Border Security Technology Accountability Act of 2015

To strengthen accountability for deployment of border security technology at the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Border Security Technology Accountability Act of 2015 2. Border security technology accountability (a) In general Subtitle C of title IV of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 231 et seq. 434. Border security technology program management (a) Planning documentation Each border security technology acquisition program of the Department with a significant lifecycle cost estimate shall— (1) have written documentation demonstrating that each such program has an acquisition program baseline approved by the relevant acquisition decision authority; and (2) demonstrate that each such program is meeting agreed-upon cost, schedule, and performance thresholds, in compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation. (b) Adherence to standards The Under Secretary for Management, in coordination with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall ensure border security technology acquisition program managers who are responsible for carrying out this section adhere to relevant internal control standards identified by the Comptroller General of the United States. The Commissioner shall provide information, as needed, to assist the Under Secretary in monitoring proper program management of border security technology acquisition programs under this section. (c) Plan The Under Secretary for Management, in coordination with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a plan for testing and evaluation, as well as the use of independent verification and validation resources, for border security technology so that new border security technologies are evaluated through a series of assessments, processes, and audits to ensure the effectiveness of taxpayer dollars. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 433 the following new item: Sec. 434. Border security technology program management. . 3. Prohibition on additional authorization of appropriations No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act. This Act and such amendments shall be carried out using amounts otherwise available for such purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Border Security Technology Accountability Act of 2015 2. Border security technology accountability (a) In general Subtitle C of title IV of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 231 et seq. 434. Border security technology program management (a) Planning documentation For each border security technology acquisition program of the Department that is determined to be a major acquisition program, the Secretary shall— (1) ensure that each such program has a written acquisition program baseline approved by the relevant acquisition decision authority; (2) document that each such program is meeting cost, schedule, and performance thresholds as specified in such baseline, in compliance with relevant departmental acquisition policies and the Federal Acquisition Regulation; and (3) have a plan for meeting program implementation objectives by managing contractor performance. (b) Adherence to standards The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Management and the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall ensure border security technology acquisition program managers who are responsible for carrying out this section adhere to relevant internal control standards identified by the Comptroller General of the United States. The Commissioner shall provide information, as needed, to assist the Under Secretary in monitoring proper program management of border security technology acquisition programs under this section. (c) Plan The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Management, in coordination with the Under Secretary for Science and Technology and the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a plan for testing and evaluation, as well as the use of independent verification and validation resources, for border security technology so that new border security technologies are evaluated through a series of assessments, processes, and audits to ensure compliance with relevant departmental acquisition policies and the Federal Acquisition Regulation, as well as the effectiveness of taxpayer dollars. (d) Major acquisition program defined In this section, the term major acquisition program . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 433 the following new item: Sec. 434. Border security technology program management. . 3. Prohibition on additional authorization of appropriations No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act. This Act and such amendments shall be carried out using amounts otherwise available for such purposes. April 4, 2016 Reported with an amendment

Summary: Border Security Technology Accountability Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), for each major border security technology acquisition program, to: ensure that it has a written acquisition program baseline approved by the relevant acquisition decision authority; document that it is meeting cost, schedule, and performance thresholds in compliance with departmental acquisition policies and the Federal Acquisition Regulation; and have a plan for meeting program implementation objectives by managing contractor performance. "Major acquisition program" means a DHS acquisition program estimated to require an eventual total expenditure of at least $300 million (based on FY2015 constant dollars) over its life cycle cost. Through the Under Secretary for Management and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), DHS shall ensure that border security technology acquisition program managers adhere to internal control standards identified by the Government Accountability Office. CBP shall provide information to assist the Under Secretary monitor program management. The Under Secretary shall submit a plan to Congress for border security technology testing and evaluation so that such new technologies are evaluated through a series of assessments, processes, and audits to ensure compliance with departmental acquisition policies and the Federal Acquisition Regulation, as well as the effectiveness of taxpayer dollars. (Sec. 3) No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.