Contents

• Introduction
• Acquisition Reform in the FY2016-FY2018 NDAAs
• Faster and More Efficient Acquisitions
• Other Transaction Authority
• Reports, Advisory Panels, and Pilot Programs
• Types of Contracts, Contract Audits, and Source Selection Criteria
• Major Defense Acquisition Programs
• Commercial Items
• Data Rights and Intellectual Property
• Service Contracting
• Acquisition Workforce
• The Changing Roles of the Chiefs and OSD in Acquisition
• Creation of USD (AT&L)
• Shifting Authority Back to the Chiefs and the Services
• The FY2016 NDAA
• The FY2017 NDAA and the Split of USD (AT&L) Responsibilities
• The FY2018 NDAA

Summary

Congress has long been interested in defense acquisition and generally exercises its legislative powers to affect defense acquisitions through Title VIII of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), entitled Acquisition Policy, Acquisition Management, and Related Matters. Congress has been particularly active in legislating acquisition reform over the last three years. For FY2016-FY2018, NDAA titles specifically related to acquisition contained an average of 82  provisions (247 in total), compared to an average of 47 such provisions (466 in total) in the NDAAs for the preceding 10 fiscal years.

This report provides a brief overview of selected acquisition-related provisions found in the NDAAs for FY2016 (P.L. 114-92), FY2017 (P.L. 114-328), and FY2018 (P.L. 115-91), including the following topics that were a focus of the legislation:

• Major Defense Acquisition Programs,
• the acquisition workforce,
• commercial items,
• Other Transaction Authority, and
• contract types.

This report also discusses one of the more controversial and extensive legislative changes made in recent years affecting acquisition: the breakup of the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, as well as the shift of authority from that office to the military departments.

---

Introduction

The Department of Defense (DOD) relies extensively on contractors to equip and support the U.S. military in peacetime and during military operations. Contractors design, develop, and build advanced weapon and business systems, construct military bases around the world, and provide services such as intelligence analysis, logistics, and base support.

Congress has long been frustrated with perceived cost overruns, waste, mismanagement, and fraud in defense acquisitions, and has spent significant effort attempting to reform and improve the process. Since the 1970s, there have been numerous efforts to comprehensively reform defense acquisition.¹ Congress generally sets acquisition policy for the DOD through the annual National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs) as well as through stand-alone legislation, such as the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act of 1990,² Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994,³ Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996,⁴ and Weapon System Acquisition Reform Act of 2009.⁵

This report provides a brief overview of selected acquisition-related provisions found in the NDAAs for FY2016 (P.L. 114-92), FY2017 (P.L. 114-328), and FY2018 (P.L. 115-91). This report also has a section on some of the more controversial and extensive changes in recent years:

• the changes to the role of the Chiefs of the Military Services and the Commandant of the Marine Corps (collectively referred to as the Service Chiefs) in the acquisition process,
• the breakup of the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD ([AT&L)]), and
• the shift of authority from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) to the military departments.

Acquisition Reform in the FY2016-FY2018 NDAAs

In recent years, Congress has generally exercised its legislative powers to affect defense acquisitions through Title VIII of the NDAA, entitled Acquisition Policy, Acquisition Management, and Related Matters. In some years, the NDAA also contains titles specifically dedicated to aspects of acquisition, such as Title XVII of the FY2018 NDAA, entitled Small Business Procurement and Industrial Base Matters.⁶

Congress has been particularly active in legislating acquisition reform over the last three years. For FY2016-FY2018, NDAA titles specifically related to acquisition reform contained an average of 82 provisions (247 in total), compared to an average of 47 such provisions (466 in total) in the NDAAs for the preceding 10 fiscal years (see Appendix A and Appendix B).⁷

Faster and More Efficient Acquisitions

The FY2016 NDAA sought to develop more timely and efficient ways for DOD and the Military Services to acquire goods and services. One provision expanded the use of rapid acquisition authority to support certain military operations.⁸ Another provision required DOD to develop guidance for rapidly acquiring middle tier programs (intended to be completed in two to five years), to include rapid prototyping and rapid fielding.⁹ Congress also required the development of streamlined alternative acquisition paths that maximize the use of flexibility allowed under the law to acquire critical national security capabilities.¹⁰

In addition to expanding existing flexibilities and trying to create new and quicker acquisition methods, Congress authorized the Secretary of Defense to, in certain circumstances, waive any provision of acquisition law or regulation if

(1) the acquisition of the capability is in the vital national security interest of the United States;

(2) the application of the law or regulation to be waived would impede the acquisition of the capability in a manner that would undermine the national security of the United States; and

(3) the underlying purpose of the law or regulation to be waived can be addressed in a different manner or at a different time.¹¹

In the FY2017 NDAA, Congress reflected its concern with defense technology innovation, dedicating a number of sections to promoting integration and collaboration of the national technology and industrial base,¹² and attempting to spur defense-related innovation among nontraditional defense and small businesses.¹³

Other Transaction Authority

Other transaction authority (OTA) allows DOD, using the authority found in 10 U.S.C. 2371, to enter into transactions with private organizations for basic, applied, and advanced research projects. OTA, in practice, is often defined in the negative: it is not a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement, and its advantages come mostly from exempting OTA transactions from certain procurement statutes and acquisition regulations.

