HR 6871 RFS
‘‘(C) verify each life cycle cost estimate 
against independent cost estimates or assess-
ments, as appropriate, and reconcile any dif-
ferences; 
‘‘(D) complete a cost-benefit analysis with 
supporting documentation; and 
‘‘(E) develop and maintain a schedule that 
is consistent with scheduling best practices as 
identified by the Comptroller General of the 
United States, including, in appropriate cases, 
an integrated master schedule; 
‘‘(3) ensure that all acquisition program docu-
mentation provided by the component demonstrates 
the knowledge required for successful program exe-
cution prior to final approval and is complete, accu-
rate, timely, and valid; 
‘‘(4) in such cases where it is appropriate, exer-
cise the acquisition decision authority to approve, 
pause, modify (including the rescission of approvals 
of program milestones), or cancel major acquisition 
programs or non-major acquisition programs when 
delegated by the Under Secretary for Management 
pursuant to section 701(d)(3); and 
‘‘(5) review, oversee, and direct activities be-
tween acquisition decision events for major acquisi-
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tion programs within the component for which the 
Under Secretary for Management is the acquisition 
decision authority. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ACQUISITION.—The term ‘acquisition’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 131 of title 
41, United States Code. 
‘‘(2) ACQUISITION DECISION AUTHORITY.—The 
term ‘acquisition decision authority’ means the au-
thority, in addition to the authorities and functions 
specified in subsection (b) of section 1702 of title 
41, United States Code, held by the Secretary acting 
through the Under Secretary for Management to— 
‘‘(A) ensure compliance with Federal law, 
the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and De-
partment acquisition management directives; 
‘‘(B) review (including approving, pausing, 
modifying, or canceling) an acquisition program 
throughout the life cycle of such program; 
‘‘(C) ensure that acquisition program man-
agers have the resources necessary to success-
fully execute an approved acquisition program; 
‘‘(D) ensure appropriate acquisition pro-
gram management of cost, schedule, risk, and 
system or service performance of the acquisition 
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program at issue, including assessing acquisi-
tion program baseline breaches and directing 
any corrective action for such breaches; 
‘‘(E) ensure that acquisition program man-
agers, on an ongoing basis, monitor cost, sched-
ule, and performance against established base-
lines and use tools to assess risks to an acquisi-
tion program at all phases of the life-cycle of 
such program; and 
‘‘(F) establish policies and procedures for 
major acquisition programs of the Department. 
‘‘(3) ACQUISITION DECISION EVENT.—The term 
‘acquisition decision event’, with respect to an acqui-
sition program, means a predetermined point within 
the acquisition life-cycle at which the acquisition de-
cision authority determines whether such acquisition 
program shall proceed to the next acquisition phase. 
‘‘(4) ACQUISITION PROGRAM.—The term ‘acqui-
sition program’ means the conceptualization, initi-
ation, design, development, test, contracting, produc-
tion, deployment, logistics support, modification, or 
disposal of systems, supplies, or services (including 
construction) to satisfy the Department’s needs. 
‘‘(5) ACQUISITION
PROGRAM
BASELINE.—The 
term ‘acquisition program baseline’, with respect to 
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an acquisition program, means the cost, schedule, 
and performance parameters, expressed in standard, 
measurable, quantitative terms, which must be met 
to accomplish the goals of such program. 
‘‘(6) BEST PRACTICES.—The term ‘best prac-
tices’, with respect to acquisition, means a knowl-
edge-based approach to capability development, pro-
curement, and support that includes the following: 
‘‘(A) Identifying and validating needs. 
‘‘(B) Assessing alternatives to select the 
most appropriate solution. 
‘‘(C) Establishing well-defined require-
ments. 
‘‘(D) Developing realistic cost assessments 
and schedules that account for the entire life- 
cycle of an acquisition. 
‘‘(E) Demonstrating technology, design, 
and manufacturing maturity before initiating 
production. 
‘‘(F) Using milestones and exit criteria or 
specific accomplishments that demonstrate the 
attainment of knowledge to support progress 
throughout the acquisition phases. 
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‘‘(G) Regularly assessing and managing 
risks to achieve requirements and cost and 
schedule goals. 
‘‘(H) To the maximum extent possible, 
adopting and executing standardized processes. 
‘‘(I) Establishing a workforce that is quali-
fied to perform necessary acquisition roles. 
‘‘(J) Integrating into the Department’s 
mission and business operations the capabilities 
described in subparagraphs (A) through (I). 
‘‘(7) BREACH.—The term ‘breach’, with respect 
to a major acquisition program, means a failure to 
meet any cost, schedule, or performance threshold 
specified in the most recently approved acquisition 
program baseline. 
‘‘(8) CONGRESSIONAL
HOMELAND
SECURITY 
COMMITTEES.—The term ‘congressional homeland 
security committees’ means— 
‘‘(A) the Committee on Homeland Security 
of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate; and 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Appropriations of 
the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate. 
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