10 U.S.C. § 6286: Use of best practices for…

§6286 Use of Best Practices for Capital Asset Projects and Nuclear Weapon Life Extension Programs

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 › § 6286

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Energy, working with the Administrator, must make sure studies that compare different ways to do a project and formal cost estimates are done using best practices. They must complete those studies and cost estimates within 30 days after the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 took effect. This applies to the Administration’s capital projects and life‑extension programs and to defense environmental management capital projects. Within two years of that law (sooner if possible), the Secretary must update the Department of Energy’s project management order and the rules for nuclear weapon life‑extension work so those documents require using the same best practices for cost estimates and alternatives studies.

Title 10, §6286

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Analyses of Alternatives.—

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 129 Stat. 726), the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Administrator, shall ensure that analyses of alternatives are conducted (including through contractors, as appropriate) in accordance with best practices for capital asset projects and life extension programs of the Administration and capital asset projects relating to defense environmental management.

(b)Cost Estimates.—

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of such Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the Administrator, shall develop cost estimates in accordance with cost estimating best practices for capital asset projects and life extension programs of the Administration and capital asset projects relating to defense environmental management.

(c)Revisions to Departmental Project Management Order and Nuclear Weapon Life Extension Requirements.—

As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of such Act, but not later than two years after such date of enactment, the Secretary shall revise—

(1)the capital asset project management order of the Department of Energy to require the use of best practices for preparing cost estimates and for conducting analyses of alternatives for Administration and defense environmental management capital asset projects; and

(2)the nuclear weapon life extension program procedures of the Department to require the use of best practices for preparing cost estimates and conducting analyses of alternatives for Administration life extension programs.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 and the date of the enactment of such Act, referred to in text, is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 114–92, which was approved Nov. 15, 2015.

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 3117 of Pub. L. 114–92, which was set out as a note under section 2754 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(18).