The FY2016 NDAA expanded DOD's ability to use Other Transaction Authority for certain prototype programs, including making some authorities permanent. Subtitle G of Title VIII of the FY2018 NDAA—Provisions Relating to Other Transaction Authority and Prototyping—contains eight sections aimed at expanding and improving the use of OTA.¹⁴

Reports, Advisory Panels, and Pilot Programs

The FY2016 NDAA required numerous reports and chartered efforts to explore ways to improve defense acquisition. The most comprehensive such effort was the establishment of the Advisory Panel on Streamlining and Codifying Acquisition Regulations (knows as the 809 Panel after the section of the NDAA establishing the group). The 809 Panel was tasked with finding ways to streamline and improve the defense acquisition process. The independent panel has two years to develop recommendations for changes in the regulation and associated statute to achieve those ends, and must report the recommendations to the Secretary of Defense and to Congress.¹⁵

The FY2016 NDAA also required

• each Service Chief to submit a report on linking and streamlining the requirements, budget, and acquisition processes;¹⁶ and
• the Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff to review the requirement, budgeting, and acquisition processes, in part to determine the "advisability of providing a time-based or phased distinction between capabilities needed to be deployed urgently, within 2 years, within 5 years, and longer than 5 years."¹⁷

The FY2018 NDAA established a three-year pilot program requiring certain companies filing a Government Accountability Office (GAO) bid protest to pay DOD processing costs for the protest when GAO issues an opinion that denies all elements of the protest. The pilot program would begin two years from enactment of the bill.¹⁸

Types of Contracts, Contract Audits, and Source Selection Criteria

A micro-purchase is an acquisition of supplies or services using simplified acquisition procedures, the total amount of which does not exceed the micro-micro-purchase threshold.¹⁹ The FY2017 NDAA raised DOD's micro-purchase threshold from $3,000500 to $5,000.²⁰ The FY2018 NDAA raised the micro-purchase threshold for the rest of the federal government to $10,000, thus establishing a different threshold for DOD vis-à-vis other federal agencies.

A simplified acquisition is a streamlined method for making purchases of supplies or services. The simplified acquisition threshold delineates what types of purchases can use this streamlined method.²⁰ 21 The FY2018 NDAA also increased the simplified acquisition threshold from $100,000 to $250,000.

The FY2017 NDAA clarified Congress's desire to see DOD increase its use of

• 1. fixed price contracting, (requiring a regulation establishing a preference for such contracts,²¹22 and generally requiring fixed-price contracts for foreign military sales);²²23 and
• 2. performance-based contract payments.²³24

The FY2017 NDAA also restricted the use of lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) source selection criteria to certain circumstances, and specifically calls for avoiding using LPTA for IT and related services, personal protective equipment, and knowledge-based services.²⁴25 LPTA is a source selection process where the government determines that the lowest price is the determining factor for award as long as the bidder meets the technical requirements of the solicitation.²⁵26 LPTA is appropriate only when the government "expects" it can achieve best value from selecting the proposal that is technically acceptable and offers the lowest evaluated price.²⁶27 

The FY2018 NDAA required DOD to adhere to commercial standards for risk and materiality when auditing costs incurred under flexibly priced contracts and requires the use of qualified private auditors to ensure the auditing needs of DOD are met,²⁷28 and raising the threshold (as well as making other modifications) to required submissions of certified cost and pricing data.²⁸29

Major Defense Acquisition Programs

The FY2017 NDAA required major defense acquisition programs (MDAPs) to be designed and developed using "a modular open system architecture approach to enable incremental development and enhance competition, innovation, and interoperability."²⁹30 The open architecture requirements extend to major system interfaces and standards for use in major system platforms. The act also generally establishes the authority to conduct and establish funding for prototype projects when there is a high-priority warfighter need due to a capability gap, there is an opportunity to integrate new components into a major weapon system based on commercial technology, the technology is expected to be mature enough to prototype within three years, and there is an opportunity to reduce sustainment costs.³⁰31

In an effort to gain visibility into MDAPs and rein in cost growth, the FY2017 NDAA requires the Secretary of Defense to assign program cost and fielding targets to MDAPs before funds are obligated for development.³¹32 It also requires that after each milestone decision, the milestone decision authority provide Congress with an "acquisition scorecard" that includes estimated cost, schedule, and technology risk information.³²33

Reflecting congressional concern with the sustainment and total life-cycle costs of MDAPs, the FY2017 NDAA required a number of DOD actions, including initiating a review by an independent entity to determine the extent to which sustainment is considered in acquisition decisions,³³34 and conducting sustainment reviews of programs five years after initial operational capability.³⁴35 The act also repealed chapter 144a of Title 10, which created a separate category of acquisition for major automated information systems (§846).

The FY2018 NDAA also contained a number of provisions relating to MDAPs, including a provision excluding defense business systems and major automated information systems from the definition of an MDAP;³⁵36 and one prohibiting the use of an LPTA source selection process for development contracts. Other sections would add new requirements aimed at emphasizing reliability and maintainability in MDAPs,³⁶37 and focus on test and evaluation plans and data analysis.³⁷38

Commercial Items

In the FY2016 NDAA, Subtitle E, Provisions Relating to Commercial Items, required the establishment of a centralized office to oversee commercial item determinations and authorizes a contracting officer to use a prior DOD commercial item determination to serve as the basis for such determinations for subsequent purchases of the same item.³⁸39 The act requires that prices previously paid by the government be considered when establishing price reasonableness.³⁹40 The act also contained sections aimed at reinforcing the existing statutory preference for buying commercial.⁴⁰

41

Building on the FY2016 NDAA, the FY2017 NDAA included 10 provisions relating to commercial items, including requiring market research when determining price reasonableness, and encouraging and simplifying commercial acquisitions.⁴¹42 The FY2018 NDAA further continued the trend to encourage and expand commercial items authorities. The FY2018 NDAA contained five sections relating to commercial items, including a requirement that GSA contract with multiple commercial online marketplaces and permit agencies to purchase commercial products from these marketplaces.⁴²43 Other sections clarify the definition of commercial items and commercial item determinations.⁴³

44

Data Rights and Intellectual Property

Rights to technical data developed in relation to government contracts have been a long-standing subject of debate between contractors and the government. The FY2016 NDAA set up an advisory panel to submit recommendations on amending regulations governing technical data in MDAPs.⁴⁴45

The FY2017 NDAA made a number of amendments to technical data rights, including giving DOD more authority to negotiate for data rights, and, in the case of interfaces developed exclusively at private expense, to require negotiations to determine the appropriate compensation for the technical data.⁴⁵

46

The FY2018 NDAA required DOD to develop policy on the acquisition or licensing of intellectual property and establish a cadre of experts to assist in managing and acquiring intellectual property rights.⁴⁶

47

Service Contracting

The FY2017 NDAA limited the amount of funds allowable for staff augmentation contracts within OSD and the military department headquarters for FY2017 and FY2018.⁴⁷48 The FY2018 NDAA addressed contracts for services, including provisions aimed at improving data collection and analysis for contracts for services;⁴⁸49 creating standard guidelines for evaluating requirements for such contracts;⁴⁹50 and establishing a pilot program granting DOD authority to enter into up to five multiyear contracts for services, with each contract lasting for up to 15 years instead of the current limit of 5 years.⁵⁰

