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

Subtitle A—Provisions Relating to Major Defense Acquisition Programs

JWNDAA Section

House Conference Report 109-702

SEC. 801.  REQUIREMENTS MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION TRAINING PROGRAM.

(a) TRAINING PROGRAM.—

(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, in consultation with the Defense Acquisition University, shall develop a training program to certify military and civilian personnel of the Department of Defense with responsibility for generating requirements for major defense acquisition programs (as defined in section 2430(a) of title 10, United States Code).

(2) COMPETENCY AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—The Under Secretary shall establish competency requirements for the personnel undergoing the training program. The Under Secretary shall define the target population for such training program by identifying which military and civilian personnel should have responsibility for generating requirements. The Under Secretary also may establish other training programs for personnel not subject to chapter 87 of title 10, United States Code, who contribute significantly to other types of acquisitions by the Department of Defense.

(b) APPLICABILITY.—Effective on and after September 30, 2008, a member of the Armed Forces or an employee of the Department of Defense with authority to generate requirements for a major defense acquisition program may not continue to participate in the requirements generation process unless the member or employee successfully completes the certification training program developed under this section.

(c) REPORTS.—The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives an interim report, not later than March 1, 2007, and a final report, not later than March 1, 2008, on the implementation of the training program required under this section.

The House bill contained a provision (sec. 801) that would require the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, in consultation with the Defense Acquisition University, to develop a training program to certify civilian and military personnel with responsibility for developing requirements for major defense acquisition programs.

The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.

The Senate recedes with an amendment that would require the Under Secretary to establish the competency requirements for personnel undergoing requirements management training, and require that all personnel with responsibility for developing such requirements receive certification training by September 30, 2008.

The conferees believe that the training program established in accordance with this provision should address:

(1) the interrelationship between the requirements, budget, and acquisition processes;

(2) the importance of developing requirements that facilitate joint operations;

(3) the need to ensure that requirements are developed early in a program and the adverse effect of introducing new requirements after the commencement of system development and demonstration;

(4) the linkage between requirements and capability shortfalls identified by combatant commanders;

(5) the need for sound analysis of alternatives, realistic technical assessments based on technology readiness levels, and consultation with production engineers on the cost, schedule, and technical feasibility of requirements;

(6) the need for engineering feasibility assessments that weigh the technology readiness, integration, cost, and schedule impacts of proposed changes to requirements;

(7) the importance of developing requirements that are technologically mature, feasible, and achievable; and

(8) the importance of stable requirements to provide the baseline for successful program execution.

House Armed Services Committee Report 109-452

SECTION 801--REQUIREMENTS MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION TRAINING PROGRAM

This section would require the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, in consultation with the Defense Acquisition University, to establish competency requirements and a certification training program to improve the ability of civilian and military personnel of the Department of Defense to generate requirements that are added to Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs). This section would require instruction on the interdependence and interfaces between the requirements generation system; the planning, programming, budgeting and execution system; and the defense acquisition system that collectively contribute to the outcomes of MDAPs. This section would require the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics to ensure compliance with the training program.