§3208 — Title 10 Armed Forces | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary of Defense must make sure agency leaders think about asking bidders for big defense projects to put forward plans that make parts easier to buy later. For design work, leaders should consider asking bidders to show how the system could use parts already in the federal or national supply system or sold by more than one company, and how it could use parts the U.S. can buy competitively in large quantities during the system’s life. For production work, leaders should consider asking bidders for ideas that will let the U.S. re-buy needed parts competitively later. Those ideas can include giving the government rights to use technical data (and the cost for those rights) and plans to qualify or create multiple suppliers. If required, these ideas can be counted when comparing prices. If a contract is awarded without competition, the same goals can be used as negotiation targets but must not take away legal rights of other firms or suppliers. A bidder does not have to offer a way to make an identical item competitively available if that item was paid for entirely by the company, unless the agency leader finds the original maker cannot meet delivery or mobilization needs. When weighing privately funded items, the agency must look at their total value, including design innovation, life-cycle cost, and other key factors.

Title 10, §3208

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that, in preparing a solicitation for the award of a development contract for a major system, the head of an agency consider requiring in the solicitation that an offeror include in its offer proposals described in paragraph (2). In determining whether to require such proposals, the head of the agency shall give due consideration to the purposes for which the system is being procured and the technology necessary to meet the system’s required capabilities. If such proposals are required, the head of the agency shall consider them in evaluating the offeror’s price.

(2)Proposals referred to in the first sentence of paragraph (1) are the following:

(A)Proposals to incorporate in the design of the major system items which are currently available within the supply system of the Federal agency responsible for the major system, available elsewhere in the national supply system, or commercially available from more than one source.

(B)With respect to items that are likely to be required in substantial quantities during the system’s service life, proposals to incorporate in the design of the major system items which the United States will be able to acquire competitively in the future.

(b)(1)The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that, in preparing a solicitation for the award of a production contract for a major system, the head of an agency consider requiring in the solicitation that an offeror include in its offer proposals described in paragraph (2). In determining whether to require such proposals, the head of the agency shall give due consideration to the purposes for which the system is being procured and the technology necessary to meet the system’s required capabilities. If such proposals are required, the head of the agency shall consider them in evaluating the offeror’s price.

(2)Proposals referred to in the first sentence of paragraph (1) are proposals identifying opportunities to ensure that the United States will be able to obtain on a competitive basis items procured in connection with the system that are likely to be reprocured in substantial quantities during the service life of the system. Proposals submitted in response to such requirement may include the following:

(A)Proposals to provide to the United States the right to use technical data to be provided under the contract for competitive reprocurement of the item, together with the cost to the United States, if any, of acquiring such technical data and the right to use such data.

(B)Proposals for the qualification or development of multiple sources of supply for the item.

(c)If the head of an agency is making a noncompetitive award of a development contract or a production contract for a major system, the factors specified in subsections (a) and (b) to be considered in evaluating an offer for a contract may be considered as objectives in negotiating the contract to be awarded. Such objectives may not impair the rights of prospective contractors or subcontractors otherwise provided by law.

(d)(1)Whenever the head of an agency requires that proposals described in subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2) be submitted by an offeror in its offer, the offeror shall not be required to provide a proposal that enables the United States to acquire competitively in the future an identical item if the item was developed exclusively at private expense unless the head of the agency determines that—

(A)the original supplier of such item will be unable to satisfy program schedule or delivery requirements; or

(B)proposals by the original supplier of such item to meet the mobilization requirements are insufficient to meet the agency’s mobilization needs.