51

Acquisition Workforce

The FY2016-2018 NDAAs contained 17 provisions relating to the acquisition workforce. The FY2016 NDAA modified the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund (DAWDF),⁵¹52 required training on how to conduct market research,⁵²53 created a dual career track for acquisition and operational specialties,⁵³54 and clarified tenure requirements for program managers for MDAPs.⁵⁴55

The FY2017 NDAA expanded the use of DAWDF and made other adjustments to the fund⁵⁵56 and authorizes the position of senior military acquisition advisor, which is filled by presidential appointment, with the advice and consent of the Senate.⁵⁶57

The FY2018 NDAA required the implementation of a program manager development program,⁵⁷58 modifies the Secretary of Defense's authority to adjust DAWDF,⁵⁸59 and extends and expands the Acquisition Demonstration project pilot.⁵⁹

60

The Changing Roles of the Chiefs and OSD in Acquisition

Historically, the military services were responsible for virtually all aspects of acquisition and OSD played a limited role. In the early 1980s a number of major defense acquisition programs experienced dramatic cost overruns that increased the defense budget by billions of dollars but resulted in the production of the same number of, or in some cases fewer, weapons than originally planned. In 1985, President Ronald Reagan established the President's President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management, chaired by former Deputy Secretary of Defense David Packard.

In 1986, the commission issued a final report that contained far-reaching recommendations "intended to assist the Executive and Legislative Branches as well as industry in implementing a broad range of needed reforms."⁶⁰61 The commission's work, and the recommendations found in the final report, led to the ultimate establishment of the office of the USD (AT&L).

Creation of USD (AT&L)

One of the recommendations of the Packard Commission was to create the position of Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition) to "set overall policy for procurement and research and development (R&D), supervise the performance of the entire acquisition system, and establish policy for administrative oversight and auditing of defense contractors."⁶¹62

The report stated that the motivation for establishing this position was as follows:

Responsibility for acquisition policy has become fragmented. There is today no single senior official in the Office of the Secretary of Defense working full-time to provide overall supervision of the acquisition system.... In the absence of such a senior OSD official, policy responsibility has tended to devolve to the Services, where at times it has been exercised without the necessary coordination and uniformity. Worse still, authority for executing acquisition programs—and accountability for their results—has become vastly diluted.⁶²

63

Later that year, Congress established the position of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition⁶³64 (renamed the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology in the FY1994 NDAA⁶⁴65 and finally the Under Secretary of Defense [AT&L] in the FY2000 NDAA).⁶⁵66 The Goldwater-Nichols Act further consolidated centralized civilian control over acquisitions within OSD, as did other acts enacted in subsequent years. Even with these changes, the service Chiefs retained influence over acquisitions. As GAO stated in 2014 (prior to the FY2016 NDAA):

Existing policies and processes for planning and executing acquisition programs provide multiple opportunities for the service chiefs to be involved in managing acquisition programs and to help ensure programs meet cost, schedule, and performance targets. Whether the service chiefs are actively involved and choose to influence programs is not clear.⁶⁶

67

Shifting Authority Back to the Chiefs and the Services

In 2015, a number of analysts and officials, including former Deputy Secretary of Defense John Hamre (currently CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies), and then-Army Chief of Staff General Ray Odierno, called for reversing course and giving the services and the Chiefs more authority over acquisitions. John Hamre argued the following:

No one assumes that the service chiefs are not responsible for weapon systems; they play a central role in establishing military requirements and resourcing decisions. Moreover, every time a program gets in trouble, it is the service chief who is called up for a grilling before Congress.

Yet the service chief is not in the acquisition chain of command. We get in trouble in the Defense Department when authority and accountability are fractured. Giving the service chiefs responsibility for requirements and budgets but not acquisition makes no sense.⁶⁷68

Many other analysts took the opposite view, and the Obama Administration strongly objected to such changes, arguing that if enacted, they would reduce the Secretary of Defense's ability to guard against unwarranted cost optimism and prevent excessive risk-taking.⁶⁸69 The Senate initiated a number of provisions that enhanced the role of the Chiefs and the military services. Commenting on the provisions in the Senate version of the NDAA, the Statement of Administration Policy stated that if enacted, the Senate provisions would

significantly reduce the Secretary of Defense's ability—through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics USD (AT&L)—to guard against unwarranted optimism in program planning and budget formulation, and prevent excessive risk taking during execution—all of which is essential to avoiding overruns and costly delays.

Much of the substance of the provisions in the Senate bill was incorporated into the FY2016 NDAA. The FY2017 NDAA refined the swing back to the services and also initiated a large-scale reorganization of the office of the USD (AT&L), a reorganization that continued in the FY2018 NDAA.

The FY2016 NDAA

According to the joint explanatory statement accompanying the FY2016 NDAA, Section 802 was intended to "enhance the role of Chiefs of Staff in the defense acquisition process."⁶⁹70 The section opens with the policy statement that the purpose of defense acquisition is to "meet the needs of its customers in the most cost-effective manner practicable." The customer is defined as the military service with primary responsibility for fielding the system or systems acquired, represented by "the Secretary of the military department concerned and the Chief of the armed force concerned" with regard to major defense acquisition programs.

Section 802 goes on to amend 10 U.S.C. 2547(a) by assigning the Chiefs the responsibility to assist the Secretary of the military department in making

• decisions regarding balancing resources and priorities, and associated trade-offs among cost, schedule, technical feasibility, and performance on major defense acquisition; and
• the management of career paths in acquisition for military personnel.⁷⁰

71Section 802 also required

• the Joint Requirements Oversight Council to "seek, and strongly consider, the views of the Chiefs of Staff of the armed forces" and
• for major defense acquisition programs, the Chiefs to advise the decision authority for Milestones A and B on cost, schedule, technical feasibility, and performance trade-offs.

