(a)
(1) requirements of the agency with respect to a procurement of supplies or services are stated in terms of—
(A) functions to be performed;
(B) performance required; or
(C) essential physical characteristics;
(2) such requirements are defined so that commercial services or commercial products or, to the extent that commercial products suitable to meet the agency's needs are not available, nondevelopmental items other than commercial products, may be procured to fulfill such requirements; and
(3) offerors of commercial services, commercial products, and nondevelopmental items other than commercial products are provided an opportunity to compete in any procurement to fill such requirements.
(b)
(1) acquire commercial services, commercial products, or nondevelopmental items other than commercial products to meet the needs of the agency;
(2) require prime contractors and subcontractors at all levels under the agency contracts to incorporate commercial services, commercial products, or nondevelopmental items other than commercial products as components of items supplied to the agency;
(3) modify requirements in appropriate cases to ensure that the requirements can be met by commercial services or commercial products or, to the extent that commercial products suitable to meet the agency's needs are not available, nondevelopmental items other than commercial products;
(4) state specifications in terms that enable and encourage bidders and offerors to supply commercial services or commercial products or, to the extent that commercial products suitable to meet the agency's needs are not available, nondevelopmental items other than commercial products in response to the agency solicitations;
(5) revise the agency's procurement policies, practices, and procedures not required by law to reduce any impediments in those policies, practices, and procedures to the acquisition of commercial products and commercial services;
(6) require training of appropriate personnel in the acquisition of commercial products and commercial services; and
(7) establish criteria in performance evaluations for appropriate personnel to reward risk-informed decisions that maximize the acquisition of commercial products, commercial services, or nondevelopmental items other than commercial products.
(c)
(A) before developing new specifications for a procurement by that agency;
(B) before soliciting bids or proposals for a contract in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold; and
(C) before awarding a task order or delivery order in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold.
(2) The head of an agency shall use the results of market research to determine whether there are commercial services or commercial products or, to the extent that commercial products suitable to meet the agency's needs are not available, nondevelopmental items other than commercial products available that—
(A) meet the agency's requirements;
(B) could be modified to meet the agency's requirements; or
(C) could meet the agency's requirements if those requirements were modified to a reasonable extent.
(3) In conducting market research, the head of an agency should not require potential sources to submit more than the minimum information that is necessary to make the determinations required in paragraph (2).
(4) The head of an agency shall document the results of market research in a manner appropriate to the size and complexity of the acquisition.
(5) The head of an agency shall take appropriate steps to ensure that any prime contractor of a contract (or task order or delivery order) in an amount in excess of $5,000,000 for the procurement of products other than commercial products or services other than commercial services engages in such market research as may be necessary to carry out the requirements of subsection (b)(2) before making purchases for or on behalf of the Department of Defense.
(d)
(1) in the case of products or services acquired under section 3455 of this title, shall use information submitted under subsection (d) of that section; and
(2) in the case of other products or services, may require the offeror to submit relevant information.
(e)
(1) provide comprehensive information on the subject of market research and the function of market research in the acquisition of commercial products and commercial services;
(2) teach best practices for conducting and documenting market research; and
(3) provide methodologies for establishing standard processes and reports for collecting and sharing market research across the Department.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2024—Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 118–159 added par. (7).
2021—Pub. L. 116–283, §1821(a)(2), renumbered section 2377 of this title as this section.
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 116–283, §1821(b)(3), substituted "section 3455" for "section 2379".
2019—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 116–92, §818(a)(1)(B), added par. (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (5).
Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 116–92, §818(a)(2), amended directory language of Pub. L. 115–232, §836(d)(3)(C)(ii). See 2018 Amendment note below.
Pub. L. 116–92, §818(a)(1), redesignated par. (4) as (5).
2018—Pub. L. 115–232, §836(d)(8)(C), substituted "commercial products and commercial services" for "acquisition of commercial items" in section catchline.
