CMMI® (Capability Maturity Model® Integration) models are collections of best practices that help organizations improve their processes. The first CMMI model was developed by a product team from industry, government, and the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) for the application of process improvement in the development of products and services covering the entire product lifecycle from conceptualization through maintenance and disposal. Following the success of CMMI models for development organizations, the need was identified for a CMMI model addressing the acquisition environment.

General Motors, in collaboration with the SEI and with approval of the CMMI Sponsors and Steering Group, developed the initial draft of the Acquisition constellation as the special report, Adapting CMMI for Acquisition Organizations: A Preliminary Report[Dodson 2006] .[1] CMMI for Acquisition, Version 1.2 (CMMI-ACQ, V1.2) reflects the refinement of this initial draft. TheCMMI-ACQ development team, consisting of members from government, industry, and the SEI, gathered input from those who piloted and reviewed the preliminary report and created CMMI-ACQ, V1.2. This model is included in the CMMI Product Suite.