10 U.S.C. § 4251 (ARMED FORCES)
§ 4251. 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, including risks determined by the identification of critical technologies required under section 4272(a)(1) of this title or any other risk assessment, 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;
(8) that, with respect to a program initiated after January 1, 2019, technology shall be developed in the program (after Milestone A approval) only if the milestone decision authority determines with a high degree of confidence that such development will not delay the fielding target of the program, or, if the milestone decision authority does not make such determination for a major system component being developed under the program, the milestone decision authority ensures that the technology related to the major system component shall be sufficiently matured and demonstrated in a relevant environment (after Milestone A approval) separate from the program using the prototyping authorities in subchapter II of chapter 327 of this title or other authorities, as appropriate, and have an effective plan for adoption or insertion by the relevant program; and
(9) that the program or subprogram meets any other considerations the milestone decision authority considers relevant.
(c) Submissions to Congress on Milestone A.—
(1) Brief summary report.—
Not later than 15 days after granting Milestone A approval for a major defense acquisition program, the milestone decision authority for the program shall provide to the congressional defense committees and, in the case of intelligence or intelligence-related activities, the congressional intelligence committees a brief summary report that contains the following elements:
(A) The program cost and fielding targets established under section 4271(a) of this title.
(B) The estimated cost and schedule for the program established by the military department concerned, including—
(i) the dollar values estimated for the program acquisition unit cost and total life-cycle cost; and
(ii) the planned dates for each program milestone and initial operational capability.
(C) The independent estimated cost for the program established pursuant to section 3221(b)(6) of this title, and any independent estimated schedule for the program, including—
(i) as assessment of the major contributors to the program acquisition unit cost and total life-cycle cost; and
(ii) the planned dates for each program milestone and initial operational capability.
(D) A summary of the technical or manufacturing risks associated with the program, as determined by the military department concerned, including identification of any critical technologies or manufacturing processes that need to be matured.
(E) A summary of the independent technical risk assessment conducted or approved under section 4272 of this title, including identification of any critical technologies or manufacturing processes that need to be matured.
(F) A summary of any sufficiency review conducted by the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation of the analysis of alternatives performed for the program (as referred to in subsection (b)(6)).
(G) Any other information the milestone decision authority considers relevant.
(2) Additional information.—
(A) At the request of any of the congressional defense committees or, in the case of intelligence or intelligence-related activities, the congressional intelligence committees, the milestone decision authority 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, or further information or underlying documentation for the information in a brief summary report submitted under paragraph (1), including the independent cost and schedule estimates and the independent technical risk assessments referred to in that paragraph.
(B) The explanation or information shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(d) Definitions.—
In this section:
(1) 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.
(2) 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.
(3) The term “Milestone B approval” has the meaning provided that term in section 4172(e)(7) of this title.
(4) The term “core logistics capabilities” means the core logistics capabilities identified under section 2464(a) of this title.
(5) 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.
(6) The term “fielding target” has the meaning given that term in section 4271(a) of this title.
(7) The term “major system component” has the meaning given that term in section 4401(b)(3) of this title.
(8) The term “congressional intelligence committees” has the meaning given that term in section 437(c) of this title.