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 115–232, §836(d)(3)(A)(i), substituted "commercial services or commercial products or, to the extent that commercial products suitable to meet the agency's needs are not available, nondevelopmental items other than commercial products" for "commercial items or, to the extent that commercial items suitable to meet the agency's needs are not available, nondevelopmental items other than commercial items".
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115–232, §836(d)(3)(A)(ii), substituted "commercial services, commercial products, and nondevelopmental items other than commercial products" for "commercial items and nondevelopmental items other than commercial items".
Subsec. (b)(1), (2). Pub. L. 115–232, §836(d)(3)(B)(i), substituted "commercial services, commercial products, or nondevelopmental items other than commercial products" for "commercial items or nondevelopmental items other than commercial items".
Subsec. (b)(3), (4). Pub. L. 115–232, §836(d)(3)(B)(ii), substituted "commercial services or commercial products or, to the extent that commercial products suitable to meet the agency's needs are not available, nondevelopmental items other than commercial products" for "commercial items or, to the extent that commercial items suitable to meet the agency's needs are not available, nondevelopmental items other than commercial items".
Subsec. (b)(5), (6). Pub. L. 115–232, §836(d)(3)(B)(iii), substituted "commercial products and commercial services" for "commercial items".
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 115–232, §836(d)(3)(C)(i), in introductory provisions, substituted "commercial services or commercial products or, to the extent that commercial products suitable to meet the agency's needs are not available, nondevelopmental items other than commercial products" for "commercial items or, to the extent that commercial items suitable to meet the agency's needs are not available, nondevelopmental items other than commercial items".
Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 115–232, §836(d)(3)(C)(ii), as amended by Pub. L. 116–92, §818(a)(2), substituted "products other than commercial products or services other than commercial services" for "items other than commercial items".
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–232, §836(d)(3)(D)(i), substituted "commercial products or commercial services" for "commercial items" in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (d)(1), (2). Pub. L. 115–232, §836(d)(3)(D)(ii), (iii), substituted "products or services" for "items".
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 115–232, §836(d)(3)(E), substituted "commercial products and commercial services" for "commercial items".
2016—Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 114–328 added subsec. (d), redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e), and in introductory provisions of subsec. (e), substituted "subsections (c) and (d)" for "subsection (c)".
2015—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–92 added subsec. (d).
2008—Subsec. (c)(1)(C). Pub. L. 110–181, §826(a)(1), added subpar. (C).
Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 110–181, §826(a)(2), added par. (4).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2021 Amendment
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 a note preceding section 3001 of this title.
Effective Date of 2018 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Jan. 1, 2020, subject to a savings provision, see section 836(h) of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as an Effective Date of 2018 Amendment; Savings Provision note under section 453b of Title 6, Domestic Security.
Increase in Air Force and Navy Use of Commercial Dual-Use Parts in Certain Aircraft and Engines
Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title I, §161, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2461, as amended by Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title I, §161, Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1815, provided that:
"(a)
"(1) the acquisition of new, used, overhauled, reconditioned, and remanufactured commercial dual-use parts; and
"(2) the use of such commercial dual-use parts in all—
"(A) commercial derivative aircraft and engines; and
"(B) aircraft used by the Air Force or Navy that are based on the design of commercial products.
"(b)
"(1) pursuant to competitive procedures (as defined in section 3012 of title 10, United States Code); and
"(2) only from suppliers that provide parts that possess an Authorized Release Certificate Federal Aviation Administration Form 8130-3 Airworthy Approval Tag from a certified repair station pursuant to part 145 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or from a certified production approval holder pursuant to part 21 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
"(c)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) a commercial product;
"(B) dual-use;
"(C) described in subsection (b)(2); and
"(D) not a life-limited part.
"(3)
"(4)
Use of Commercial Items in Distributed Common Ground Systems
Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVI, §1698, Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1794, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(1) The term 'appropriate congressional committees' means—
"(A) the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives]; and
"(B) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
"(2) The term 'covered Distributed Common Ground System' includes the following:
"(A) The Distributed Common Ground System of the Army.
