10 USC § 2330
Procurement of contract services: management structure
October 30, 2020
USC

(a) Requirement for Management Structure.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish and implement a management structure for the procurement of contract services for the Department of Defense. The management structure shall provide, at a minimum, for the following:

(1) The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall—

(A) develop and maintain (in consultation with the service acquisition executives) policies, procedures, and best practices guidelines addressing the procurement of contract services, including policies, procedures, and best practices guidelines for—

(i) acquisition planning;

(ii) solicitation and contract award;

(iii) requirements development and management;

(iv) contract tracking and oversight;

(v) performance evaluation; and

(vi) risk management;

(B) work with the service acquisition executives and other appropriate officials of the Department of Defense—

(i) to identify the critical skills and competencies needed to carry out the procurement of contract services on behalf of the Department of Defense;

(ii) to develop a comprehensive strategy for recruiting, training, and deploying employees to meet the requirements for such skills and competencies; and

(iii) to ensure that the military departments and Defense Agencies have staff and administrative support that are adequate to effectively perform their duties under this section;

(C) establish contract services acquisition categories, based on dollar thresholds, for the purpose of establishing the level of review, decision authority, and applicable procedures in such categories; and

(D) oversee the implementation of the requirements of this section and the policies, procedures, and best practices guidelines established pursuant to subparagraph (A).

(2) The service acquisition executive of each military department shall be the senior official responsible for the management of acquisition of contract services for or on behalf of the military department.

(3) The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall be the senior official responsible for the management of acquisition of contract services for or on behalf of the Defense Agencies and other components of the Department of Defense outside the military departments.

(b) Duties and Responsibilities of Senior Officials Responsible for the Management of Acquisition of Contract Services.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the senior officials responsible for the management of acquisition of contract services shall assign responsibility for the review and approval of procurements in each contract services acquisition category established under subsection (a)(1)(C) to specific Department of Defense officials, subject to the direction, supervision, and oversight of such senior officials.

(2) With respect to the acquisition of contract services by a component or command of the Department of Defense the primary mission of which is the acquisition of products and services, such acquisition shall be conducted in accordance with policies, procedures, and best practices guidelines developed and maintained by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment pursuant to subsection (a)(1), subject to oversight by the senior officials referred to in paragraph (1).

(3) In carrying out paragraph (1), each senior official responsible for the management of acquisition of contract services shall—

(A) implement the requirements of this section and the policies, procedures, and best practices guidelines developed by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(A);

(B) authorize the procurement of contract services through contracts entered into by agencies outside the Department of Defense in appropriate circumstances, in accordance with the requirements of section 854 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (10 U.S.C. 2304 note), section 814 of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (31 U.S.C. 1535 note), and the regulations implementing such sections;

(C) dedicate full-time commodity managers to coordinate the procurement of key categories of services;

(D) ensure that contract services are procured by means of procurement actions that are in the best interests of the Department of Defense and are entered into and managed in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, directives, and requirements;

(E) ensure that competitive procedures and performance-based contracting are used to the maximum extent practicable for the procurement of contract services; and

(F) monitor data collection under section 2330a of this title, and periodically conduct spending analyses, to ensure that funds expended for the procurement of contract services are being expended in the most rational and economical manner practicable.

(c) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) The term "procurement action" includes the following actions:

(A) Entry into a contract or any other form of agreement.

(B) Issuance of a task order, delivery order, or military interdepartmental purchase request.

(2) The term "contract services" includes all services acquired from private sector entities by or for the Department of Defense, including services in support of contingency operations. The term does not include services relating to research and development or military construction.

References in Text

Section 854 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(B), is section 854 of div. A of Pub. L. 108–375, which is set out as a note under section 2304 of this title.

Section 814 of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(B), is section 814 of div. A of Pub. L. 105–261, which was formerly set out as a note under section 1535 of Title 31, Money and Finance.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 2330, added Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title VIII, §801(a)(1), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 2007; amended Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XIV, §1484(h)(2), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1717; Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title VIII, §802(d), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1414, related to integrated financing policy, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–484, div. D, title XLII, §4271(a)(1), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2695.

Another prior section 2330 was renumbered section 2349 of this title.

Amendments

2019—Subsecs. (a)(1), (3), (b)(2), (3)(A). Pub. L. 116–92 substituted "Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment" for "Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics".

2013—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 112–239 substituted "including services in support of contingency operations. The term does not include services relating to research and development or military construction." for "other than services relating to research and development or military construction."

2006—Pub. L. 109–163 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section consisted of subsecs. (a) to (c) relating to requirement for management structure, contracting responsibilities of designated officials, and definitions.

2002—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–314 inserted comma after "a task order".