Section 825 requires that, generally, the service acquisition executive be the milestone decision authority for major defense acquisition programs.⁷¹

72

A number of other sections in the NDAA aim at strengthening the role of the services in acquisitions, including

• requiring the Milestone A and Milestone B decision authority to get concurrence on the cost, schedule, technical feasibility, and performance trade-offs of a program from the relevant service Secretary and Chief (§§823-824);
• requiring Configuration Steering Boards for major programs to ensure that the relevant Chief, in consultation with the service Secretary, "approves of any proposed changes that could have an adverse effect on program cost or schedule'' (§830); and
• giving the Chiefs a role in establishing policies on the development, assignment, and employment of the acquisition workforce (§842). This section does not include the future USD (A&S) in the chain of command in establishing such policies.⁷²73

The FY2017 NDAA and the Split of USD (AT&L) Responsibilities

The FY2017 NDAA does not directly shift more acquisition authority to the military services. However, some of the sections in the bill could have the effect of adjusting acquisition authority in favor of the services.

Section 901, while not directly affecting the balance of authority between OSD and the services, significantly affects OSD's role in defense acquisition. Most notably, the section breaks up AT&L into the USD (Research and Engineering) and USD (Acquisition and Sustainment, A&S). According to the conference report,

[t]hree broad priorities framed the conference discussions: (1) elevate the mission of advancing technology and innovation within the Department; (2) foster distinct technology and acquisition cultures to better deliver superior capabilities for the armed forces; and (3) provide greater oversight and management of the Department's Fourth Estate.⁷³

74

Section 807 of the FY2017 NDAA requires that before funds are obligated for technology development, systems development, or production of an MDAP, the Secretary of Defense must establish goals for the milestone decision authority, including for cost, schedule, and technology maturation. Notably, the responsibility to establish these goals "may be delegated only to the Deputy Secretary of Defense."⁷⁴75 Given that the decision authority is generally the service acquisition authority, and the requirement to set goals cannot be delegated below the Deputy Secretary of Defense, this section does not include the future USD (A&S) in the chain of command, potentially eroding the influence of the USD (A&S).

A number of other sections in the NDAA appear to strengthen the role of the services in acquisitions, including the following:

• Requiring the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation to submit the annual report to the Secretaries of the military departments (§845). Previously, the annual report was submitted to the Secretary of Defense, USD (AT&L), and Congress.
• Granting the service acquisition authority the ability to waive tenure requirements in certain circumstances (§862). Previously, only the Secretary of Defense could do so.
• Authorizing the military departments to establish service-specific funds for acquisition programs using certain rapid fielding and prototyping authorities (§897).

The FY2018 NDAA

The FY2018 NDAA included a number of provisions conforming and clarifying the roles of USD (A&S).⁷⁵76 As it relates to MDAPs, the act also amended 10 U.S.C. 2547(b), requiring that the relevant service chief concur with

• the need for a material solution (as identified in the Material Development Decision Review);
• the cost, schedule, technical feasibility, and performance trade-offs before Milestone A is approved;
• the cost, schedule, technical feasibility, and performance trade-offs before Milestone B is approved; and
• the requirements, cost, and fielding timeline before Milestone C is approved.

Appendix. A. Title VIII Provisions in the FY2006-FY2018 NDAAs

Figure A-1. Title VIII Provisions in the FY2006-FY2018 NDAAs

Source: CRS analysis of the FY2006-FY2018 National Defense Authorization Acts and the Weapon System Acquisition Reform Act (P.L. 111-23). Notes: The Weapon Acquisition System Reform Act (P.L. 111-23) is included in the FY2009 count because the act was focused exclusively on defense acquisition. In some years, the NDAA also contains titles specifically dedicated to aspects of acquisition, such as Title XVII of the FY2018 NDAA, entitled Small Business Procurement and Industrial Base Matters. Such acquisition-specific titles are included in the count and specifically identified. In some years, titles within the NDAA that are not specifically focused on acquisition contain sections related to acquisitions. Such instances are excluded from this analysis.

Appendix B. Title VIII Provisions in the FY2016-FY2018 NDAAs, by Subtitle Topic Table B-1. Title VIII Provisions in the FY2016-FY2018 NDAAs, by Subtitle Topic

FY2016 (P.L. 114-92)

FY2017 (P.L. 114-328)

FY2018 (P.L. 115-91)

Acquisition Policy and Management (Subtitle A in FY2016, FY2017, and FY2018)

Sec. 801. Required review of acquisition-related functions of the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces.

Sec. 801. Rapid acquisition authority amendments.

Sec. 801. Statements of purpose for Department of Defense acquisition.

Sec. 802. Role of Chiefs of Staff in the acquisition process.

Sec. 802. Authority for temporary service of Principal Military Deputies to the Assistant Secretaries of the military departments for acquisition as Acting Assistant Secretaries.

Sec. 802. Management of intellectual property matters within the Department of Defense.

Sec. 803. Expansion of rapid acquisition authority.

Sec. 803. Modernization of services acquisition.

Sec. 803. Performance of incurred cost audits.

Sec. 804. Middle tier of acquisition for rapid prototyping and rapid fielding.

Sec. 804. Defense Modernization Account amendments.

Sec. 804. Repeal of certain auditing requirements.

Sec. 805. Use of alternative acquisition paths to acquire critical national security capabilities.

 

Sec. 805. Increased simplified acquisition threshold.

Sec. 806. Secretary of Defense waiver of acquisition laws to acquire vital national security capabilities.

 

Sec. 806. Requirements related to the micro-purchase threshold.

Sec. 807. Acquisition authority of the Commander of United States Cyber Command.

 

Sec. 807. Process for enhanced supply chain scrutiny.

Sec. 808. Report on linking and streamlining requirements, acquisition, and budget processes within Armed Forces.

 

Sec. 808. Defense policy advisory committee on technology.

Sec. 809. Advisory panel on streamlining and codifying acquisition regulations.

 

Sec. 809. Report on extension of development, acquisition, and sustainment authorities of the military departments to the United States Special Operations Command.

Sec. 810. Review of time-based requirements process and budgeting and acquisition systems.

 

Sec. 810. Technical and conforming amendments related to program management provisions.

