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

Subtitle A—Acquisition Policy and Management.

P. L. 116-92

House Conference Report 116-333

(a) In General.--

(1) The Secretary of Defense shall select at least 2, and up to 5, initiatives to participate in a pilot to use teams that, with the advice of expert third parties, focus on the development of complex contract technical requirements for services, with each team focusing on developing achievable technical requirements that are appropriately valued and identifying the most effective acquisition strategy to achieve those requirements.

(2) The Secretary shall develop metrics for tracking progress of the program at improving quality and acquisition cycle time.

(b) Development of Criteria and Initiatives.--

(1) Not later than February 1, 2020, the Secretary of Defense shall establish the pilot program and notify the congressional defense committees of the criteria used to select initiatives and the metrics used to track progress.

(2) Not later than May 1, 2020, the Secretary shall notify the congressional defense committees of the initiatives selected for the program.

(3) Not later than December 1, 2020, the Secretary shall brief the congressional defense committees on the progress of the selected initiatives, including the progress of the initiatives at improving quality and acquisition cycle time according to the metrics developed under subsection (a)(2).

Pilot program to use alpha contracting teams for complex requirements (sec. 802)

The Senate bill contained a provision (sec. 802) that would require the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to use third-party industry, academia, or not-for-profit technical organizations as part of alpha contracting teams for complex technical requirements for services.

The House amendment contained no similar provision.

The House recedes.

The conferees note that this construct revives in a modern context the “alpha contracting” concept that is more than a decade old. Further, it brings together all government personnel involved in the functions that support acquisition actions, to include contracting staff as well as technical staff, operators, and cost personnel. This is intended to ensure that technical requirements are appropriately valued and that the most effective acquisition strategy to achieve these requirements is identified.

Senate Report 116-48

Pilot program to use alpha contracting teams for complex requirements (sec. 802)

The committee recommends a provision that would require the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to use third-party industry, academia, or not-for-profit technical organizations as part of alpha contracting teams for complex technical requirements for services. The committee notes that this construct revives in a modern context the ``alpha contracting'' concept that is more than a decade old. Further, it brings together all government personnel involved in the functions that support acquisition actions, to include contracting staff as well as technical staff, operators, and cost personnel. This is intended to ensure that technical requirements are appropriately valued and that the most effective acquisition strategy to achieve these requirements is identified.