Modernization of Services Acquisition

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, §803(a), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2249, provided that:

"(a) Review of Services Acquisition Categories.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2016], the Secretary of Defense shall review and, if necessary, revise Department of Defense Instruction 5000.74, dated January 5, 2016 (in this section referred to as the 'Acquisition of Services Instruction'), and other guidance pertaining to the acquisition of services. In conducting the review, the Secretary shall examine—

"(1) how the acquisition community should consider the changing nature of the technology and professional services markets, particularly the convergence of hardware and services; and

"(2) the services acquisition portfolio groups referenced in the Acquisition of Services Instruction and other guidance in order to ensure the portfolio groups are fully reflective of changes to the technology and professional services market."

Examination and Guidance Relating to Oversight and Approval of Services Contracts

Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, §882, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 942, as amended by Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, §902(52), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1549, provided that: "Not later than March 1, 2016, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall—

"(1) complete an examination of the decision authority related to acquisition of services; and

"(2) develop and issue guidance to improve capabilities and processes related to requirements development and source selection for, and oversight and management of, services contracts."

Implementation of Recommendations of Defense Science Board Task Force on Improvements to Service Contracting

Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VIII, §807, Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1488, which required the implementation of recommendations of the Defense Science Board Task Force on improvements to service contracting, including standards and reporting, was repealed by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §812(b)(22), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1849.

Requirements for the Acquisition of Services

Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VIII, §863(a)–(h), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4293, 4294, as amended by Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title IX, §933(c), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1544; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, §1076(a)(18), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1949, provided that:

"(a) Establishment of Requirements Processes for the Acquisition of Services.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the military departments and Defense Agencies each establish a process for identifying, assessing, reviewing, and validating requirements for the acquisition of services.

"(b) Operational Requirements.—With regard to requirements for the acquisition of services in support of combatant commands and military operations, the Secretary shall ensure—

"(1) that the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps implement and bear chief responsibility for carrying out, within the Armed Force concerned, the process established pursuant to subsection (a) for such Armed Force; and

"(2) that commanders of unified combatant commands and other officers identified or designated as joint qualified officers have an opportunity to participate in the process of each military department to provide input on joint requirements for the acquisition of services.

"(c) Supporting Requirements.—With regard to requirements for the acquisition of services not covered by subsection (b), the Secretary shall ensure that the secretaries of the military departments and the heads of the Defense Agencies implement and bear chief responsibility for carrying out, within the military department or Defense Agency concerned, the process established pursuant to subsection (a) for such military department or Defense Agency.

"(d) Implementation Plans Required.—The Secretary shall ensure that an implementation plan is developed for each process established pursuant to subsection (a) that addresses, at a minimum, the following:

"(1) The organization of such process.

"(2) The level of command responsibility required for identifying, assessing, reviewing, and validating requirements for the acquisition of services in accordance with the requirements of this section and the categories established under section 2330(a)(1)(C) of title 10, United States Code.

"(3) The composition of positions necessary to operate such process.

"(4) The training required for personnel engaged in such process.

"(5) The relationship between doctrine and such process.

"(6) Methods of obtaining input on joint requirements for the acquisition of services.

"(7) Procedures for coordinating with the acquisition process.

"(8) Considerations relating to opportunities for strategic sourcing.

"(9) Considerations relating to total force management policies and procedures established under section 129a of title 10, United States Code.

"(e) Matters Required in Implementation Plan.—Each plan required under subsection (d) shall provide for initial implementation of a process for identifying, assessing, reviewing, and validating requirements for the acquisition of services not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 7, 2011] and shall provide for full implementation of such process at the earliest date practicable.

"(f) Consistency With Joint Guidance.—Whenever, at any time, guidance is issued by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff relating to requirements for the acquisition of services in support of combatant commands and military operations, each process established pursuant to subsection (a) shall be revised in accordance with such joint guidance.

"(g) Definition.—The term 'requirements for the acquisition of services' means objectives to be achieved through acquisitions primarily involving the procurement of services.

"(h) Review of Supporting Requirements To Identify Savings.—The secretaries of the military departments and the heads of the Defense Agencies shall review and validate each requirement described in subsection (c) with an anticipated cost in excess of $10,000,000 with the objective of identifying unneeded or low priority requirements that can be reduced or eliminated, with the savings transferred to higher priority objectives. Savings identified and transferred to higher priority objectives through review and revalidation under this subsection shall count toward the savings objectives established in the June 4, 2010, guidance of the Secretary of Defense on improved operational efficiencies and the annual reduction in funding for service support contractors required by the August 16, 2010, guidance of the Secretary of Defense on efficiency initiatives. As provided by the Secretary, cost avoidance shall not count toward these objectives."

Procurement of Commercial Services

Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VIII, §805, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 212, as amended by Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title X, §1061(b)(4), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4613; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, §1071(b)(2)(A), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3506; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §836(f)(6), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1871, provided that:

"(a) Regulations Required.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 28, 2008], the Secretary of Defense shall modify the regulations of the Department of Defense for the procurement of commercial services for or on behalf of the Department of Defense.

