Who participates in the negotiation of the APB?

• A. The Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) alone.
• B. The Program Manager and his/her acquisition chain of command only.
• C. The Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) and the Program Manager and his or her acquisition chain of command.
• D. The Chief Financial Officer.

Answer: (C)

APB negotiation centers on setting the agreed cost, schedule, and performance targets for a program, so it requires the people who approve baselines and those who must deliver them. The Milestone Decision Authority provides the approval authority for baselines, while the Program Manager and the acquisition chain of command bring the practical input, feasibility, and resources needed to commit to those targets. Together, they ensure the baseline is realistic and aligned with program goals. The Chief Financial Officer is not part of this negotiation, since funding decisions sit outside the baseline negotiation itself, even though finances influence the targets.