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Comptroller General assessment on improving weapon systems and technology procurement

Division A · Title XVIII: Revitalization of the Defense Industrial Base · Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Defense Industrial Base Manufacturing

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The Comptroller General will review how the Department of Defense can improve buying weapon systems and technologies. This review will look at whether the acquisition workforce has the right skills, if the Department understands contractor motivations, monitors contractor performance, manages data rights, tracks changes in the defense industry, and addresses supply chain risks. Within 60 days, the Comptroller General must brief Congress on the plans and timeline for this review.

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Section Text · Sec. 1842.
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(a) Assessments

The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct one or more assessments of how the Secretary of Defense can improve procurement of weapon systems and technologies.

(b) Elements

Any assessment under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)

An evaluation of the extent to which the members of the acquisition workforce (as defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code) have the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary to negotiate a fair deal for weapon systems and technologies for the Department of Defense.

(2)

With respect to a procurement described in subsection (a), a determination of whether the Secretary—

(A)

has sufficient understanding and data on the incentives and motivations of defense contractors necessary to negotiate a fair deal for the Department of Defense;

(B)

has and uses mechanisms to assess contractor performance and tools for accountability for meeting contractual obligations;

(C)

understands the data rights needed to maintain, sustain, and upgrade weapon systems and effectively uses contracting approaches to facilitate iterative development and to adopt commercial technologies;

(D)

has sufficient understanding of, and can monitor changes in, the defense industrial base, including the effect of mergers and acquisitions and tracking as new entrants; and

(E)

evaluates the effectiveness of efforts to reduce supply chain risks and measure the effects of available industrial policy tools.

(c) Briefing

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on plans for any assessments required under subsection (a) and a timeline and format for delivery of the final results of such assessments.