TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending June 18, 2004

HR 4323 To provide for rapid acquisition authority to the Secretary of Defense to respond to combat emergencies.

BRIEF

   The bill would direct the Secretary of Defense to develop within 30 days after the bill is enacted, a process for the rapid acquisition authority for equipment requested by a combat commander that is necessary to save lives  . The Secretary is required to submit to Congress a detailed explanation of the process, including procedures to be followed in carrying out the rapid acquisition process.

   The process would be used only to acquire the minimum amount of equipment needed to prevent loss of life until the needs of the combat commander can be fulfilled using existing acquisition procedures.

   The process would allow for awarding a contract within 15 days after the combat commander requested the acquisition. If the equipment cannot be acquired without an extensive delay the process should provide an interim solution to minimize combat deficiency and fatalities until the equipment can be acquired.

   In the process the Secretary of Defense would have to waive procedures related to requirements for the equipment, the research, development, test and evaluation of the equipment and to waive the selection sources and award of the contract to procure the equipment.

   The Secretary of Defense cannot delegate the request for the equipment and cannot exceed $100 million worth of total acquisitions in any fiscal year.

Sponsor: Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA)

Vote: The bill passed the House 285 to 97 (RC 234)

Cost to the taxpayer: Up to $100 million per fiscal year.## All rights Reserved. No reproduction without written permission from TheWeekInCongress.com