### **CHAPTER 323—LIFE-CYCLE AND SUSTAINMENT**

Sec.
4321.
Development of major defense acquisition programs: sustainment of system to be replaced.
4322.
[Reserved].
4323.
Sustainment reviews.
4324.
Life-cycle management and product support.
4325.
Major weapon systems: assessment, management, and control of operating and support costs.
4326.
[Reserved].
4327.
[Reserved].
4328.
Weapon system design: sustainment factors.

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Prior Provisions

A prior chapter 323 "INNOVATION", consisting of reserved section 4301, was repealed by Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, §1841(a)(1)(A), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4242.

#### Amendments

**2021**—Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, §1701(f)(9), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2140, added item 4324 and struck out former item 4324 "Major systems: life-cycle management and product support".

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Standardized Policy Guidance for Calculating Aircraft Operation and Sustainment Costs

Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVII, §1747, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1847, provided that: "Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2019], the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in coordination with the Director of Cost Analysis and Program Evaluation and in consultation with the Secretary of each of the military services, shall develop and implement standardized policy guidance for calculating aircraft operation and sustainment costs for the Department of Defense. Such guidance shall provide for a standardized calculation of—

"(1) aircraft cost per flying hour;

"(2) aircraft cost per aircraft tail per year;

"(3) total cost of ownership per flying hour for aircraft systems;

"(4) average annual operation and sustainment cost per aircraft; and

"(5) any other cost metrics the Under Secretary of Defense determines appropriate."

#### Requirements Prior to Low-Rate Initial Production

Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VIII, §801(c), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1483, as amended by Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title III, §322(e)(3), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1695, provided that: "Prior to entering into a contract for low-rate initial production of a major defense acquisition program, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the detailed requirements for core logistics capabilities and the associated sustaining workloads required to support such requirements, have been defined."

#### Acquisition Strategies To Ensure Competition Throughout the Lifecycle of Major Defense Acquisition Programs

Pub. L. 111–23, title II, §202, May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1720, as amended by Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VIII, §837, Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1509; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VIII, §825, Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1833, provided that:

"(a) Acquisition Strategies To Ensure Competition.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the acquisition strategy for each major defense acquisition program includes—

"(1) measures to ensure competition, or the option of competition, at both the prime contract level and the subcontract level (at such tier or tiers as are appropriate) of such program throughout the life-cycle of such program as a means to improve contractor performance; and

"(2) adequate documentation of the rationale for the selection of the subcontract tier or tiers under paragraph (1).

"(b) Measures To Ensure Competition.—The measures to ensure competition, or the option of competition, for purposes of subsection (a)(1) may include measures to achieve the following, in appropriate cases if such measures are cost-effective:

"(1) Competitive prototyping.

"(2) Dual-sourcing.

"(3) Unbundling of contracts.

"(4) Funding of next-generation prototype systems or subsystems.

"(5) Use of modular, open architectures to enable competition for upgrades.

"(6) Use of build-to-print approaches to enable production through multiple sources.

"(7) Acquisition of complete technical data packages.

"(8) Periodic competitions for subsystem upgrades.

"(9) Licensing of additional suppliers.

"(10) Periodic system or program reviews to address long-term competitive effects of program decisions.

"(c) Additional Measures To Ensure Competition at Subcontract Level.—The Secretary shall take actions to ensure competition or the option of competition at the subcontract level on major defense acquisition programs by—

"(1) where appropriate, breaking out a major subsystem, conducting a separate competition for the subsystem, and providing the subsystem to the prime contractor as Government-furnished equipment;

"(2) requiring prime contractors to give full and fair consideration to qualified sources other than the prime contractor for the development or construction of major subsystems and components of major weapon systems;

"(3) providing for government surveillance of the process by which prime contractors consider such sources and determine whether to conduct such development or construction in-house or through a subcontract; and

"(4) providing for the assessment of the extent to which a contractor has given full and fair consideration to qualified sources other than the contractor in sourcing decisions as a part of past performance evaluations.

"(d) Consideration of Competition Throughout Maintenance and Sustainment of Major Weapon Systems and Subsystems.—Whenever a decision regarding source of repair results in a plan to award a contract for performance of maintenance and sustainment of a major weapon system or subsystem of a major weapon system, the Secretary shall take actions to ensure that, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with statutory requirements, contracts for such maintenance and sustainment, or for components needed for such maintenance and sustainment, are awarded on a competitive basis and give full consideration to all sources (including sources that partner or subcontract with public or private sector repair activities).

"(e) Applicability.—

"(1) Strategy and measures to ensure competition.—The requirements of subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to any acquisition plan for a major defense acquisition program that is developed or revised on or after the date that is 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [May 22, 2009].

"(2) Additional actions.—The actions required by subsections (c) and (d) shall be taken within 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act."

#### Preservation of Tooling for Major Defense Acquisition Programs

Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title VIII, §815, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4530, directed the Secretary of Defense to issue, not later than 270 days after Oct. 14, 2008, guidance requiring the preservation and storage of unique tooling associated with the production of hardware for a major defense acquisition program through the end of the service life of the end item associated with such a program.

#### Definitions

Pub. L. 111–23, §2, May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1704, provided that: "In this Act [see Short Title of 2009 Amendment note set out under section 101 of this title]:

"(1) The term 'congressional defense committees' has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code.

"(2) The term 'major defense acquisition program' has the meaning given that term in section 2430 of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4201].

"(3) The term 'major weapon system' has the meaning given that term in section 2379(d) [probably means section 2379(f)] of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 3455(f)]."