; and (E) ensure that acquisition program managers, on an ongoing basis, monitor cost, schedule, and performance against established baselines and use tools to assess risks to an acquisition program at all phases of the life cycle of such program to avoid and mitigate acquisition program baseline breaches. (3) The term acquisition decision event , with respect to an acquisition program, means a predetermined point within the acquisition lifecycle at which the acquisition decision authority determines whether such acquisition program shall proceed to the next acquisition phase. (4) The term acquisition decision memorandum , with respect to an acquisition, means the official documented record of decisions, including the rationale for the decisions and any assigned actions for such acquisition, as determined by the person exercising acquisition decision authority for such acquisition. (5) The term acquisition program means the process by which the Department acquires, with any appropriated amounts or fee funding, by contract for purchase or lease, property or services (including construction) that support the missions and goals of the Department. (6) The term acquisition program baseline , with respect to an acquisition program, means a summary of the cost, schedule, and performance parameters, expressed in standard, measurable, quantitative terms, which must be met in order to accomplish the goals of such program. (7) The term best practices , with respect to acquisition, means a knowledge-based approach to capability development that includes the following: (A) Identifying and validating needs. (B) Assessing alternatives to select the most appropriate solution. (C) Clearly establishing well-defined requirements. (D) Developing realistic cost estimates and schedules that account for the entire life cycle of an acquisition. (E) Securing stable funding that matches resources to requirements before initiating development. (F) Demonstrating technology, design, and manufacturing maturity before initiating production.