Amendments to General Contracting Authorities, Procedures, and Limitations (Subtitle B in FY2016 and FY2018; Subtitle C in FY2017)

Sec. 811. Amendment relating to multiyear contract authority for acquisition of property.

Sec. 811. Modified restrictions on undefinitized contractual actions.

Sec. 811. Modifications to cost or pricing data and reporting requirements.

Sec. 812. Applicability of cost and pricing data and certification requirements.

Sec. 812. Amendments relating to inventory and tracking of purchases of services.

Sec. 812. Applicability of cost and pricing data certification requirements.

Sec. 813. Rights in technical data.

Sec. 813. Use of lowest price technically acceptable source selection process.

Sec. 813. Sunset of certain provisions relating to the procurement of goods other than United States goods.

Sec. 814. Procurement of supplies for experimental purposes.

Sec. 814. Procurement of personal protective equipment.

Sec. 814. Comptroller General report on health and safety records.

Sec. 815. Amendments to other transaction authority.

Sec. 815. Amendments related to detection and avoidance of counterfeit electronic parts.

Sec. 815. Limitation on unilateral definitization.

Sec. 816. Amendment to acquisition threshold for special emergency procurement authority.

Sec. 816. Amendments to special emergency procurement authority.

Sec. 816. Amendment to sustainment reviews.

Sec. 817. Revision of method of rounding when making inflation adjustment of acquisition-related dollar thresholds.

Sec. 817. Compliance with domestic source requirements for footwear furnished to enlisted members of the Armed Forces upon their initial entry into the Armed Forces.

Sec. 817. Use of program income by eligible entities that carry out procurement technical assistance programs.

 

Sec. 818. Extension of authority for enhanced transfer of technology developed at Department of Defense laboratories.

Sec. 818. Enhanced post-award debriefing rights.

 

Sec. 819. Modified notification requirement for exercise of waiver authority to acquire vital national security capabilities.

Sec. 819. Amendments relating to information technology.

 

Sec. 820. Defense cost accounting standards.

Sec. 820. Change to definition of subcontract in certain circumstances.

 

Sec. 821. Increased micro-purchase threshold applicable to Department of Defense procurements.

Sec. 821. Amendment relating to applicability of inflation adjustments.

 

Sec. 822. Enhanced competition requirements.

Sec. 822. Use of lowest price technically acceptable source selection process.

 

Sec. 823. Revision to effective date of senior executive benchmark compensation for allowable cost limitations.

Sec. 823. Exemption from design-build selection procedures.

 

Sec. 824. Treatment of independent research and development costs on certain contracts.

Sec. 824. Contract closeout authority.

 

Sec. 825. Exception to requirement to include cost or price to the Government as a factor in the evaluation of proposals for certain multiple-award task or delivery order contracts.

Sec. 825. Elimination of cost underruns as factor in calculation of penalties for cost overruns.

 

Sec. 826. Extension of program for comprehensive small business contracting plans.

Sec. 826. Modification to annual meeting requirement of Configuration Steering Boards.

 

Sec. 827. Treatment of side-by-side testing of certain equipment, munitions, and technologies manufactured and developed under cooperative research and development agreements as use of competitive procedures.

Sec. 827. Pilot program on payment of costs for denied Government Accountability Office bid protests.

 

Sec. 828. Defense Acquisition Challenge Program amendments.

   

Sec. 829. Preference for fixed-price contracts.

   

Sec. 830. Requirement to use firm fixed-price contracts for foreign military sales.

   

Sec. 831. Preference for performance-based contract payments.

   

Sec. 832. Contractor incentives to achieve savings and improve mission performance.

   

Sec. 833. Sunset and repeal of certain contracting provisions.

   

Sec. 834. Flexibility in contracting award program.

   

Sec. 835. Protection of task order competition.

   

Sec. 836. Contract closeout authority.

   

Sec. 837. Closeout of old Department of the Navy contracts.

 

Provisions Related to Major Defense Acquisition Programs (Subtitle C in FY2016 and FY2018; Subtitle D in FY2017)

Sec. 821. Acquisition strategy required for each major defense acquisition program, major automated information system, and major system.

Sec. 841. Change in date of submission to Congress of Selected Acquisition Reports.

Sec. 831. Revisions to definition of major defense acquisition program.

Sec. 822. Revision to requirements relating to risk management in development of major defense acquisition programs and major systems.

Sec. 842. Amendments relating to independent cost estimation and cost analysis.

Sec. 832. Prohibition on use of lowest price technically acceptable source selection process for major defense acquisition programs.

Sec. 823. Revision of Milestone A decision authority responsibilities for major defense acquisition programs.

Sec. 843. Revisions to Milestone B determinations.

Sec. 833. Role of the Chief of the armed force in material development decision and acquisition system milestones.

Sec. 824. Revision of Milestone B decision authority responsibilities for major defense acquisition programs.

Sec. 844. Review and report on sustainment planning in the acquisition process.

Sec. 834. Requirement to emphasize reliability and maintainability in weapon system design.

Sec. 825. Designation of milestone decision authority.

Sec. 845. Revision to distribution of annual report on operational test and evaluation.

Sec. 835. Licensing of appropriate intellectual property to support major weapon systems.

Sec. 826. Tenure and accountability of program managers for program definition periods.

Sec. 846. Repeal of major automated information systems provisions.

Sec. 836. Codification of requirements pertaining to assessment, management, and control of operating and support costs for major weapon systems.

Sec. 827. Tenure and accountability of program managers for program execution periods.

Sec. 847. Revisions to definition of major defense acquisition program.

Sec. 837. Should-cost management.

Sec. 828. Penalty for cost overruns.

Sec. 848. Acquisition strategy.

Sec. 838. Improvements to test and evaluation processes and tools.

Sec. 829. Streamlining of reporting requirements applicable to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering regarding major defense acquisition programs.

Sec. 849. Improved life-cycle cost control.

Sec. 839. Enhancements to transparency in test and evaluation processes and data.

Sec. 830. Configuration Steering Boards for cost control under major defense acquisition programs.

Sec. 850. Authority to designate increments or blocks of items delivered under major defense acquisition programs as major subprograms for purposes of acquisition reporting.

 

Sec. 831. Repeal of requirement for stand-alone manpower estimates for major defense acquisition programs.

