Sec. 301. Definitions

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Subtitle D of title VIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting before section 831 the following new section: In this subtitle: The term acquisition has the meaning given such term in section 131 of title 41, United States Code. The term acquisition decision authority means the authority, held by the Secretary acting through the Under Secretary for Management to— ensure compliance with Federal law, the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and Department acquisition management directives; review (including approving, pausing, modifying, or canceling) an acquisition program through the life cycle of such program; ensure that acquisition program managers have the resources necessary to successfully execute an approved acquisition program; ensure appropriate 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 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.

The term acquisition decision event , with respect to an acquisition program, means a predetermined point within the acquisition lifecycle at which the acquisition decision authority determines whether such acquisition program shall proceed to the next acquisition phase. The term acquisition decision memorandum , with respect to an acquisition, means the official documented record of decisions, including the rationale for the decisions and any assigned actions for such acquisition, as determined by the person exercising acquisition decision authority for such acquisition.

The term acquisition program means the process by which the Department acquires, with any appropriated amounts or fee funding, by contract for purchase or lease, property or services (including construction) that support the missions and goals of the Department. 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.

The term best practices , with respect to acquisition, means a knowledge-based approach to capability development that includes the following: Identifying and validating needs. Assessing alternatives to select the most appropriate solution. Clearly establishing well-defined requirements. Developing realistic cost estimates and schedules that account for the entire life cycle of an acquisition. Securing stable funding that matches resources to requirements before initiating development.

Demonstrating technology, design, and manufacturing maturity before initiating production. Using milestones and exit criteria or specific accomplishments that demonstrate the attainment of knowledge to support progress. Regularly assessing and managing risks to achieving requirements and cost and schedule goals. Adopting and executing standardized processes with known success across programs. Establishing an adequate workforce that is qualified and sufficient to perform necessary functions.

Integrating the capabilities described in subparagraphs

(A)through

(J)into the Department’s mission and business operations. 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. The term congressional homeland security committees means— the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and of the Senate. 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. The term life cycle cost means the total ownership cost of an acquisition, including all relevant costs related to acquiring, deploying, operating, maintaining, and disposing of the system, project, or product over a specified period of time. The term major acquisition program means a Department capital asset, services, or hybrid acquisition program that is estimated by the Secretary to require an eventual total expenditure of at least $300,000,000 (based on fiscal year 2020 constant dollars) over its life cycle or a program identified by the Chief Acquisition Officer as a program of special interest. The term non-major acquisition program means a Department capital asset, services, or hybrid acquisition program that is estimated by the Secretary to require an eventual total expenditure of less than $300,000,000 (based on fiscal year 2020 constant dollars) over its life cycle. . The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is further amended by inserting before the item relating to section 831 the following new item: 830. Definitions. .