10 U.S.C. § 2366a (ARMED FORCES)
§ 2366a. Major defense acquisition programs: determination required before Milestone A approval
(a) Responsibilities.—
Before granting Milestone A approval for a major defense acquisition program or a major subprogram, the milestone decision authority for the program or subprogram shall ensure that—
(1) information about the program or subprogram is sufficient to warrant entry of the program or subprogram into the risk reduction phase;
(2) the Secretary of the military department concerned and the Chief of the armed force concerned concur in the cost, schedule, technical feasibility, and performance trade-offs that have been made with regard to the program; and
(3) there are sound plans for progression of the program or subprogram to the development phase.
(b) Written Determination Required.—
A major defense acquisition program or subprogram may not receive Milestone A approval or otherwise be initiated prior to Milestone B approval until the milestone decision authority determines in writing, after consultation with the Joint Requirements Oversight Council on matters related to program requirements and military needs—
(1) that the program fulfills an approved initial capabilities document;
(2) that the program has been developed in light of appropriate market research;
(3) if the program duplicates a capability already provided by an existing system, the duplication provided by such program is necessary and appropriate;
(4) that, with respect to any identified areas of risk, there is a plan to reduce the risk;
(5) that planning for sustainment has been addressed and that a determination of applicability of core logistics capabilities requirements has been made;
(6) that an analysis of alternatives has been performed consistent with study guidance developed by the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation;
(7) that a cost estimate for the program has been submitted, with the concurrence of the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, and that the level of resources required to develop, procure, and sustain the program is sufficient for successful program execution; and
(8) that the program or subprogram meets any other considerations the milestone decision authority considers relevant.
(c) Submission to Congress.—
At the request of any of the congressional defense committees, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the committee an explanation of the basis for a determination made under subsection (b) with respect to a major defense acquisition program, together with a copy of the written determination. The explanation shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(d) Definitions.—
In this section:
(1) The term “major defense acquisition program” has the meaning provided in section 2430 of this title.
(2) The term “initial capabilities document” means any capabilities requirement document approved by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council that establishes the need for a materiel approach to resolve a capability gap.
(3) The term “Milestone A approval” means a decision to enter into technology maturation and risk reduction pursuant to guidance prescribed by the Secretary of Defense for the management of Department of Defense acquisition programs.
(4) The term “Milestone B approval” has the meaning provided that term in section 2366(e)(7) of this title.
(5) The term “core logistics capabilities” means the core logistics capabilities identified under section 2464(a) of this title.
(6) the term “major subprogram” means a major subprogram of a major defense acquisition program designated under section 2430a(a)(1) of this title.
(7) The term “milestone decision authority”, with respect to a major defense acquisition program or a major subprogram, means the official within the Department of Defense designated with the overall responsibility and authority for acquisition decisions for the program or subprogram, including authority to approve entry of the program or subprogram into the next phase of the acquisition process.
(Added Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title IX, § 943(a)(1), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 288, § 2366b; renumbered § 2366a and amended Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title VIII, § 813(b), (e)(1), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4527; Pub. L. 111–23, title I, § 101(d)(3), title II, §§ 201(e), 204(a), (b), May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1710, 1720, 1723; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VIII, § 814(b), title X, § 1075(b)(33), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4266, 4370; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VIII, § 801(a), (e)(1), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1482, 1483; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title III, § 322(e)(1), title X, § 1076(a)(10), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1695, 1948; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, § 823(a), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 902.)
heading: Prior Provisions
text: A prior section 2366a was renumbered section 2366b of this title.
heading: Amendments
text: 2015—Pub. L. 114–92 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to certification required before Milestone A approval of major defense acquisition programs.
2013—Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(a)(10)(C), made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 112–81, § 801(e)(1)(A). See 2011 Amendment note below.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 112–239, § 322(e)(1), substituted “core logistics capabilities” for “core depot-level maintenance and repair capabilities”.
Subsec. (a)(5), (6). Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(a)(10)(A), made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 112–81, § 801(a)(1)(B). See 2011 Amendment notes below.
Subsec. (c)(7). Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(a)(10)(B), made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 112–81, § 801(a)(2). See 2011 Amendment note below.
Pub. L. 112–239, § 322(e)(1), substituted “core logistics capabilities” for “core depot-level maintenance and repair capabilities” in two places.
2011—Pub. L. 112–81, § 801(e)(1)(A), as amended by Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(a)(10)(C), struck out “or Key Decision Point A” after “Milestone A” in section catchline.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–81, § 801(e)(1)(B), struck out “, or Key Decision Point A approval in the case of a space program,” after “Milestone A approval” and “, or Key Decision Point B approval in the case of a space program,” after “Milestone B approval” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 112–81, § 801(a)(1)(A), substituted “function” for “core competency”.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 112–81, § 801(a)(1)(C), added par. (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (5).
Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 112–81, § 801(a)(1)(B), as amended by Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(a)(10)(A), redesignated par. (4) as (5). Former par. (5) redesignated (6).
Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 112–81, § 801(a)(1)(D), substituted “develop, procure, and sustain” for “develop and procure”.
Pub. L. 112–81, § 801(a)(1)(B), as amended by Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(a)(10)(A), redesignated par. (5) as (6).
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 112–81, § 801(e)(1)(C)(i), struck out “(or Key Decision Point A approval in the case of a space program)” after “Milestone A approval”.
