DoD Acquistion Category (ACAT)

​Acquisition Categories are assigned based on program funding and who is assigned decision making authority. For details, see https://www.dau.mil/acquipedia/Pages/ArticleDetails.aspx?aid=a896cb8a-92ad-41f1-b85a-dd1cb4abdc82.

• ACAT I
  • ACAT ID
  • ACAT IC
  • ACAT IA
    • ACAT IAM
    • ACAT IAC
• ACAT II
• ACAT III
• ACAT IV (Navy and Marine Corps only)

Per the Army's Assess Only process, systems which fall into the CAT I category are deemed Major Systems and thus require a full RMF implementation (Assess & Authorize).
Reference(s):

• DoDI 8580.1, "Information Assurance (IA) in the Defense Acquisition System," 9 July, 2004​