Dear Partners, Lead Appraisers, Team Leaders, and Instructors:

Below is an important announcement regarding the changes to the policies on SCAMPI A Appraisals in CMMI Version 1.2 and the sunset period for V1.1.  Should you have any questions after reading the entire announcement, please reply to this email.

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Changes to Policies on SCAMPI A Appraisals in CMMI Version 1.2 and the Sunset Period for V1.1

With the release of version 1.2 of the CMMI Product Suite, significant changes are being made to policies governing the conduct and reporting of SCAMPI Class A appraisals. The motivation for these changes is the recognized need to improve the quality and consistency of SCAMPI appraisal results and to make those appraisal results more useful to customers of organizations adopting CMMI. The following points outline the policy changes:

- With the release of v1.2, there is a three-year maximum period of validity for SCAMPI Class A appraisals. Three years after the appraisal end date, the appraisal results will expire and become invalid based on age; however, an appraisal can become invalid for other reasons. Version 1.1 SCAMPI Class A appraisals will expire August 31, 2007 or three years after their appraisal end date, whichever is later.

- All Class A SCAMPI v1.2 appraisals that will become public record (e.g., announced in a press release or on an organization’s Web site, or posted on a published SCAMPI appraisals results Web page) or used in a proposal in response to U.S. Department of Defense requirements must be led by an SEI-authorized SCAMPI Lead Appraiser from an external, third-party organization.

- For high maturity v1.2 appraisals, i.e., capability or maturity levels 4 and 5, an SEI-certified High Maturity Lead Appraiser must lead the appraisal. The SEI will begin certifying lead appraisers who can conduct high maturity appraisals beginning in October 2006. More information will be provided to lead appraisers and SEI Partners early in October 2006.

- The Appraisal Disclosure Statement (ADS) has been expanded significantly to provide more insight into an appraisal. Any SCAMPI appraisal, whether v1.1 or v1.2, with its on-site period beginning on or after November 1, 2006, is required to use the v1.2 ADS. If the appraisal is posted on a published SCAMPI appraisals results Web page, all the information in the ADS will be displayed except for sensitive or proprietary projects; however, for sensitive or proprietary projects, the organization must provide a point of contact who can supply additional information.

- For US Defense business organizations, any SCAMPI Class A v1.2 appraisal that will become public record or used in a proposal in response to U.S. Department of Defense requirements must be posted on a .mil Web site similar to the SEI’s PARS site. The SEI will post this appraisal information to the .mil site. Although all organizations do not have to post to that site, they are encouraged to do so. More information about the .mil Web site will be available at a later date.

- The December 31, 2007 sunset date for v1.1 of the CMMI Product Suite has been accelerated to August 31, 2007. For more information about other aspects of the sunsetting plan, see Sunsetting Version 1.1 of the CMMI^® Product Suite.