"(B) The Distributed Common Ground System of the Navy.
"(C) The Distributed Common Ground System of the Marine Corps.
"(D) The Distributed Common Ground System of the Air Force.
"(E) The Distributed Common Ground System of the Special Operations Forces."
Commercial Operational and Support Savings Initiative
Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, §849(d), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2294, as amended by Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §836(f)(7), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1871, provided that:
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) reduce the costs of owning and operating a military system, including the costs of personnel, consumables, goods and services, and sustaining the support and investment associated with the peacetime operation of a weapon system;
"(B) take advantage of the commercial sector's technological innovations by inserting commercial technology into fielded weapon systems; and
"(C) emphasize prototyping and experimentation with new technologies and concepts of operations.
"(3)
"(A)
"(B)
"(ii) Phase I shall include—
"(I) establishment of cost and performance metrics to evaluate project success;
"(II) establishment of a transition plan and agreement with a military department or Defense Agency for adoption and sustainment of the technology or system; and
"(III) the development, fabrication, and delivery of a demonstrated prototype to a military department for installation into a fielded Department of Defense system.
"(iii) Programs shall be terminated if no agreement is established within two years of project initiation.
"(iv) The Office of the Secretary of Defense may provide up to 50 percent of Phase I funding for a project. The military department or Defense Agency concerned may provide the remainder of Phase I funding, which may be provided out of operation and maintenance funding.
"(v) Phase I funding shall not exceed three years.
"(vi) Phase I projects shall be selected based on a merit-based process using criteria to be established by the Secretary of Defense.
"(C)
"(ii) Phase II awards may be made without competition if general solicitation competitive procedures were used for the selection of parties for participation in a Phase I project.
"(iii) Phase II awards may be made as firm fixed-price awards.
"(4)
"(5)
Preference for Commercial Services
Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, §876, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2311, as amended by Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, §902(59), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1550, provided that: "Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2016], the Secretary of Defense shall revise the guidance issued pursuant to section 855 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 10 U.S.C. 2377 note) to provide that—
"(1) the head of an agency may not enter into a contract in excess of $10,000,000 for facilities-related services, knowledge-based services (except engineering services), construction services, medical services, or transportation services that are not commercial services unless the service acquisition executive of the military department concerned, the head of the Defense Agency concerned, the commander of the combatant command concerned, or the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (as applicable) determines in writing that no commercial services are suitable to meet the agency's needs as provided in section 2377(c)(2) of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 3453(c)(2)]; and
"(2) the head of an agency may not enter into a contract in an amount above the simplified acquisition threshold and below $10,000,000 for facilities-related services, knowledge-based services (except engineering services), construction services, medical services, or transportation services that are not commercial services unless the contracting officer determines in writing that no commercial services are suitable to meet the agency's needs as provided in section 2377(c)(2) of such title [now 10 U.S.C. 3453(c)(2)]."
Incorporation Into Management Certification Training Mandate
Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, §844(b), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 915, provided that: "The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall ensure that the requirements of section 2377(d) of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 3453(e)], as added by subsection (a), are incorporated into the requirements management certification training mandate of the Joint Capabilities Integration Development System."
Market Research and Preference for Commercial Items
Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, §855, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 919, as amended by Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, §902(60), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1550, provided that:
"(a)
"(1) provide that the head of an agency may not enter into a contract in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold for information technology products or services that are not commercial items unless the head of the agency determines in writing that no commercial items are suitable to meet the agency's needs as provided in subsection (c)(2) of such section; and
"(2) ensure that market research conducted in accordance with subsection (c) of such section is used, where appropriate, to inform price reasonableness determinations.
"(b)
"(c)
Commercial Software Reuse Preference
Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title VIII, §803, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4519, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
Requirement To Develop Training and Tools
Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VIII, §826(b), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 228, provided that: "The Secretary of Defense shall develop training to assist contracting officers, and market research tools to assist such officers and prime contractors, in performing appropriate market research as required by subsection (c) of section 2377 of title 10, United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 3453(c)], as amended by this section."