AEDA

Acquisition Executive Decision Authority refers to the level of authority required to approve major acquisition decisions and milestone reviews. AEDA determines which official—such as the Defense Acquisition Executive, Component Acquisition Executive, or Program Executive Officer—has decision authority for specific programs.

AEDA levels correspond to program size, complexity, and ACAT designation. Higher AEDA levels involve more senior officials and more rigorous review processes. Understanding AEDA helps contractors anticipate decision timelines and the level of scrutiny their programs will receive during milestone reviews and source selections.