"(b) Applicability of Commercial Procedures.—

"(1) Services of a type sold in marketplace.—The regulations modified pursuant to subsection (a) shall ensure that services that are not offered and sold competitively in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace, but are of a type offered and sold competitively in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace, may be treated as commercial services for purposes of section 2306a of title 10, United States Code (relating to truth in negotiations), only if the contracting officer determines in writing that the offeror has submitted sufficient information to evaluate, through price analysis, the reasonableness of the price for such services.

"(2) Information submitted.—To the extent necessary to make a determination under paragraph (1), the contracting officer may request the offeror to submit—

"(A) prices paid for the same or similar commercial services under comparable terms and conditions by both government and commercial customers; and

"(B) if the contracting officer determines that the information described in subparagraph (A) is not sufficient to determine the reasonableness of price, other relevant information regarding the basis for price or cost, including information on labor costs, material costs, and overhead rates.

"(c) Time-and-Materials Contracts.—

"(1) Commercial services acquisitions.—The regulations modified pursuant to subsection (a) shall ensure that procedures applicable to time-and-materials contracts and labor-hour contracts for commercial service acquisitions may be used only for the following:

"(A) Services procured for support of a service, as described in section 103a(1) of title 41, United States Code.

"(B) Emergency repair services.

"(C) Any other commercial services only to the extent that the head of the agency concerned approves a determination in writing by the contracting officer that—

"(i) the services to be acquired are commercial services as defined in section 103a(2) of title 41, United States Code;

"(ii) if the services to be acquired are subject to subsection (b), the offeror of the services has submitted sufficient information in accordance with that subsection;

"(iii) such services are commonly sold to the general public through use of time-and-materials or labor-hour contracts; and

"(iv) the use of a time-and-materials or labor-hour contract type is in the best interest of the Government.

"(2) Non-commercial services acquisitions.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to preclude the use of procedures applicable to time-and-materials contracts and labor-hour contracts for non-commercial service acquisitions for the acquisition of any category of services."

Independent Management Reviews of Contracts for Services

Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VIII, §808, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 215, as amended by Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title X, §1075(f)(3), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4376; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §812(b)(23), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1849, provided that:

"(a) Guidance and Instructions.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 28, 2008], the Secretary of Defense shall issue guidance, with detailed implementation instructions, for the Department of Defense to provide for periodic independent management reviews of contracts for services. The independent management review guidance and instructions issued pursuant to this subsection shall be designed to evaluate, at a minimum—

"(1) contract performance in terms of cost, schedule, and requirements;

"(2) the use of contracting mechanisms, including the use of competition, the contract structure and type, the definition of contract requirements, cost or pricing methods, the award and negotiation of task orders, and management and oversight mechanisms;

"(3) the contractor's use, management, and oversight of subcontractors;

"(4) the staffing of contract management and oversight functions; and

"(5) the extent of any pass-throughs, and excessive pass-through charges (as defined in section 852 of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 [Pub. L. 109–364, 10 U.S.C. 2324 note]), by the contractor.

"(b) Additional Subject of Review.—In addition to the matters required by subsection (a), the guidance and instructions issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall provide for procedures for the periodic review of contracts under which one contractor provides oversight for services performed by other contractors. In particular, the procedures shall be designed to evaluate, at a minimum—

"(1) the extent of the agency's reliance on the contractor to perform acquisition functions closely associated with inherently governmental functions as defined in section 2383(b)(3) of title 10, United States Code; and

"(2) the financial interest of any prime contractor performing acquisition functions described in paragraph (1) in any contract or subcontract with regard to which the contractor provided advice or recommendations to the agency.

"(c) Elements.—The guidance and instructions issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall address, at a minimum—

"(1) the contracts subject to independent management reviews, including any applicable thresholds and exceptions;

"(2) the frequency with which independent management reviews shall be conducted;

"(3) the composition of teams designated to perform independent management reviews;

"(4) any phase-in requirements needed to ensure that qualified staff are available to perform independent management reviews;

"(5) procedures for tracking the implementation of recommendations made by independent management review teams; and

"(6) procedures for developing and disseminating lessons learned from independent management reviews."

[(d) Repealed. Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §812(b)(23), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1849.]

Establishment and Implementation of Management Structure

Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VIII, §801(b)(2), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1176, directed the Secretary of Defense to establish and implement the management structure required under this section and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics to issue guidance for officials in such management structure not later than 180 days after Dec. 28, 2001.

Phased Implementation; Report

Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VIII, §812(b), (c), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3378, 3379, which related to the phased implementation of the requirements of section 2330 of this title, was repealed by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §812(b)(24), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1849.

Procurement Program Review Structure; Comptroller General Review

Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VIII, §801(d)–(f), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1177, as amended by Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, §1071(b)(8), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3507, which provided for a program review structure applicable to the procurement of services similar to the one applicable to the procurement of weapon systems by the Department of Defense, and a Comptroller General assessment thereof, was repealed by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §812(b)(25), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1849.

Performance Goals for Procurements of Services

Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VIII, §802, Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1178, as amended by Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title VIII, §805, Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2605, which established performance goals for procurements of services pursuant to multiple award contracts, was repealed by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §812(b)(26), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1849.


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