Sec. 851. Reporting of small business participation on Department of Defense programs.

 

Sec. 832. Revision to duties of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Developmental Test and Evaluation and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Engineering.

Sec. 852. Waiver of congressional notification for acquisition of tactical missiles and munitions greater than quantity specified in law.

   

Sec. 853. Multiple program multiyear contract pilot demonstration program.

   

Sec. 854. Key performance parameter reduction pilot program.

   

Sec. 855. Mission integration management.

 

Provisions Relating to Acquisition Workforce (Subtitle D in FY2016 and FY2018; Subtitle E in FY2017)

Sec. 841. Amendments to Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund.

Sec. 861. Project management.

Sec. 841. Enhancements to the civilian program management workforce.

Sec. 842. Dual-track military professionals in operational and acquisition specialities.

Sec. 862. Authority to waive tenure requirement for program managers for program definition and program execution periods.

Sec. 842. Credits to Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund.

Sec. 843. Provision of joint duty assignment credit for acquisition duty.

Sec. 863. Purposes for which the Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund may be used; advisory panel amendments.

Sec. 843. Improvements to the hiring and training of the acquisition workforce.

Sec. 844. Mandatory requirement for training related to the conduct of market research.

Sec. 864. Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund determination adjustment.

Sec. 844. Extension and modifications to acquisition demonstration project.

Sec. 845. Independent study of implementation of defense acquisition workforce improvement efforts.

Sec. 865. Limitations on funds used for staff augmentation contracts at management headquarters of the Department of Defense and the military departments.

 

Sec. 846. Extension of authority for the civilian acquisition workforce personnel demonstration project.

Sec. 866. Senior Military Acquisition Advisors in the Defense Acquisition Corps.

   

Sec. 867. Authority of the Secretary of Defense under the acquisition demonstration project.

 

Provisions Relating to Commercial Items (Subtitle E in FY2016 and FY2018; Subtitle F in FY2017)

Sec. 851. Procurement of commercial items.

Sec. 871. Market research for determination of price reasonableness in acquisition of commercial items.

Sec. 846. Procurement through commercial e-commerce portals.

Sec. 852. Modification to information required to be submitted by offeror in procurement of major weapon systems as commercial items.

Sec. 872. Value analysis for the determination of price reasonableness.

Sec. 847. Revision to definition of commercial item.

Sec. 853. Use of recent prices paid by the Government in the determination of price reasonableness.

Sec. 873. Clarification of requirements relating to commercial item determinations.

Sec. 848. Commercial item determinations.

Sec. 854. Report on defense-unique laws applicable to the procurement of commercial items and commercially available off-the-shelf items.

Sec. 874. Inapplicability of certain laws and regulations to the acquisition of commercial items and commercially available off-the-shelf items.

Sec. 849. Review of regulations on commercial items.

Sec. 855. Market research and preference for commercial items.

Sec. 875. Use of commercial or non-Government standards in lieu of military specifications and standards.

Sec. 850. Training in commercial items procurement.

Sec. 856. Limitation on conversion of procurements from commercial acquisition procedures.

Sec. 876. Preference for commercial services.

 

Sec. 857. Treatment of goods and services provided by nontraditional defense contractors as commercial items.

Sec. 877. Treatment of commingled items purchased by contractors as commercial items.

   

Sec. 878. Treatment of services provided by nontraditional contractors as commercial items.

   

Sec. 879. Defense pilot program for authority to acquire innovative commercial items, technologies, and services using general solicitation competitive procedures.

   

Sec. 880. Pilot programs for authority to acquire innovative commercial items using general solicitation competitive procedures.

 

Industrial Base Matters (Subtitle F in FY2016; Subtitle G in FY2017; and Title XVII, Small Business Procurement And Industrial Base Matters, FY2018)

Sec. 861. Amendment to Mentor-Protege Program.

Sec. 881. Greater integration of the national technology and industrial base.

Sec. 1701. Amendments to HUBZone provisions of the Small Business Act.

Sec. 862. Amendments to data quality improvement plan.

Sec. 882. Integration of civil and military roles in attaining national technology and industrial base objectives.

Sec. 1702. Uniformity in procurement terminology.

Sec. 863. Notice of contract consolidation for acquisition strategies.

Sec. 883. Pilot program for distribution support and services for weapon systems contractors.

Sec. 1703. Improving reporting on small business goals.

Sec. 864. Clarification of requirements related to small business contracts for services.

Sec. 884. Nontraditional and small contractor innovation prototyping program.

Sec. 1704. Responsibilities of Business Opportunity Specialists.

Sec. 865. Certification requirements for Business Opportunity Specialists, commercial market representatives, and procurement center representatives.

Sec. 881. Greater integration of the national technology and industrial base.

Sec. 1705. Responsibilities of commercial market representatives.

Sec. 866. Modifications to requirements for qualified HUBZone small business concerns located in a base closure area.

 

Sec. 1706. Modification of past performance pilot program to include consideration of past performance with allies of the United States.

Sec. 867. Joint venturing and teaming.

 

Sec. 1707. Notice of cost-free Federal procurement technical assistance in connection with registration of small business concerns on procurement websites of the Department of Defense.

Sec. 868. Modification to and scorecard program for small business contracting goals.

 

Sec. 1708. Inclusion of SBIR and STTR programs in technical assistance.

Sec. 869. Establishment of an Office of Hearings and Appeals in the Small Business Administration; petitions for reconsideration of size standards.

 

Sec. 1709. Requirements relating to competitive procedures and justification for awards under the SBIR and STTR programs.

Sec. 870. Additional duties of the Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

 

Sec. 1710. Pilot program for streamlined technology transition from the SBIR and STTR programs of the Department of Defense.

Sec. 871. Including subcontracting goals in agency responsibilities.

 

Sec. 1711. Pilot program on strengthening manufacturing in the defense industrial base.

Sec. 872. Reporting related to failure of contractors to meet goals under negotiated comprehensive small business subcontracting plans.

 

Sec. 1712. Review regarding applicability of foreign ownership, control, or influence requirements of National Industrial Security Program to national technology and industrial base companies.

Sec. 873. Pilot program for streamlining awards for innovative technology projects.

