Sec. 801. Modular open systems approaches in acquisition programs
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Not later than January 1, 2016, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics shall submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives detailing a plan to develop standards and define architectures necessary to enable open systems approaches in the key mission areas of the Department of Defense with respect to which the Under Secretary determines that such standards and architectures would be feasible and cost effective.
The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics shall review current acquisition guidance, and modify such guidance as necessary, to— ensure that acquisition programs include open systems approaches in the product design and acquisition of information technology systems to the maximum extent practicable; and for any information technology system not using an open systems approach, ensure that written justification is provided in the contract file for the system detailing why an open systems approach was not used.
The review required in paragraph
(1)shall— consider whether the guidance includes appropriate exceptions for the acquisition of— commercial items; and solutions addressing urgent operational needs; determine the extent to which open systems approaches should be addressed in analysis of alternatives, acquisition strategies, system engineering plans, and life cycle sustainment plans; and ensure that increments of acquisition programs consider the extent to which the increment will implement open systems approaches as a whole. The review required in this subsection shall be completed no later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report covering the matters specified in paragraph (2). Subject to paragraph (3), the report required in this subsection shall— identify all information technology systems that are in development, production, or deployed status as of the date of the enactment of this Act, that are or were major defense acquisition programs or major automated information systems, and that are not using an open systems approach; identify gaps in standards and architectures necessary to enable open systems approaches in the key mission areas of the Department of Defense, as determined pursuant to the plan submitted under subsection (a); and outline a process for potential conversion to an open systems approach for each information technology system identified under subparagraph (A). The report required in this subsection shall not include information technology systems— having a planned increment before fiscal year 2021 that will result in conversion to an open systems approach; and that will be in operation for fewer than 15 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. In this section: The term information technology has the meaning given the term in section 11101(6) of title 40, United States Code. The term open systems approach means, with respect to an information technology system, an integrated business and technical strategy that— employs a modular design and uses widely supported and consensus-based standards for key interfaces; is subjected to successful validation and verification tests to ensure key interfaces comply with widely supported and consensus-based standards; and uses a system architecture that allows components to be added, modified, replaced, removed, or supported by different vendors throughout the lifecycle of the system to afford opportunities for enhanced competition and innovation while yielding— significant cost and schedule savings; and increased interoperability.