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

Public Law 108-136

House Conference Report 108-354

SEC. 834. CONSOLIDATION OF CERTAIN EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.

(a) CONSOLIDATION OF AUTHORITY- Section 1742 of such title is amended to read as follows:

`Sec. 1742. Internship, cooperative education, and scholarship programs

`The Secretary of Defense shall conduct the following education and training programs:

`(1) An intern program for purposes of providing highly qualified and talented individuals an opportunity for accelerated promotions, career broadening assignments, and specified training to prepare them for entry into the Acquisition Corps.

`(2) A cooperative education credit program under which the Secretary arranges, through cooperative arrangements entered into with one or more accredited institutions of higher education, for such institutions to grant undergraduate credit for work performed by students who are employed by the Department of Defense in acquisition positions.

`(3) A scholarship program for the purpose of qualifying personnel for acquisition positions in the Department of Defense.'.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- Sections 1743 and 1744 of such title are repealed.

The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 841) that would amend the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) to give the Secretary of Defense greater flexibility in managing the acquisition and support workforce. Specifically, the provision would give the Secretary the flexibility to establish different experience, educational, and tenure requirements for acquisition positions; require the establishment of a single acquisition corps; and streamline obsolete and outdated provisions of DAWIA.

The House bill contained no similar provision.

The House recedes with an amendment to split the provision into several sections.

Senate Report 108-046

The committee recommends a provision that would amend the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) to give the Secretary of Defense greater flexibility in managing the acquisition and support workforce. Specifically, the provision would give the Secretary the flexibility to establish different experience, educational, and tenure requirements for acquisition positions; require the establishment of a single acquisition corps; and streamline obsolete and outdated provisions of DAWIA.