C-17 Glossary

GLOSSARY
Applied Research: Systematic study to gain knowledge or understanding necessary to determine the
means by which a recognized and specific need may be met. This activity includes work leading to the
production of useful materials, devices and systems or methods, including design development and
improvement of prototypes and new processes.
Authorizing Official: Executive officer of the organization or business unit or other individual who has the
authority to execute this survey on behalf of the organization.
Basic Research: Systematic, scientific study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the
fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts.
Capability: The ability to perform defined design and/or manufacturing within an organization's own
facilities and with its own employees with little or no outsourcing.
Capital Expenditures: Investments made by an organization in buildings, equipment, property, and
systems where the expense is depreciated. This does not include expenditures for consumable
materials, other operating expenses and salaries associated with normal business operations.
Commercially Sensitive Information (CSI): Privileged or proprietary information which, if compromised
through alteration, corruption, loss, misuse, or unauthorized disclosure, could cause serious harm to the
organization owning it. This includes customer/client information, financial information and records,
human resources information, intellectual property information, internal communications, manufacturing
and production line information, patent and trademark information, research and development
information, regulatory/compliance information, and supplier/supply chain information.
Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code: Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code
identifies companies doing or seeking to do business with the U.S. Federal Government. The code is
used to support mechanized government systems and provides a standardized method of identifying a
given facility at a specific location. Find CAGE codes at https://cage.dla.mil/search/.
Commodity Jurisdiction (CJ): A formal determination of whether an item or service is subject to the
export licensing authority of the Department of Commerce or the Department of State, Directorate of
Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is the licensing agency for
exports subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), while DDTC licenses defense articles
and services covered by the U.S. Munitions List (USML), subject to the International Traffic in Arms
Regulations (ITAR). The commodity jurisdiction procedure is used if doubt exists as to whether an article
is covered by the U.S. Munitions List. It may also be used for consideration of a re-designation of an
article or service currently covered by the U.S. Munitions List. A CJ determination will only identify the
proper licensing authority for an item, and is not a license or approval to export. CJ requests are
processed by DDTC under procedures established by that office (see 22CFR 120.3 and 120.4). For
specific filing procedures, contact DDTC at (202) 663-1282 or access further information clicking on the
link below: http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/commodity_jurisdiction/index.html
Counterfeit: For the purpose of this survey, a counterfeit is a part, material, or other product that is not
genuine because it 1) is an unauthorized copy; 2) does not conform to original design, model, and/or
performance standards; 3) is not produced by the original manufacturer or is produced by unauthorized
contractors; 4) is off-specification, defective, or used product sold as "new" or working; or 5) has incorrect
or false markings and/or documentation.
Customer: An entity to which an organization directly delivers the product or service that the facility
produces. A customer may be another organization or another facility owned by the same parent

organization. The customer may be the end user for the item but often will be an intermediate link in the
supply chain, adding additional value before transferring the item to yet another customer.
Cybersecurity: The body of technologies, processes, and practices designed to protect networks,
computers, programs, and data from attack, damage, or unauthorized access.
Design: Activity required to implement a product concept in support of the manufacture of the product at
a manufacturing facility.
Development: The design, development, simulation, or experimental testing of prototype or experimental
hardware or systems, to validate technological feasibility or concept of operation, to reduce technological
risk, or to provide test systems prior to production approval.
Digital Signal Processing: Digital circuits designed to address a broad class of problems in signal
reception and analysis that have traditionally been solved using analog components. DSP is used to
enhance, analyze, filter, modulate or otherwise manipulate standard analog functions such as images,
sounds, radar pulses, and other such signals by analyzing and transforming wave-forms (e.g.,
transmitting data over phone lines via modem).
Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS): A nine-digit numbering system that uniquely identifies an
individual business. Find DUNS numbers at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM): A type of memory component. These active memory cells
are "Dynamic" and lose their ability to retain information when power to the system is lost. Information
stored in the memory cells is accessed randomly. Memory is a key component of most electronic
products.
Facility: A building or the minimum complex of buildings or parts of buildings in which a company
operates to serve a particular function, producing revenue, and incurring costs for the company. A facility
may produce an item of tangible or intangible property or may perform a service. It may encompass a
floor or group of floors within a building, a single building, or a group of buildings or structures. Often, a
facility is a group of related locations at which company employees work, together constituting a profitand-loss center for the company, and it may be identified by a unique DUNS number.
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Employees: Employees who work for 40 hours in a normal work week.
Convert part-time employees into "full time equivalents" by taking their work hours as a fraction of 40
hours.
Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone): The HUBZone program falls under the auspices
of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The program encourages economic development in historically
underutilized business zones - "HUBZones" - through the establishment of preferences. SBA's HUBZone
program promotes economic development and employment growth in distressed areas by providing
access to more federal contracting opportunities.
Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS): The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) is the statute used to
determine tariff classifications for goods imported in the United States. It is maintained and published by
the United States International Trade Commission. The HTS is based on the International Harmonized
System.
Manufacturing: the production of merchandise for use or sale using labor and machines, tools, chemical
and biological processing, or formulation. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft
to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are
transformed into finished goods on a large scale.
Memory: The working space used by the computer to hold the program that is currently running, along
with the data it needs to run programs and process data. The main memory is built from random access

