the general public. They are often used as alternatives to in-house developments or one-off government-funded developments. The use of COTS is being mandated across many government and business programs, as they may offer significant savings in procurement and maintenance. However, since COTS software specifications are written by external sources, government agencies are sometimes wary of these products because they fear that future changes to the product will not be under their control.
COTS and COTS-based purchasing by the U.S. Department of Defense has been identified as a way to reduce the cost and risk associated with procurement of advanced systems. A number of prominent programs—the VH-71 Presidential Helicopter, the P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and the experimental FSF-1 Sea Fighter—have been developed from commercial roots with varying success. A February 2009 Defense Science Board (DSB) report examines a number of these cases in great detail.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).
Several groups have been formed to encourage the development of COTS systems for various purposes and promote their adoption. The Mountain View Alliance was one such group but now appears defunct.