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TITLE VIII--ACQUISITION POLICY, ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT, AND RELATED MATTERS

Subtitle E--Other Matters

P. L. 111-

House Conference Report 111-288

    (a) Study.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study on the structure and management of major subcontracts under contracts for the acquisition of selected major weapon systems.

    (b) Issues To Be Addressed.--At a minimum, the study required by subsection (a) shall address the following:

    (1) The number of major subcontracts under each prime contract reviewed.

    (2) The manner in which the prime contractor addressed decisions to conduct work in-house or through subcontracts.

    (3) The manner in which any potential organizational conflicts of interest were addressed and the Government's role (if any) in selecting the approach chosen.

    (4) The manner in which such subcontracts were awarded (including the degree of competition) and the Government's role (if any) in such award decisions.

    (5) Any recommendations that the Comptroller General may have for improving Government oversight, reducing the oversight burden on the acquisition workforce, or otherwise improving the management of subcontractors under contracts for the acquisition of major weapon systems.

    (c) Deadline for Submission.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the results of the study required by subsection (a), with such findings and recommendations as the Comptroller General considers appropriate.

   The House bill contained a provision (sec. 831) that would require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on the management of subcontractors on Department of Defense contracts for major weapon systems.

   The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.

   The Senate recedes with an amendment that would require the study to be conducted by the Comptroller General and clarify the issues to be addressed.