(a) In general
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, acting through the Principal Director for Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy, shall establish a team of experts in acquisition regulations to assist in a process of promulgating and implementing regulations to resolve the backlog of open cases related to the Department of Defense Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (commonly known as the DFARS ).
(b) Duties
The team of experts described in subsection (a) shall be assigned to assist in all aspects of the process described in subsection (a), including drafting proposed and final rules, managing the public comment process, and any other tasks as directed by the Under Secretary.
(c) Administration
(1) In general
In order to achieve the purpose set forth in subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall ensure that the team of experts described in subsection (a) has the appropriate number of staff and such staff possesses the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to carry out the duties described in subsection (b), including in relevant areas of regulatory process, contracting, acquisition, and law. The Under Secretary may use existing authorities to staff the team, including those in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4).
(2) Civilian personnel
Civilian personnel from within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, military departments, Defense Agencies, and combatant commands may be assigned to serve as members of the team of experts described in subsection (a), upon request of the Under Secretary.
(3) Highly qualified experts
The Under Secretary may use the authorities for highly qualified experts under section 9903 of title 5, to hire members of the team of experts described in subsection (a).
(4) Contracts
The Under Secretary may enter into a contract with a private-sector entity for specialized expertise to support the team of experts described in subsection (a). Such entity may be considered a covered Government support contractor, as defined in section 3775(a) of title 10, United States Code.
(d) Funding
The Under Secretary is authorized to use amounts in the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund for the purpose of paying salaries of members of the team of experts described in subsection (a) for the life of the team.
(e) Expiration
The authority to maintain the team of experts established under section (a) shall expire on the earlier of—
the date on which the Under Secretary determines there is no open case in the backlog described in subsection (a) of open cases related to the DFARS that—
implements a requirement imposed by statute; and
has been open for more than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the statute imposing the requirement; or
the date that is three years after the date on which the Under Secretary establishes the team of experts described in subsection (a).
(f) Briefings
(1) Initial briefing
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees outlining the strategy and methodology that will be used to establish the team of experts described in subsection (a) and the strategy and methodology to be used to reduce the backlog described in subsection (a) of open cases related to the DFARS.
(2) Progress briefings
Not later than 30 days after the date of the briefing required by paragraph (1), and at least once in every 30-day period thereafter, the Under Secretary shall provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees on the progress made by the team of experts described in subsection (a) in reducing the backlog described in subsection (a) of open cases related to the DFARS. The requirement for briefings under this paragraph shall terminate with the first briefing that occurs after the expiration date under subsection (e).