§3154 Contingency Contracting Matters Covered

Summary

Require each military department to pick a senior officer or senior civilian to run the contingency contracting policy. Each department must also assign a senior officer with acquisition experience to lead contracting during combat, post-conflict, and other contingency missions. That leader must report directly to the combatant commander in the area of operations. The policy must include a sourcing plan so each department can do contracting during combat, post-conflict, and stabilization and reconstruction work with other agencies. It must give training (including a program from the Defense Acquisition University) that covers the laws and rules, fast-buying methods (including the competition exceptions in sections 3201–3205, sealed bidding, letter contracts, IDIQ task orders, 8(a) set-asides under 15 U.S.C. 637(a), undefinitized actions, and other fast tools), use of rapid acquisition authority and commanders’ emergency response funds, and the need to move quickly from fast buys to full and open competition. The policy must keep training current even when people are not deployed and must promote joint and cross-service coordination. Where practical, agencies should use this joint policy when they make plans for stabilization and reconstruction. That should be done 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).