ACAT stands for what?

• A. Acquisition Categories
• B. Acquisition Classifications and Tracking
• C. Acquisition Concepts and Tactics
• D. Acquisition Control and Test

Answer: (A)

ACAT is about categorizing programs for how they are managed and overseen in defense acquisitions. The phrase stands for Acquisition Categories, the system used to determine the level of governance, reviews, and decision authority a program requires. Programs are placed into categories based on factors like cost, schedule, and technical risk, with higher categories signaling major programs that need more stringent oversight and formal milestone decisions, while lower categories involve smaller, less risky efforts with streamlined processes. That relationship between a program’s significance and the oversight it receives is the core idea, which is why Acquisition Categories is the best framing for what ACAT stands for.