I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1537 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 16, 2009 Mr. Sestak introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct studies regarding alternative models for acquisition and funding of technologies supporting network-centric operations.

1.

Studies to analyze alternative models for acquisition and funding of technologies supporting network-centric operations

(a)

Studies required

(1)

Independent study

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall enter into a contract with an independent federally funded research and development center to carry out a comprehensive study of policies, procedures, organization, and regulatory constraints affecting the acquisition of technologies supporting network-centric operations. The contract shall be funded from amounts appropriated pursuant to an authorization of appropriations in this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2010 for operation and maintenance for Defense-wide activities. (2)

Joint Chiefs of Staff study

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall carry out a comprehensive study of the same subjects covered by paragraph (1). The study shall be independent of the study required by paragraph (1) and shall be carried out in conjunction with the military departments and in coordination with the Secretary of Defense. (b)

Matters To be addressed

Each study required by subsection (a) shall address the following matters: (1)Development of a system for understanding the various foundational components that contribute to network-centric operations, such as data transport, processing, storage, data collection, and dissemination of information. (2)Determining how acquisition and funding programs that are in place as of the date of the enactment of this Act relate to the system developed under paragraph (1). (3)Development of acquisition and funding models using the system developed under paragraph (1), including— (A)a model under which a joint entity independent of any military department (such as the Joint Staff) is established with responsibility and control of all funding for the acquisition of technologies for network-centric operations, and with authority to oversee the incorporation of such technologies into the acquisition programs of the military departments; (B)a model under which an executive agent is established to manage and oversee the acquisition of technologies for network-centric operations, but would not have exclusive control of the funding for such programs; (C)a model under which the acquisition and funding programs that are in place as of the date of the enactment of this Act are maintained; and (D)any other model that the entity carrying out the study considers relevant. (4)An analysis of each of the models developed under paragraph (3) with respect to potential benefits in— (A)collecting, processing, and disseminating information; (B)network commonality; (C)common communications; (D)interoperability; (E)mission impact and success; and (F)cost-effectiveness. (5)An evaluation of each of the models developed under paragraph (3) with respect to feasibility, including identification of legal, policy, or regulatory barriers that may impede the implementation of such model. (c)

Report required

Not later than September 30, 2010, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the results of the studies required by subsection (a). The report shall include the findings and recommendations of the studies and any observations and comments that the Secretary considers appropriate. (d)

Network-centric operations defined

In this section, the term network-centric operations refers to the ability to exploit all human and technical elements of the Joint Force and mission partners through the full integration of collected information, awareness, knowledge, experience, and decisionmaking, enabled by secure access and distribution, all to achieve agility and effectiveness in a dispersed, decentralized, dynamic, or uncertain operational environment.