10 U.S.C. § 6285: Life-cycle cost estimates of…

§6285 Life-cycle Cost Estimates of Certain Atomic Energy Defense Capital Assets

Title 10 › Subtitle A — General Military Law › PART VI — ELEMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND OTHER MATTERS › Subpart B — Atomic Energy Defense › CHAPTER 607 — BUDGET AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT MATTERS › SUBCHAPTER I — RECURRING NATIONAL SECURITY AUTHORIZATION PROVISIONS › § 6285

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Energy must require an independent life‑cycle cost estimate under DOE Order 413.3B, or its replacement, before critical decision 2. It applies to atomic energy defense capital projects that cost more than $100,000,000 and are built for a limited‑life, single‑purpose mission. Independent means a team not part of the sponsor prepares the estimate using the same detailed technical and procurement information to check the sponsor’s estimate for accuracy and reasonableness.

Title 10, §6285

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—

The Secretary of Energy shall ensure that an independent life-cycle cost estimate under Department of Energy Order 413.3B (relating to program management and project management for the acquisition of capital assets), or a successor order, of each capital asset described in subsection (b) is conducted before the asset achieves critical decision 2 in the acquisition process.

(b)Capital Assets Described.—

A capital asset described in this subsection is an atomic energy defense capital asset—

(1)the total project cost of which exceeds $100,000,000; and

(2)the purpose of which is to perform a limited-life, single-purpose mission.

(c)Independent Defined.—

For purposes of subsection (a), the term “independent”, with respect to a life-cycle cost estimate of a capital asset, means that the life-cycle cost estimate is prepared by an organization independent of the project sponsor, using the same detailed technical and procurement information as the sponsor, to determine if the life-cycle cost estimate of the sponsor is accurate and reasonable.

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2754 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).

§6285 Life-cycle Cost Estimates of Certain Atomic Energy Defense Capital Assets

Summary

Title 10, §6285

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Citations & Metadata