(2)In considering offers in response to a solicitation requiring proposals described in subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2), the head of an agency shall base any evaluation of items developed exclusively at private expense on an analysis of the total value, in terms of innovative design, life-cycle costs, and other pertinent factors, of incorporating such items in the system.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification The text of subsec. (d) of section 2305 of this title, which was transferred to this section and amended by Pub. L. 116–283, § 1811(g)(2)–(6) was based on Pub. L. 98–525, title XII, § 1213(a), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2591; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title VIII, § 806, Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 2010.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 3209, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 174; Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(60), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1462; Pub. L. 90–130, § 1(9)(E), Nov. 8, 1967, 81 Stat. 375; Pub. L. 95–485, title VIII, § 820(c)(1), (2), Oct. 20, 1978, 92 Stat. 1627, prescribed, with exception of Army Nurse Corps and Army Medical Specialist Corps, the authorized strength of each branch in commissioned officers on active list of Regular Army, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 202, title VII, § 701, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2878, 2955, effective Sept. 15, 1981. A prior section 3210 was renumbered section 7110 of this title. A prior section 3211, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 175; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(67), 72 Stat. 1463; Nov. 8, 1967, Pub. L. 90–130, § 1(9)(F), 81 Stat. 375, prescribed authorized strength of Regular Army in officers in each regular grade on promotion lists set forth in section 3296 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 202, title VII, § 701, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2878, 2955, effective Sept. 15, 1981. See section 521 et seq. of this title. A prior section 3212, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 175; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(68), 72 Stat. 1463; June 30, 1960, Pub. L. 86–559, § 1(6), 74 Stat. 265; Nov. 8, 1967, Pub. L. 90–130, § 1(9)(G), 81 Stat. 375; Dec. 12, 1980, Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 502(6), 94 Stat. 2909, related to temporary increases in authorized strength in grades of Army Reserve and Army National Guard of United States, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §§ 1662(a)(3), 1691, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2988, 3026, effective Dec. 1, 1994. See section 12009 of this title. Prior section 3213 and 3214 were repealed by Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 202, title VII, § 701, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2878, 2955, effective Sept. 15, 1981. section 3213, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 176, prescribed authorized strength of Regular Army in warrant officers on active list. section 3214, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 176; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(64), 72 Stat. 1463, prescribed authorized strength of Regular Army in enlisted members on active duty, exclusive of officer candidates. A prior section 3215, acts Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 176; Nov. 8, 1967, Pub. L. 90–130, § 1(9)(H), 81 Stat. 375, authorized strength of Women’s Army Corps of Regular Army in warrant officers on active list and in enlisted members on active duty to be prescribed by Secretary, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 95–485, title VIII, § 820(c)(3), Oct. 20, 1978, 92 Stat. 1627. A prior section 3216, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 176, prescribed authorized strength of Corps of Engineers in enlisted members on active duty, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 96–513, title II, § 202, title VII, § 701, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2878, 2955, effective Sept. 15, 1981. Prior sections 3217 to 3220 were repealed by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §§ 1662(a)(3), 1691, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2988, 3026, effective Dec. 1, 1994. section 3217, added Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(69)(A), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1463, related to authorized strength of Army in reserve commissioned officers in active status. See section 12003 of this title. section 3218, added Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(69)(A), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1463; amended Pub. L. 96–107, title III, § 302(a), Nov. 9, 1979, 93 Stat. 806; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title XII, § 1234(a)(1), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 2059; Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title X, § 1061(a)(20)(B), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1473, related to authorized strength of Army in reserve general officers in active status. See section 12004 of this title. section 3219, added Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(69)(A), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1464, related to authorized strength of Army in reserve commissioned officers in active status in grades below brigadier general. See section 12005(a) of this title. section 3220, added Pub. L. 85–861, § 1(69)(A), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1464; amended Pub. L. 95–485, title VIII, § 820(c)(4), Oct. 20, 1978, 92 Stat. 1627, related to distribution of reserve commissioned officers by Secretary of the Army. See section 12007 of this title.

Amendments

2021—Pub. L. 116–283, § 1811(g)(2), redesignated subsec. (d) of section 2305 of this title as subsec. (a) of this section and redesignated pars. (2) to (4) thereof as subsecs. (b) to (d), respectively. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1811(g)(3), inserted subsec. heading, redesignated par. (1)(A) as (1), inserted par. heading, and substituted “paragraph (2)” for “subparagraph (B)”, and redesignated par. (1)(B) and its cls. (i) and (ii) as par. (2) and subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, inserted par. heading, and substituted “paragraph (1)” for “subparagraph (A)” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1811(g)(2), (4), redesignated subsec. (a)(2) as (b), inserted subsec. heading, redesignated subpar. (A) as par. (1), inserted par. heading, and substituted “paragraph (2)” for “subparagraph (B)”, and redesignated subpar. (B) and its cls. (i) and (ii) as par. (2) and subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, inserted par. heading, and substituted “paragraph (1)” for “subparagraph (A)” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1811(g)(2), (5), redesignated subsec. (a)(3) as (c), inserted heading, and substituted “subsections (a) and (b)” for “paragraphs (1) and (2)”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1811(g)(2), (6), redesignated subsec. (a)(4) as (d), inserted subsec. heading, and substituted “subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2)” for “paragraph (1)(B) or (2)(B)” in introductory provisions; redesignated subpar. (A) and its cls. (i) and (ii) as par. (1) and subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, inserted par. heading, and realigned margins; and redesignated subpar. (B) as par. (2), inserted heading, realigned margin, and substituted “subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2)” for “paragraph (1)(B) or (2)(B)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section and amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as an

Effective Date

of 2021 Amendment note preceding section 3001 of this title.

§3208 Planning for future competition in contracts for major systems

Summary

Title 10, §3208

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata