10 U.S.C. § 144: Director of Small Business Programs

There is a Director of Small Business Programs in the Department of Defense. The Director is appointed by the Secretary of Defense. The Office of Small Business Programs of the Department of Defense is the office that is established within the Office of the Secretary of Defense under section 15(k) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 644(k) ). The Director of Small Business Programs is the head of such office. The Director of Small Business Programs shall, subject to paragraph (2), perform such duties regarding small business programs of the Department of Defense, and shall exercise such powers regarding those programs, as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe. Section 15(k) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 644(k) ), except for the designations of the Director and the Office, applies to the Director of Small Business Programs. The Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization of the Department of Defense is redesignated as the Director of Small Business Programs of the Department of Defense. The Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization of the Department of the Army is redesignated as the Director of Small Business Programs of the Department of the Army. The Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization of the Department of the Navy is redesignated as the Director of Small Business Programs of the Department of the Navy. The Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization of the Department of the Air Force is redesignated as the Director of Small Business Programs of the Department of the Air Force. The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization of the Department of Defense is redesignated as the Office of Small Business Programs of the Department of Defense. The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization of the Department of the Army is redesignated as the Office of Small Business Programs of the Department of the Army. The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization of the Department of the Navy is redesignated as the Office of Small Business Programs of the Department of the Navy. The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization of the Department of the Air Force is redesignated as the Office of Small Business Programs of the Department of the Air Force. Any reference in any law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to a position or office redesignated by paragraph (1) or (2) shall be deemed to be a reference to the position or office as so redesignated.” The Director of the Office of Small Business Programs of the Department of Defense shall establish and maintain a program to be known as ‘Project Spectrum’ to provide to covered entities an online platform of digital resources, training, and services that increase awareness of, and facilitate compliance with, the requirements of the defense acquisition system established pursuant to section 3102 of title 10 , United States Code. the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense, particularly regarding cybersecurity resources and alignment with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program or successor program; the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment; the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering; the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International and Industry Engagement; the President of the Defense Acquisition University; the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency; the Director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency; and the Executive Director of the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center. cybersecurity-related activities and tools, to be evaluated in coordination with Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense; foreign ownership, control, or influence activities and tools, to be evaluated in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment; and any additional performance metrics the Director determines necessary. Not later than May 1, 2026 , the Director of Small Business Programs shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a briefing on the performance metrics required by subsection (c). The authority for Project Spectrum, and the requirements of the section, shall terminate on December 31, 2031 . In this section, the term ‘covered entity’ means an entity that is a small business or a medium business that contracts with, or seeks to enter into a contract with, the Department of Defense that is registered to access the online platform of Project Spectrum.” of the Department, in the case of the Director of Small Business Programs in the Department of Defense; and of the military department concerned, in the case of the Director of Small Business Programs in the Department of the Army, in the Department of the Navy, and in the Department of the Air Force. to provide advice to the Defense Acquisition Board; and to provide advice to the Information Technology Acquisition Board; and require coordination between the chiefs of staff of the Armed Forces and the service acquisition executives, as appropriate (or their designees), and the Director of Small Business Programs in each military department as early as practical in the relevant acquisition processes.”