Sec. 863. Use of performance and commercial specifications in lieu of military specifications and standards

276 words·~1 min read·/bill/114/s/2943/es/section-863

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The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the Department of Defense uses performance and commercial specifications and standards in lieu of military specifications and standards, including for procuring new systems, major modifications, upgrades to current systems, non-developmental and commercial items, and programs in all acquisition categories, unless no practical alternative exists to meet user needs. If it is not practicable to use a performance specification, a non-government standard shall be used.

Military specifications shall be used in procurements only to define an exact design solution when there is no acceptable non-governmental standard or when the use of a performance specification or non-government standard is not cost effective. A waiver for the use of military specifications and standards in accordance with paragraph

(1)must be approved by either the Milestone Decision Authority, the Service Acquisition Executive, or the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics shall revise the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to encourage contractors to propose non-government standards and industry-wide practices that meet the intent of the military specifications and standards. The Under Secretary for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics shall form partnerships with appropriate industry associations to develop non-government standards for replacement of military standards where practicable. The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics shall ensure that training and education programs throughout the Department are revised to incorporate specifications and standards reform. The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics shall negotiate licenses for standards to be used across the Department of Defense.