NDAA for Fiscal Year 2012

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TITLE VIII--ACQUISITION POLICY, ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT, AND RELATED MATTERS Subtitle A--Acquisition Policy and Management
P. L. 115-	House Conference Report. 115-404
SEC. 801. STATEMENTS OF PURPOSE FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ACQUISITION. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall revise the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement to include the following statements of purpose: (1) The defense acquisition system (as defined in section 2545 of title 10, United States Code) exists to manage the investments of the United States in technologies, programs, and product support necessary to achieve the national security strategy prescribed by the President pursuant to section 108 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3043) and to support the United States Armed Forces. (2) The investment strategy of the Department of Defense shall be postured to support not only the current United States Armed Forces, but also future Armed Forces of the United States. (3) The primary objective of Department of Defense acquisition is to acquire quality products that satisfy user needs with measurable improvements to mission capability and operational support, in a timely manner, and at a fair and reasonable price.	Statements of purpose for Department of Defense acquisition (sec. 801) The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 804) that would create consistency between the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation and current Department of Defense policies and instructions with respect to the purpose of the defense acquisition system. The committee notes that the Department of Defense is constantly forced to balance equities related to the near and far term defense needs as well as defense and national security goals and broader national and public policy goals. The Department also struggles to align goals relative to improving the speed and response to threats with public transparency and fiscal stewardship and in executing a growing set of missions within a defined budget. The committee remains concerned that these balances and goals sometimes drive the Department into practices that drive up costs, slow down the acquisition process, and result in sub-optimal capabilities being developed and deployed to operational forces. The House bill contained no similar provision. The House recedes.