DoD M&S VV&A Recommended Practices Guide (RPG)
Source: DoD VV&A RPG web edition (US Government work, public domain) | Chapters: 13
When to use
Reach for this pack when planning or reviewing Verification, Validation, and Accreditation (VV&A) for defense modeling and simulation — assigning role responsibilities, scoping V&V to intended use, setting fidelity/referent expectations, validating results or data, or framing accreditation risk and residual uncertainty for decision authorities.
Prerequisites: none — plain Markdown; no MCP server, API key, or licence tier needed at runtime.
How to Use This Skill
- Without arguments — load the core frameworks below.
- With a topic — ask about accreditation, intended use, referent, fidelity, data V&V, residual risk, or a named role.
- With a chapter — ask for
ch01throughch13.
Supporting files: glossary.md, patterns.md, cheatsheet.md.
Core Frameworks & Mental Models
VV&A triad
| Element | Question | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Verification | Did we build the M&S right? | Evidence the implementation matches the conceptual model / specs |
| Validation | Did we build the right M&S? | Evidence of adequate accuracy vs the referent for intended use |
| Accreditation | Is it acceptable for this use? | Official determination by the Accreditation Authority |
Intended use first
All V&V scope, fidelity, data pedigree, and accreditation criteria flow from a clear intended use statement. Vague use → unscoped V&V and non-defensible accreditation.
Role set (new development)
User · Developer · M&S Program Manager · V&V Agent · Accreditation Agent — each owns distinct products and acceptance points; collapsing roles without independence controls weakens credibility.
Referent and fidelity
Validation compares M&S behavior to a referent (reality, data, higher-fidelity model, or SME consensus) at the fidelity needed for the decision — not maximum fidelity everywhere.
Risk couples to accreditation
Accepting incorrect M&S results (Type II) usually dominates. Residual risk after V&V must be explicit in the accreditation recommendation.
Pack routing
- nasa-ms-7009 — NASA models & simulations standard/handbook depth.
- dote-te-guidebook / dod-te-guidebook — enterprise T&E; use when M&S supports DT/OT evidence.
- This pack — DoD VV&A RPG role practices, validation fundamentals, data V&V, risk, T&E/V&V checklist, referent development, conceptual-model validation.
Chapter Index
| # | Section | Key content |
|---|---|---|
| ch01 | Key Concepts & VV&A Frame | RPG purpose, spectrum of M&S, process overview |
| ch02 | User Role | Needs, intended use, acceptance criteria, SME input |
| ch03 | Developer Role | Design/build evidence, configuration, developer testing |
| ch04 | M&S PM Role | Planning, resources, integration of VV&A into development |
| ch05 | V&V Agent Role | V&V planning, independence, techniques, reporting |
| ch06 | Accreditation Agent Role | Accreditation package, recommendation, authority support |
| ch07 | Fidelity | Fidelity dimensions, fitness for intended use |
| ch08 | Validation Fundamentals | Referent, comparison methods, credibility |
| ch09 | Data V&V | Data verification/validation, pedigree, uncertainty |
| ch10 | Risk & VV&A | Development vs operational risk, Type I/II, mitigation |
| ch11 | T&E / V&V Checklist | Integration cases, criticality bins, V&V vs DT/OT partitions |
| ch12 | Developing the Referent | Validation-referent identify/select/specify/approve |
| ch13 | Conceptual Model | Context/concept/elements; conceptual-model V&V |
Topic Index
| Topic | Chapters |
|---|---|
| Accreditation / authority decision | ch01, ch06, ch10 |
| Intended use & requirements | ch01, ch02, ch04 |
| Verification practices | ch03, ch05 |
| Validation / referent / face validation | ch07, ch08, ch12, ch13 |
| Data verification & validation | ch09 |
| Fidelity selection | ch07, ch08, ch12 |
| Risk, residual risk, Type I/II | ch10, ch06 |
| Role responsibilities (RACI-like) | ch02–ch06 |
| Independence of V&V | ch05, ch06 |
| Test & evaluation interface | ch01, ch05, ch10, ch11 |
| T&E / V&V checklist | ch11 |
| Conceptual model (simulation / federation) | ch13, ch03, ch08 |
| Decision analysis / evidence for decisions | ch06, ch08, ch10 |
| SME use | ch02, ch05, ch08, ch12 |
Supporting Files
- glossary.md — VV&A terms used across chapters
- patterns.md — recurring practice patterns
- cheatsheet.md — quick decision rules
Scope & Limits
- Synthesized from selected new-development role guides plus fidelity, validation, data V&V, risk, T&E/V&V checklist, developing-the-referent, and conceptual-model special topics of the DoD VV&A RPG web edition (role set retrieved 2026-08-16; leftover chapters retrieved 2026-08-17). Not a substitute for DoDI 5000.61, Service regs, or program accreditation authority direction.
- Legacy-simulation role guides and the remaining ~14 special topics were not packaged (selection). The Use Case Overview is HTML-only on the live index and was not ingested.
- Does not reproduce long source passages; use official publications for citation in contracts or formal accreditation records.
