Sec. 1624. Review of engineering and manufacturing development contract for ground-based strategic deterrent program
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Congress finds the following: In September 2020, the Air Force awarded the engineering and manufacturing development contract for the ground-based strategic deterrent program. The total development cost of the ground-based strategic deterrent program is expected to be approximately $100,000,000,000. The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff recently noted that we have got to make [the ground-based strategic deterrent program] more affordable. A three-stage, solid rocket ICBM should not cost as much as the forecast says it costs for now.
After meeting with the program office at Northrop Grumman multiple times I think that program can come in significantly cheaper. It’s designed correctly. It’s a digital engineering process that should be able to build things quickly and much more effectively. . The Air Force has placed significant importance on digital engineering in achieving cost and schedule requirements with respect to the ground-based strategic deterrent program. The Secretary of the Air Force shall provide for the conduct of a review of the implementation and the execution of the engineering and manufacturing development contract for the ground-based strategic deterrent program.
The review under paragraph
(1)shall include the following: An analysis of the ability of the Air Force to implement industry best practices during the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the ground-based strategic deterrent program. A review of the challenges the Air Force faces in implementing such industry best practices. A review of the ability of the Air Force to leverage digital engineering during such engineering and manufacturing development phase. A review of any options that may be available to the Air Force to reduce cost and introduce competition within the operations and maintenance phase of the ground-based strategic deterrent program. Recommendations to improve the cost, schedule, and program management of the ground-based strategic deterrent program. The Secretary shall ensure that the review under paragraph
(1)is conducted by individuals from the public and private sector, including not fewer than two individuals— who are not employees or officers of the Department of Defense or a contractor of the Department; and who have experience outside of the defense industry. The Secretary shall provide to the individuals conducting the review under paragraph
(1)all information necessary for the review. The Secretary shall ensure that each individual who conducts the review under paragraph
(1)holds a security clearance at the appropriate level for such review. Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing the review under subsection (b)(1). The report shall be submitted in unclassified form and shall include a classified annex. Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary submits the report under subsection (c), the Secretary shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on implementing the recommendations contained in the review under subsection (b)(1).