The CMMI-ACQ, V1.2 model is a collection of best practices that is generated from the CMMI V1.2 Architecture and Framework. This collection includes acquisition best practices from government and industry. CMMI-ACQ is based on the CMMI Model Foundation or CMF (i.e ., model components common to all CMMI models and constellations), the CMMI Acquisition Module [Bernard 2005], and the Software AcquisitionCapability Maturity Model (SA-CMM) [SEI 2002]. CMMI-ACQ also incorporates work by several acquisition organizations to adapt the Development constellation for use in an acquisition organization.

The CMMI-ACQ model provides guidance for the application of CMMI best practices by the acquirer. Best practices in the model focus on activities for initiating and managing the acquisition of products and services that meet the needs of the customer. Although suppliers may provide artifacts useful to the processes addressed in CMMI-ACQ, the focus of the model is on the processes of the acquirer. CMMI-ACQ integrates bodies of knowledge that are essential for an acquirer.

By integrating these bodies of knowledge, CMMI-ACQ provides a comprehensive set of best practices for acquiring products and services. CMMI for Development (CMMI-DEV) may be treated as a reference for supplier-executed activities for systems engineering, software development, and hardware design work in an acquisition initiative [SEI 2006a]. In those cases where the acquirer also has a role as a product or service developer (e.g., taking responsibility for the first few layers of product development and integration), CMMI-DEV (in particular the Requirements Development, Technical Solution, and Product Integration process areas) should also be used to improve the acquirer's product or service development processes.