Border Security Technology Accountability Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1873
Sponsor: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2015-07-28 in the Senate
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Public contracts and procurement
Technology assessment

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-28
text: 

Border Security Technology Accountability Act of 2015

 
Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require each border security technology acquisition program of the Department of Homeland Security with a significant lifecycle cost estimate to: (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.
 
Directs: (1) the Under Secretary for Management, in coordination with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to ensure that border security technology acquisition program managers adhere to relevant internal control standards identified by the Government Accountability Office; and (2) CBP to provide information to assist the Under Secretary in monitoring proper program management of such acquisition programs.
 
Requires the Under Secretary, in coordination with CBP, to submit 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.

action_date: 2016-04-04
text: 

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. 
 
 
&quot;Major acquisition program&quot; 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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-04
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 406.
action_date: 2016-04-04
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-234.
action_date: 2016-04-04
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-234.
action_date: 2015-10-07
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2015-07-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2015-07-28
text: Introduced in Senate