Title: DHS Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
DHS Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017
This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to revise acquisition and procurement programs and activities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The bill designates the DHS Under Secretary for Management as the DHS Chief Acquisition Officer and sets forth the Under Secretary's acquisition-related duties.
The bill sets forth the responsibilities of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology.
The DHS Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation shall oversee the costs of acquisition programs and related activities to ensure that actual and planned costs are in accordance with budget estimates and are affordable, or can be adequately funded, over their life cycle.
The DHS Chief Information Officer shall: (1) oversee the management of the Homeland Security Enterprise Architecture, (2) make recommendations to the Acquisition Review Board regarding information technology programs, and (3) be responsible for developing information technology acquisition strategic guidance.
The bill establishes within the Management Directorate of DHS a Program Accountability and Risk Management office.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1252 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1252

   To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for certain 
 acquisition authorities for the Under Secretary of Management of the 
        Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 28, 2017

 Mr. Higgins of Louisiana (for himself and Mr. McCaul) introduced the 
    following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland 
                                Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for certain 
 acquisition authorities for the Under Secretary of Management of the 
        Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``DHS Acquisition Authorities Act of 
2017''.

SEC. 2. ACQUISITION AUTHORITIES FOR UNDER SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT OF 
              THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

    Section 701 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 341) is 
amended by--
            (1) redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(d) Acquisition and Related Responsibilities.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 1702(b) of title 
        41, United States Code, the Under Secretary for Management is 
        the Chief Acquisition Officer of the Department. As Chief 
        Acquisition Officer, the Under Secretary shall have the 
        authorities and perform the functions specified in section 
        1702(b) of such title, and perform all other functions and 
        responsibilities delegated by the Secretary or described in 
        this subsection.
            ``(2) Functions and responsibilities.--In addition to the 
        authorities and functions specified in section 1702(b) of title 
        41, United States Code, the functions and responsibilities of 
        the Under Secretary for Management related to acquisition (as 
        such term is defined in section 710) include the following:
                    ``(A) Advising the Secretary regarding acquisition 
                management activities, taking into account risks of 
                failure to achieve cost, schedule, or performance 
                parameters, to ensure that the Department achieves its 
                mission through the adoption of widely accepted program 
                management best practices (as such term is defined in 
                section 710) and standards.
                    ``(B) Leading the Department's acquisition 
                oversight body, the Acquisition Review Board, and 
                exercising the acquisition decision authority (as such 
                term is defined in section 710) to approve, pause, 
                modify (including the rescission of approvals of 
                program milestones), or cancel major acquisition 
                programs (as such term is defined in section 710), 
                unless the Under Secretary delegates such authority to 
                a Component Acquisition Executive (as such term is 
                defined in section 710) pursuant to paragraph (3).
                    ``(C) Establishing policies for acquisition that 
                implement an approach that takes into account risks of 
                failure to achieve cost, schedule, or performance 
                parameters that all components of the Department shall 
                comply with, including outlining relevant authorities 
                for program managers to effectively manage acquisition 
                programs.
                    ``(D) Ensuring that each major acquisition program 
                has a Department-approved acquisition program baseline 
                (as such term is defined in section 710), pursuant to 
                the Department's acquisition management policy.
                    ``(E) Ensuring that the heads of components and 
                Component Acquisition Executives comply with Federal 
                law, the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and Department 
                acquisition management directives.
                    ``(F) Ensuring that grants and financial assistance 
                are provided only to individuals and organizations that 
                are not suspended or debarred.
                    ``(G) Distributing guidance throughout the 
                Department to ensure that contractors involved in 
                acquisitions, particularly contractors that access the 
                Department's information systems and technologies, 
                adhere to relevant Department policies related to 
                physical and information security as identified by the 
                Under Secretary for Management.
                    ``(H) Overseeing the Component Acquisition 
                Executive organizational structure to ensure Component 
                Acquisition Executives have sufficient capabilities and 
                comply with Department acquisition policies.
            ``(3) Delegation of acquisition decision authority.--
                    ``(A) Level 3 acquisitions.--The Under Secretary 
                for Management may delegate acquisition decision 
                authority in writing to the relevant Component 
                Acquisition Executive for an acquisition program that 
                has a life cycle cost estimate of less than 
                $300,000,000.
                    ``(B) Level 2 acquisitions.--The Under Secretary 
                for Management may delegate acquisition decision 
                authority in writing to the relevant Component 
                Acquisition Executive for a major acquisition program 
                that has a life cycle cost estimate of at least 
                $300,000,000 but not more than $1,000,000,000 if all of 
                the following requirements are met:
                            ``(i) The component concerned possesses 
                        working policies, processes, and procedures 
                        that are consistent with Department-level 
                        acquisition policy.
                            ``(ii) The Component Acquisition Executive 
                        concerned has adequate, experienced, and 
                        dedicated professional employees with program 
                        management training, as applicable, 
                        commensurate with the size of the acquisition 
                        programs and related activities delegated to 
                        such Component Acquisition Executive by the 
                        Under Secretary for Management.
                            ``(iii) Each major acquisition program 
                        concerned has written documentation showing 
                        that it has a Department-approved acquisition 
                        program baseline and it is meeting agreed-upon 
                        cost, schedule, and performance thresholds.
            ``(4) Relationship to under secretary for science and 
        technology.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Nothing in this subsection shall 
                diminish the authority granted to the Under Secretary 
                for Science and Technology under this Act. The Under 
                Secretary for Management and the Under Secretary for 
                Science and Technology shall cooperate in matters 
                related to the coordination of acquisitions across the 
                Department so that investments of the Directorate of 
                Science and Technology are able to support current and 
                future requirements of the components of the 
                Department.
                    ``(B) Operational testing and evaluation.--The 
                Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall--
                            ``(i) ensure, in coordination with relevant 
                        component heads, that major acquisition 
                        programs--
                                    ``(I) complete operational testing 
                                and evaluation of technologies and 
                                systems;
                                    ``(II) use independent verification 
                                and validation of operational test and 
                                evaluation implementation and results; 
                                and
                                    ``(III) document whether such 
                                programs meet all performance 
                                requirements included in their 
                                acquisition program baselines;
                            ``(ii) ensure that such operational testing 
                        and evaluation includes all system components 
                        and incorporates operators into the testing to 
                        ensure that systems perform as intended in the 
                        appropriate operational setting; and
                            ``(iii) determine if testing conducted by 
                        other Federal agencies and private entities is 
                        relevant and sufficient in determining whether 
                        systems perform as intended in the operational 
                        setting.''.

