§3154 Contingency contracting matters covered

Summary

Requires the military to create a single joint policy for contingency contracting and explains what that policy must do. Each military department must name a senior officer or a senior executive service civilian to run the policy. A senior commissioned officer with acquisition experience must be put in charge of contingency contracting during combat, post‑conflict, and other contingency operations and must report directly to the commander of the combatant command covering the area where the operations happen. The policy must include a sourcing plan so each department can handle contracting in combat, post‑conflict, and stabilization and reconstruction missions that may involve other agencies. The policy must also require training (including a program to be created by the Defense Acquisition University) covering four areas: use of the laws, rules, and orders that apply to contingency contracting; how to use rapid acquisition methods (including exceptions to competition under sections 3201 through 3205, sealed bidding, letter contracts, indefinite delivery‑indefinite quantity task orders, section 8(a) set‑asides under the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)), undefinitized contract actions, and other fast tools); use of rapid acquisition authority and commanders’ emergency response program funds; and how to move quickly from rapid buying to full and open competition to increase transparency. The policy must keep personnel trained even when they are not deployed and must take steps to ensure joint and cross‑service coordination. To the extent practicable, the policy should be used when making interagency plans for stabilization and reconstruction, consistent with the President’s report under section 1035 of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Public Law 109–364; 120 Stat. 2388).