Pub. L. 111–383, § 814(b)(1)(A), substituted “a major defense acquisition program certified by the Milestone Decision Authority under subsection (a) or a designated major subprogram of such program, if the projected cost of the program or subprogram” for “a major defense acquisition program certified by the Milestone Decision Authority under subsection (a), if the projected cost of the program”.
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 111–383, § 814(b)(1)(B), inserted “or designated major subprogram” after “major defense acquisition program”.
Subsec. (b)(2)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 112–81, § 801(e)(1)(C)(ii), struck out “, or Key Decision Point A approval in the case of a space program,” after “Milestone A approval”.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–383, § 1075(b)(33)(A), inserted a space after “(c)”.
Subsec. (c)(2) to (5). Pub. L. 111–383, § 814(b)(2), added par. (2) and redesignated former pars. (2) to (4) as (3) to (5), respectively. Former par. (5) redesignated (6).
Pub. L. 111–383, § 1075(b)(33)(B), which directed substitution of “section 118b(c)(3) of this title” for “section 125a(a) of this title” in par. (4), was executed by making the substitution in par. (5) to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the amendment by Pub. L. 111–383, § 814(b)(2)(A). See above.
Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 111–383, § 814(b)(2)(A), redesignated par. (5) as (6).
Subsec. (c)(7). Pub. L. 112–81, § 801(a)(2), as amended by Pub. L. 112–239, § 1076(a)(10)(B), added par. (7).
2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–23, § 204(a), substituted “may not receive Milestone A approval, or Key Decision Point A approval in the case of a space program, or otherwise be initiated prior to Milestone B approval, or Key Decision Point B approval in the case of a space program,” for “may not receive Milestone A approval, or Key Decision Point A approval in the case of a space program,” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 111–23, § 201(e)(1), struck out “and” at end.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 111–23, § 201(e)(3), added par. (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (5).
Pub. L. 111–23, § 101(d)(3), inserted “, with the concurrence of the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation,” after “has been submitted”.
Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 111–23, § 201(e)(2), redesignated par. (4) as (5).
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–23, § 204(b), designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “by at least 25 percent, or the program manager determines that the period of time required for the delivery of an initial operational capability is likely to exceed the schedule objective established pursuant to section 181(b)(5) of this title by more than 25 percent,” for “by at least 25 percent,”, and added par. (2).
2008—Pub. L. 110–417, § 813(b), renumbered section 2366b of this title as this section.
Subsec. (a)(1), (2). Pub. L. 110–417, § 813(e)(1)(A), substituted “program” for “system”.
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 110–417, § 813(e)(1)(B), substituted “if the program” for “if the system” and “such program” for “such system”.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 110–417, § 813(e)(1)(A), substituted “program” for “system” in two places.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–417, § 813(e)(1)(C), substituted “major defense acquisition program” for “major system”, “cost of the program” for “cost of the system”, “estimate for the program” for “estimate for the system”, “the program concerned” for “the system concerned”, and “procure the program” for “procure the system”.
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 110–417, § 813(e)(1)(D), substituted “ ‘major defense acquisition program’ ” for “ ‘major system’ ” and “2430” for “2302(5)”.
heading: Effective Date of 2013 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title III, § 322(f), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1695, provided that: “This section [enacting sections 2460 and 2464 of this title, amending this section and sections 2366b, 2460, and 2464 of this title, repealing sections 2460 and 2464 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under this section] and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on December 31, 2011, the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 [Pub. L. 112–81], immediately after the enactment of that Act.”
Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1076(a), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1947, provided that the amendment made by section 1076(a)(10) is effective Dec. 31, 2011, and as if included in Pub. L. 112–81 as enacted.
heading: Effective Date
text: Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title IX, § 943(c), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 289, as amended by Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title VIII, § 813(e)(2)(B), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4528, provided that: “Section 2366b [now 2366a] of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to major defense acquisition programs on and after March 1, 2008. In the case of the certification required by paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of such section, during the period prior to the completion of the first quadrennial roles and missions review required by [former] section 118b of title 10, United States Code, the certification required by that paragraph shall be that the system is being executed by an entity with a relevant core competency as identified by the Secretary of Defense.”
heading: Milestone A Decisions
text: Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, § 802(d)(2), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 880, provided that: “The Chief of the Armed Force concerned shall advise the milestone decision authority for a major defense acquisition program of the Chief’s views on cost, schedule, technical feasibility, and performance trade-offs that have been made with regard to the program, as provided in section 2366a(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code, as amended by section 823 of this Act, prior to a Milestone A decision on the program.”
heading: Requirements Prior to Low-Rate Initial Production
text: 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.”
heading: Guidance
text: Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VIII, § 801(d), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1483, provided that: “Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 31, 2011], the Secretary of Defense shall issue guidance implementing the amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) [amending this section and section 2366b of this title], and subsection (c) [set out above], in a manner that is consistent across the Department of Defense.”
heading: Application to Ongoing Programs
text: Pub. L. 111–23, title II, § 204(c), May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1723, as amended by Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VIII, § 813(c), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4265, which related to application of the requirements of this section to certain major defense acquisition programs initiated before May 22, 2009, was repealed by Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VIII, § 819(a), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1501.
heading: Review of Department of Defense Acquisition Directives
text: Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title IX, § 943(b), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 289, as amended by Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title VIII, § 813(e)(2)(A), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4528, provided that: “Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 28, 2008], the Secretary of Defense shall review Department of Defense Directive 5000.1 and associated guidance, and the manner in which such directive and guidance have been implemented, and take appropriate steps to ensure that the Department does not commence a technology development program for a major defense acquisition program without Milestone A approval (or Key Decision Point A approval in the case of a space program).”