SEC. 3. ACQUISITION AUTHORITIES FOR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

    Paragraph (2) of section 702(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 
2002 (6 U.S.C. 342(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph:
                    ``(J) Oversee the costs of acquisition programs and 
                related activities to ensure that actual and planned 
                costs are in accordance with budget estimates and are 
                affordable, or can be adequately funded, over the life 
                cycle of such programs and activities.''.

SEC. 4. ACQUISITION AUTHORITIES FOR CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

    Section 703 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 343) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(b) Acquisition Responsibilities.--Notwithstanding section 11315 
of title 40, United States Code, the acquisition responsibilities of 
the Chief Information Officer, in consultation with the Under Secretary 
for Management, shall include the following:
            ``(1) Oversee the management of the Homeland Security 
        Enterprise Architecture and ensure that, before each 
        acquisition decision event (as such term is defined in section 
        710), approved information technology acquisitions comply with 
        departmental information technology management processes, 
        technical requirements, and the Homeland Security Enterprise 
        Architecture, and in any case in which information technology 
        acquisitions do not comply with the Department's management 
        directives, make recommendations to the Acquisition Review 
        Board regarding such noncompliance.
            ``(2) Be responsible for providing recommendations to the 
        Acquisition Review Board regarding information technology 
        programs, and be responsible for developing information 
        technology acquisition strategic guidance.''.

SEC. 5. ACQUISITION AUTHORITIES FOR PROGRAM ACCOUNTABILITY AND RISK 
              MANAGEMENT (PARM).

