(a) In general
Chapter 223 of title 10, United States Code, as amended by section 802, is further amended by inserting after section 3244 the following new section:
(b) Applicability
Section 3245 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to solicitations, and to task or delivery orders, issued on or after the date that is 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Regulation
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall revise the Department of Defense Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to carry out such section 3245, including—
instructions for contracting officers regarding the written justifications required under such section, including a standardized format or template for such justifications;
instructions encouraging the use of alternatives to education requirements, including skills assessments, relevant work experience, professional certifications, apprenticeship completion, and demonstrated competencies; and
requirements for data collection on the use of education requirements in solicitations, including the number and type of justifications issued and the rate at which education requirements are used relative to alternative qualifications.
(d) Conforming repeal
Effective at the close of the date on which the Department of Defense Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation is revised as required by subsection (c), section 813 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 ( Public Law 106–398 ; 114 Stat. 1654A–214) is repealed.