memory (RAM) chips. The amount of memory available determines the size of programs that can be run,
and whether more than one program can run at a time. Main memory is temporary and is lost when the
computer is turned off. It is distinguished from more permanent internal read only memory (ROM) which
contains the computer's essential programs, and data storage memory devices such as hard drives and
compact disks.
Non-Affiliated Company: For the purposes of this assessment, a company that is not owned or operated
by a survey respondent.
Non-U.S. Company: For the purposes of this survey, a non-U.S. company is an organization (publicly
traded, privately held, for profit, not-for-profit, or non-profit) that is domiciled at a location outside of the
United States. Companies that are a business unit of a parent organization with legal domicile located
outside of the United States are non-U.S. companies.
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS) codes identify the category of product(s) or service(s) provided by an organization. Find
NAICS codes at http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html
Organization: A company, firm, laboratory, or other entity that owns or controls one or more U.S.
establishment(s) capable of designing and/or manufacturing products. A company may be an individual
proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, or corporation (including any subsidiary corporation in which
more than 50 percent of the outstanding voting stock is owned by a business trust, cooperative, trustee(s)
in bankruptcy, or receiver(s) under decree of any court owning or controlling one or more establishment.
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM): A manufacturer who places his brand on a product and sells
it. The manufacturer may or may not have designed or manufactured the product him/herself.
Outsourcing: The assignment of specific design or manufacturing functions to third-party design or
manufacturing enterprises not owned by your organization.
Product/Process Development: Conceptualization and development of a product prior to the production
of the product for customers.
Product Service Codes (PSC): Also referred to as federal supply codes, product service codes are used
by the United States government to describe the products, services, and research and development
purchased by the government. In many cases, a given contract/task order/purchase order will include
more than one product and/or service. In such cases, the Product or Service Code data element code
should be selected based on the predominant product or service that is being purchased.
Program Technology Transfer Activity: The transfer of product and process knowledge between
development and manufacturing, and within or between manufacturing sites to achieve product
realization. This knowledge forms the basis for the manufacturing process, control strategy, process
validation approach and ongoing continual improvement.
RAM (Random Access Memory): Memory available on a computer for storing data and programs
currently being processed. It is automatically erased when the power is turned off. Information in the RAM
that needs to be stored for future use must be saved onto a disk or a tape.
Research and Development: Basic and applied research in the engineering sciences, as well as design
and development of prototype products and processes.
Service: An intangible product (contrasted to a good, which is a tangible product). Services typically
cannot be stored or transported, are instantly perishable, and come into existence at the time they are
bought and consumed.

Single Source: An organization that is designated as the only accepted source for the supply of parts,
components, materials, or services, even though other sources with equivalent technical know-how and
production capability may exist.
Small Business Enterprise: The Small Business Administration has established two widely used size
standards to define a small business – up to 500 employees for most manufacturing and mining
industries and up to $7.5 million in average annual receipts for many nonmanufacturing industries.
However, there are a number of exceptions. For the size standard applicable to any North American
Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, see the SBA’s Small Business Size Regulations, 13 CFR
§121.201, or the Table of Small Business Size Standards.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Contracts: The Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in
Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization.
Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their
technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. By including
qualified small businesses in the nation's R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated and the United
States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs. Find more
information about SBIR here: https://www.sbir.gov/about/about-sbir
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Contracts: Small Business Technology Transfer
expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation research and development (R&D) arena. Central
to the program is expansion of the public/private sector partnership to include the joint venture
opportunities for small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. The unique feature of the STTR
program is the requirement for the small business to formally collaborate with a research institution in
Phase I and Phase II. STTR's most important role is to bridge the gap between performance of basic
science and commercialization of resulting innovations. Find more information about STTR here:
https://www.sbir.gov/about/about-sttr#three
Sole Source: An organization that is the only source for the supply of parts, components, materials, or
services. No alternative U.S. or non-U.S. based suppliers exist other than the current supplier.
Supplier: The entity from which an organization obtains inputs, whether the inputs be goods or services.
For the purposes of the C-17 Needs Assessment, your organization is the supplier to the C-17 program.
Direct/Tier I Supplier: For the purposes of the C-17 Needs Assessment, a Tier I supplier is a company
that supplies directly to the C-17 program.
Indirect/Tier II Supplier: For the purposes of the C-17 Needs Assessment, a Tier II supplier is a
company that supplies directly to a Tier I supplier. Tier II suppliers support the C-17 program indirectly.
Trust: The confidence in one's ability to secure national security systems by assessing the integrity of the
people and processes used to design, generate, manufacture, and distribute national security critical
components.
Trusted Access Program: The Trusted Access Program was established to provide guaranteed access
for the DoD and the Intelligence Community to trusted microelectronics technologies for their critical
system needs now and into the future. An organization that operates a facility adhering to the standards
of this program is referred to as "Trusted".
United States: The term “United States” includes the fifty states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia,
the island of Guam, Trust Territories, and the Virgin Islands.
Vendor: An entity from which your organization obtains inputs. A vendor may be another firm with which
you have a contractual relationship, or it may be another facility owned by the same parent organization.
The inputs may be goods or services.