    (a) In General.--Title VII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 341 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 710. Acquisition authorities for Program Accountability and Risk 
              Management
    ``(a) Establishment of Office.--Within the Management Directorate, 
there shall be a Program Accountability and Risk Management office to--
            ``(1) provide consistent accountability, standardization, 
        and transparency of major acquisition programs of the 
        Department; and
            ``(2) serve as the central oversight function for all 
        Department acquisition programs.
    ``(b) Responsibilities of Executive Director.--The Program 
Accountability and Risk Management office shall be led by an Executive 
Director to oversee the requirement under subsection (a). The Executive 
Director shall report directly to the Under Secretary for Management, 
and shall carry out the following responsibilities:
            ``(1) Monitor regularly the performance of Department 
        acquisition programs between acquisition decision events to 
        identify problems with cost, performance, or schedule that 
        components may need to address to prevent cost overruns, 
        performance issues, or schedule delays.
            ``(2) Assist the Under Secretary for Management in managing 
        the Department's acquisition programs and related activities.
            ``(3) Conduct oversight of individual acquisition programs 
        to implement Department acquisition program policy, procedures, 
        and guidance with a priority on ensuring the data the office 
        collects and maintains from Department components is accurate 
        and reliable.
            ``(4) Serve as the focal point and coordinator for the 
        acquisition life cycle review process and as the executive 
        secretariat for the Acquisition Review Board.
            ``(5) Advise the persons having acquisition decision 
        authority in making acquisition decisions consistent with all 
        applicable laws and in establishing clear lines of authority, 
        accountability, and responsibility for acquisition 
        decisionmaking within the Department.
            ``(6) Engage in the strategic planning and performance 
        evaluation process required under section 306 of title 5, 
        United States Code, and sections 1105(a)(28), 1115, 1116, and 
        9703 of title 31, United States Code, by supporting the Chief 
        Procurement Officer in developing strategies and specific plans 
        for hiring, training, and professional development in order to 
        rectify any deficiency within the Department's acquisition 
        workforce.
            ``(7) Develop standardized certification standards in 
        consultation with the Component Acquisition Executives for all 
        acquisition program managers.
            ``(8) In the event that an acquisition program manager's 
        certification or actions need review for purposes of promotion 
        or removal, provide input, in consultation with the relevant 
        Component Acquisition Executive, into the relevant acquisition 
        program manager's performance evaluation, and report positive 
        or negative experiences to the relevant certifying authority.
            ``(9) Provide technical support and assistance to 
        Department acquisitions and acquisition personnel in 
        conjunction with the Chief Procurement Officer.
            ``(10) Prepare the Department's Comprehensive Acquisition 
        Status Report, as required by title I of division D of the 
        Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113), and 
        make such report available to the congressional homeland 
        security committees.
    ``(c) Responsibilities of Components.--Each head of a component 
shall comply with Federal law, the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and 
Department acquisition management directives established by the Under 
Secretary for Management. For each major acquisition program, each head 
of a component shall--
            ``(1) define baseline requirements and document changes to 
        such requirements, as appropriate;
            ``(2) establish a complete life cycle cost estimate with 
        supporting documentation, including an acquisition program 
        baseline;
            ``(3) verify each life cycle cost estimate against 
        independent cost estimates, and reconcile any differences;
            ``(4) complete a cost-benefit analysis with supporting 
        documentation;
            ``(5) 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; and
            ``(6) ensure that all acquisition program information 
        provided by the component is complete, accurate, timely, and 
        valid.
    ``(d) 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 authority, held by 
        the Secretary acting through the Deputy Secretary or Under 
        Secretary for Management to--
                    ``(A) ensure compliance with Federal law, the 
                Federal Acquisition Regulation, and Department 
                acquisition management directives;
                    ``(B) review (including approving, pausing, 
                modifying, or canceling) an acquisition program through 
                the life cycle of such program;
                    ``(C) ensure that acquisition program managers have 
                the resources necessary to successfully execute an 
                approved acquisition program;
                    ``(D) ensure good acquisition program management of 
                cost, schedule, risk, and system performance of the 
                acquisition program at issue, including assessing 
                acquisition program baseline breaches and directing any 
                corrective action for such breaches; and
                    ``(E) ensure that acquisition program managers, on 
                an ongoing basis, monitor cost, schedule, and 
                performance against established baselines and use tools 
                to assess risks to an acquisition program at all phases 
                of the life cycle of such program to avoid and mitigate 
                acquisition program baseline breaches.
            ``(3) Acquisition decision event.--The term `acquisition 
        decision event', with respect to an acquisition program, means 
        a predetermined point within each of the acquisition phases at 
        which the acquisition decision authority determines whether 
        such acquisition program shall proceed to the next acquisition 
        phase.
            ``(4) Acquisition program.--The term `acquisition program' 
        means the process by which the Department acquires, with any 
        appropriated amounts, by contract for purchase or lease, 
        property or services (including construction) that support the 
        missions and goals of the Department.
            ``(5) Acquisition program baseline.--The term `acquisition 
        program baseline', with respect to an acquisition program, 
        means a summary of the cost, schedule, and performance 
        parameters, expressed in standard, measurable, quantitative 
        terms, which must be met in order to accomplish the goals of 
        such program.
            ``(6) Best practices.--The term `best practices', with 
        respect to acquisition, means a knowledge-based approach to 
        capability development that includes--
                    ``(A) identifying and validating needs;
                    ``(B) assessing alternatives to select the most 
                appropriate solution;
                    ``(C) clearly establishing well-defined 
                requirements;
                    ``(D) developing realistic cost assessments and 
                schedules;
                    ``(E) securing stable funding that matches 
                resources to requirements;
                    ``(F) demonstrating technology, design, and 
                manufacturing maturity;
                    ``(G) using milestones and exit criteria or 
                specific accomplishments that demonstrate progress;
                    ``(H) adopting and executing standardized processes 
                with known success across programs;
                    ``(I) establishing an adequate workforce that is 
                qualified and sufficient to perform necessary 
                functions; and
                    ``(J) integrating the capabilities described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (I) into the Department's 
                mission and business operations.
            ``(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 Committee on Homeland 
                Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
                    ``(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
                of Representatives and of the Senate.
            ``(9) Component acquisition executive.--The term `Component 
        Acquisition Executive' means the senior acquisition official 
        within a component who is designated in writing by the Under 
        Secretary for Management, in consultation with the component 
        head, with authority and responsibility for leading a process 
        and staff to provide acquisition and program management 
        oversight, policy, and guidance to ensure that statutory, 
        regulatory, and higher level policy requirements are fulfilled, 
        including compliance with Federal law, the Federal Acquisition 
        Regulation, and Department acquisition management directives 
        established by the Under Secretary for Management.
            ``(10) Major acquisition program.--The term `major 
        acquisition program' means a Department acquisition program 
        that is estimated by the Secretary to require an eventual total 
        expenditure of at least $300,000,000 (based on fiscal year 2017 
        constant dollars) over its life cycle cost.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 709 the following new item:

``Sec. 710. Acquisition authorities for Program Accountability and Risk 
                            Management.''.
                                 <all>