AA
A very good post.
MoD's policy of the day was to obtain access to source code (especially that of Safety Critical Software) so that it could be independently validated and verified. Policy dictated this V&V was carried out by Boscombe Down.
When bidding for the job, or replying to an invitation to tender, the contractor MUST make a written statement he will adhere to this policy, which was promulgated in the form of a joint MoD/Industry agreement. Clearly, MoD must then reflect this policy in the contracts.
The Project Manager MUST demonstrate the above arrangements are in place before approval is sought to proceed with Development.
In short, the reason why V&V had not been completed on 2nd June 1994 (in fact, abandoned while Boscombe awaited a representative build standard to work on) was because these mandated regulations had not been implemented. The subsequent dissembling as MoD sought to place blame on Boscombe was disgraceful. Boscombe merely attempted to follow the regulations but were undone by MoD's refusal to and the haste to release an immature design to service.