§ 4501 — Procurement Of Contract Services: Management Structure

(a) The Secretary of Defense shall establish and implement a management structure for the procurement of contract services for the Department of Defense. The management structure shall provide, at a minimum, for the matters specified in subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e). (b) The management structure implemented pursuant to subsection (a) shall provide that the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall develop and maintain (in consultation with the service acquisition executives) policies, procedures, and best practices guidelines addressing the procurement of contract services, including policies, procedures, and best practices guidelines for— (1) acquisition planning; (2) solicitation and contract award; (3) requirements development and management; (4) contract tracking and oversight; (5) performance evaluation; and (6) risk management. (c) The management structure implemented pursuant to subsection (a) shall provide that the Under Secretary shall work with the service acquisition executives and other appropriate officials of the Department of Defense— (1) to identify the critical skills and competencies needed to carry out the procurement of contract services on behalf of the Department of Defense; (2) to develop a comprehensive strategy for recruiting, training, and deploying employees to meet the requirements for such skills and competencies; and (3) to ensure that the military departments and Defense Agencies have staff and administrative support that are adequate to effectively perform their duties under this section and section 4502 of this title. (d) The management structure implemented pursuant to subsection (a) shall provide that the Under Secretary shall establish contract services acquisition categories, based on dollar thresholds, for the purpose of establishing the level of review, decision authority, and applicable procedures in such categories. (e) The management structure implemented pursuant to subsection (a) shall provide that the Under Secretary shall oversee the implementation of the requirements of this section and section 4502 of this title and the policies, procedures, and best practices guidelines established pursuant to subsection (b). (f) In this section, the term “contract services” has the meaning given that term in section 4502(d)(2) of this title.