 

Sec. 1713. Report on sourcing of tungsten and tungsten powders from domestic producers.

Sec. 874. Surety bond requirements and amount of guarantee.

 

Sec. 1714. Report on utilization of small business concerns for Federal contracts.

Sec. 875. Review of Government access to intellectual property rights of private sector firms.

   

Sec. 876. Inclusion in annual technology and industrial capability assessments of a determination about defense acquisition program requirements.

   

Other Matters (Subtitle G in FY2016; Subtitle H in FY2017; and Subtitle I in FY2018)

Sec. 881. Consideration of potential program cost increases and schedule delays resulting from oversight of defense acquisition programs.

Sec. 885. Report on bid protests.

Sec. 881. Extension of maximum duration of fuel storage contracts.

Sec. 882. Examination and guidance relating to oversight and approval of services contracts.

Sec. 886. Review and report on indefinite delivery contracts.

Sec. 882. Procurement of aviation critical safety items.

Sec. 883. Streamlining of requirements relating to defense business systems.

Sec. 887. Review and report on contractual flow-down provisions.

Sec. 883. Modifications to the advisory panel on streamlining and codifying acquisition regulations.

Sec. 884. Procurement of personal protective equipment.

Sec. 888. Requirement and review relating to use of brand names or brand-name or equivalent descriptions in solicitations.

Sec. 884. Repeal of expired pilot program for leasing commercial utility cargo vehicles.

Sec. 885. Amendments concerning detection and avoidance of counterfeit electronic parts.

Sec. 889. Inclusion of information on common grounds for sustaining bid protests in annual Government Accountability Office reports to Congress.

Sec. 885. Exception for business operations from requirement to accept $1 coins.

Sec. 886. Exception for AbilityOne products from authority to acquire goods and services manufactured in Afghanistan, Central Asian States, and Djibouti.

Sec. 890. Study and report on contracts awarded to minority-owned and womenowned businesses.

Sec. 886. Development of Procurement Administrative Lead Time.

Sec. 887. Effective communication between government and industry.

Sec. 891. Authority to provide reimbursable auditing services to certain non-Defense Agencies.

Sec. 887. Notional milestones and standard timelines for contracts for foreign military sales.

Sec. 888. Standards for procurement of secure information technology and cyber security systems.

Sec. 892. Selection of service providers for auditing services and audit readiness services.

Sec. 888. Assessment and authority to terminate or prohibit contracts for procurement from Chinese companies providing support to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Sec. 889. Unified information technology services.

Sec. 893. Amendments to contractor business system requirements.

Sec. 889. Report on defense contracting fraud.

Sec. 890. Cloud strategy for Department of Defense.

Sec. 894. Improved management practices to reduce cost and improve performance of certain Department of Defense organizations.

Sec. 890. Comptroller General report on contractor business system requirements.

Sec. 891. Development period for Department of Defense information technology systems.

Sec. 895. Exemption from requirement for capital planning and investment control for information technology equipment included as integral part of a weapon or weapon system.

Sec. 891. Training on agile or iterative development methods.

Sec. 892. Revisions to pilot program on acquisition of military purpose nondevelopmental items.

Sec. 896. Modifications to pilot program for streamlining awards for innovative technology projects.

 

Sec. 893. Improved auditing of contracts.

Sec. 897. Rapid prototyping funds for the military departments.

 

Sec. 894. Sense of Congress on evaluation method for procurement of audit or audit readiness services.

Sec. 898. Establishment of Panel on Department of Defense and AbilityOne Contracting Oversight, Accountability, and Integrity; Defense Acquisition University training.

 

Sec. 895. Mitigating potential unfair competitive advantage of technical advisors to acquisition programs.

Sec. 899. Coast Guard major acquisition programs.

 

Sec. 896. Survey on the costs of regulatory compliance.

Sec. 899A. Enhanced authority to acquire products and services produced in Africa in support of certain activities.

 

Sec. 897. Treatment of interagency and State and local purchases when the Department of Defense acts as contract intermediary for the General Services Administration.

   

Sec. 898. Competition for religious services contracts.

   

Sec. 899. Pilot program regarding risk-based contracting for smaller contract actions under the Truth in Negotiations Act.

   

Department of Defense Acquisition Agility (Subtitle B in FY2017)

 

Sec. 805. Modular open system approach in development of major weapon systems.

   

Sec. 806. Development, prototyping, and deployment of weapon system components or technology.

   

Sec. 807. Cost, schedule, and performance of major defense acquisition programs.

   

Sec. 808. Transparency in major defense acquisition programs.

   

Sec. 809. Amendments relating to technical data rights.

 

Provisions Relating to Services Contracting (Subtitle F in FY2018)

   

Sec. 851. Improvement of planning for acquisition of services.

   

Sec. 852. Standard guidelines for evaluation of requirements for services contracts.

   

Sec. 853. Report on outcome-based services contracts.

   

Sec. 854. Pilot program for longer term multiyear service contracts.

Provisions Relating to Other Transaction Authority and Prototyping (Subtitle G in FY2018)

   

Sec. 861. Contract authority for advanced development of initial or additional prototype units.

   

Sec. 862. Methods for entering into research agreements.

   

Sec. 863. Education and training for transactions other than contracts and grants.

   

Sec. 864. Other transaction authority for certain prototype projects.

   

Sec. 865. Amendment to nontraditional and small contractor innovation prototyping program.

   

Sec. 866. Middle tier of acquisition for rapid prototype and rapid fielding.

   

Sec. 867. Preference for use of other transactions and experimental authority.

   

Sec. 868. Prototype projects to digitize defense acquisition regulations, policies, and guidance, and empower user tailoring of acquisition process.

Provisions Relating to Software Acquisition (Subtitle H in FY2018)

   

Sec. 871. Noncommercial computer software acquisition considerations.

   

Sec. 872. Defense Innovation Board analysis of software acquisition regulations.

   

Sec. 873. Pilot program to use agile or iterative development methods to tailor major software-intensive warfighting systems and defense business systems.

   

Sec. 874. Software development pilot program using agile best practices.

   

Sec. 875. Pilot program for open source software.

   

Sec. 871. Noncommercial computer software acquisition considerations.

Source: CRS analysis of the FY2016-FY2018 National Defense Authorization Acts.

Notes: In some years, the NDAA also contains titles specifically dedicated to aspects of acquisition, such as Title XVII of the FY2018 NDAA, entitled Small Business Procurement and Industrial Base Matters. Such acquisition-specific titles are included in this analysis. In some years, titles within the NDAA that are not specifically focused on acquisition contain sections related to acquisitions. Such instances are excluded from this analysis.

Author Contact Information

Heidi M. Peters, Analyst in Intelligence Policy

Footnotes

21.

1.	CRS Report R43566, Defense Acquisition Reform: Background, Analysis, and Issues for Congress, by [author name scrubbed]Moshe Schwartz.
2.	P.L. 101-510.
3.	P.L. 103-355.
4.	P.L. 104-106.
5.	P.L. 111-23.
6.	In some years, Title VIIII contains a subtitle dedicated to industrial base matters (e.g., the FY2017, FY2016, FY2015, and FY2012 NDAAs). In other years, the NDAA contains a separate title on industrial base matters (e.g., the FY2014 NDAA's Title XVI, and the FY2013's Title XVI).
7.	Based on a CRS analysis of the FY2006-FY2018 NDAAs. The Weapon Acquisition System Reform Act (P.L. 111-23) is included in the FY2009 NDAA count. In some years, other titles within NDAAs contain sections related to acquisitions. Unless otherwise indicated, such instances have been excluded from this analysis. Some provisions included in the count are administrative or technical, rather than policy in nature. As a result, this analysis should be used more as a guide to the general trend in congressional legislative activity, not as a precise measure.
8.	§803. Rapid acquisition authorities grant DOD, in certain circumstances, special authorities to acquire goods or services more rapidly than would otherwise be possible following standard acquisition processes.
9.	§804.
10.	§805.
11.	§806.
12.	§§881, 882.
13.	§884.
14.	§§861-868.
15.	TheAn author of this memorandumreport served as executive director of the 809 Panel until October 2017.
16.	§808.
17.	§810.
18.	§827.
19.	For more information on micro-purchase thresholds, see https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/pdi/pc/faq.html, or FAR Part 13.
20.	See §821 of the FY2017 NDAA (P.L. 114-328); see also FAR 2.101 and Department of Defense (DOD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), "Federal Acquisition Regulation; Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds," 80 Federal Register 38293-38306 , July 2, 2015.	For more information on simplified acquisition, see https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/ccap/cc/jcchb/HTML/Topical/simplified.html, or FAR Part 13.
2122.	§829.
2223.	§830. The foreign country would retain the right to choose the contract type.
2324.	§839.
2425.	§§813, 814.
2526.	FAR 15.101-2.
2627.	See Defense Acquisition University's website at https://www.dau.mil/acquipedia/Pages/ArticleDetails.aspx?aid=eba07532-2252-40bf-bab3-b55d9203937d.
2728.	§803.
2829.	§§811, 812.
2930.	§805. A modular open system is a system that uses modular design principles, utilizing widely supported and recognized standards for key interfaces.
3031.	§806.
3132.	§807.
3233.	§808.
3334.	§844.
3435.	§§848, 849.
3536.	§831.
3637.	§834.
3738.	§§838, 839.
3839.	§851.
3940.	§853.
4041.	§§855, 856.
4142.	§§871-880.
4243.	§846.
4344.	§§847, 848.
4445.	§813.
4546.	§809.
4647.	§802.
4748.	§865.
4849.	§§851, 853.
4950.	§852.
5051.	§854.
5152.	§841.
5253.	§844.
5354.	§842.
5455.	§§826, 827.
5556.	§863.
5657.	§866.
5758.	§841.
5859.	§842.
5960.	§844.
6061.	CRS Report R43566, Defense Acquisition Reform: Background, Analysis, and Issues for Congress, by [author name scrubbed]Moshe Schwartz.
6162.	A Quest for Excellence, Final Report to the President by the Blue Ribbon Commission of Defense Management, June 30, 1986, page xxii.
6263.	Ibid.
6364.	P.L. 99-348, §501.
6465.	Ibid., §904.
6566.	Ibid., §911.
6667.	U.S. Government Accountability Office, Defense Acquisitions: Observations on Whether the Military Service Chiefs' Role in Managing and Overseeing Major Weapon Programs Should Be Expanded, GAO-14-520, May 1, 2014, p. 17.
6768.	John Hamre, "Commentary: Return Acquisition Role to Service Chiefs," DefenseNews, May 26, 2015, at http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/commentary/2015/05/26/return-acquisition-role-service-chiefs-ddre-goldwater-nichols-packard-carter/27970691/. See also Daniel Wasserbly, "AUSA Global 2015: Odierno Supports Expanded Acquisition Role for Chiefs, Streamlined Testing," IHS Jane's Defence Weekly, vol. 52, no. 20 (April 1, 2015), at http://www.janes.com/article/50394/ausa-global-2015-odierno-supports-expanded-acquisition-role-for-chiefs-streamlined-testing.
6869.	Executive Office of the President Office of Management and Budget, Statement of Administration Policy, S. 1376—National Defense Authorization Act for FY2016, June 2, 2015, p. 3, at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/114/legislative_sap_date_2015.
6970.	U.S. Congress, House Committee on Armed Services, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, Legislative Text and Joint Explanatory Statement to accompany S. 1356, P.L. 114-92, 114th Cong., 1st sess., November 2015, 97-637 (Washington: GPO, 2015), p. 697.
7071.	§2547(a).
7172.	Under certain circumstances, the Secretary of Defense may designate an alternate milestone decision authority, including for joint programs. See 10 U.S.C. 2430.
7273.	See Chapter 87, 10 U.S.C. The term Fourth Estate refers to organizational entities which are not in the Military departments or the Combatant Commands.
7374.	U.S. Congress, House Committee on Armed Services, National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2017, committee print, prepared by Conference Report to Accompany S. 2943, 114th Cong., 2nd sess., November 30, 2016, H. Prt. 114-840 (Washington: GPO, 2016), p. 1129.
7475.	10 U.S.C. 2448a(b).
7576.	§§901-903.