10 U.S.C. § 2222: Defense business systems: business process reengineering; enterprise architecture; management

The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that defense business processes are reviewed, and as appropriate revised, through business process reengineering to match best commercial practices, to the maximum extent practicable, so as to minimize customization of commercial business systems. supports efficient business processes that have been reviewed, and as appropriate revised, through business process reengineering; is integrated into a comprehensive defense business enterprise architecture; is managed in a manner that provides visibility into, and traceability of, expenditures for the system; and uses an acquisition and sustainment strategy that prioritizes the use of commercial software and business practices. The Secretary shall issue guidance to provide for the coordination of, and decision making for, the planning, programming, and control of investments in covered defense business systems. The Secretary shall direct the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and the Chief Information Officer of each of the military departments to issue and maintain supporting guidance, as appropriate and within their respective areas of responsibility, for the guidance of the Secretary issued under paragraph (1). to implement the most streamlined and efficient business processes practicable; and to eliminate or reduce the need to tailor commercial off-the-shelf systems to meet or incorporate requirements or interfaces that are unique to the Department of Defense. A process to establish requirements for covered defense business systems. Mechanisms for the planning and control of investments in covered defense business systems, including a process for the collection and review of programming and budgeting information for covered defense business systems. Policy requiring the periodic review of covered defense business systems that have been fully deployed, by portfolio, to ensure that investments in such portfolios are appropriate. Policy to ensure full consideration of sustainability and technological refreshment requirements, and the appropriate use of open architectures. Policy to ensure that best acquisition and systems engineering practices are used in the procurement and deployment of commercial systems, modified commercial systems, and defense-unique systems to meet Department of Defense missions. Policy to ensure a covered defense business system is in compliance with the Department’s auditability requirements. Policy to ensure approvals required for the development of a covered defense business system. The Secretary, working through the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense, shall develop and maintain a blueprint to guide the development of integrated business processes within the Department of Defense. Such blueprint shall be known as the “defense business enterprise architecture”. The defense business enterprise architecture shall be sufficiently defined to effectively guide implementation of interoperable defense business system solutions and shall be consistent with the policies and procedures established by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. include policies, procedures, business data standards, business performance measures, and business information requirements that apply uniformly throughout the Department of Defense; and comply with all applicable law, including Federal accounting, financial management, and reporting requirements; routinely produce verifiable, timely, accurate, and reliable business and financial information for management purposes; integrate budget, accounting, and program information and systems; and identify whether each existing business system is a part of the business systems environment outlined by the defense business enterprise architecture, will become a part of that environment with appropriate modifications, or is not a part of that environment. The defense business enterprise architecture shall be integrated into the information technology enterprise architecture required under subparagraph (B). The Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense shall develop an information technology enterprise architecture. The architecture shall describe a plan for improving the information technology and computing infrastructure of the Department of Defense, including for each of the major business processes conducted by the Department of Defense. The defense business enterprise shall include enterprise data that may be automatically extracted from the relevant systems to facilitate Department of Defense-wide analysis and management of its business operations. develop an associated data governance process; and oversee the preparation, extraction, and provision of data across the defense business enterprise. in consultation with the Defense Business Council, document and maintain any common enterprise data for their respective areas of authority; participate in any related data governance process; extract data from defense business systems as needed to support priority activities and analyses; when appropriate, ensure the source data is the same as that used to produce the financial statements subject to annual audit; in consultation with the Defense Business Council, provide access, except as otherwise provided by law or regulation, to such data to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the military departments, the combatant commands, the Defense Agencies, the Department of Defense Field Activities, and all other offices, agencies, activities, and commands of the Department of Defense; and ensure consistency of the common enterprise data maintained by their respective organizations. The Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation shall have access to data for the purpose of executing missions as designated by the Secretary of Defense. The Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretaries of the military departments, commanders of combatant commands, the heads of the Defense Agencies, the heads of the Department of Defense Field Activities, and the heads of all other offices, agencies, activities, and commands of the Department of Defense shall provide access to the relevant system of such department, combatant command, Defense Agency, Defense Field Activity, or office, agency, activity, and command organization, as applicable, and data extracted from such system, for purposes of automatically populating data sets coded with common enterprise data. The Secretary shall establish a Defense Business Council to provide advice to the Secretary on developing the defense business enterprise architecture, reengineering the Department’s business processes, developing and deploying defense business systems, and developing requirements for defense business systems. The Council shall be co-chaired by the Chief Information Officer and the Performance Improvement Officer of the Department of Defense. The Chief Information Officers of the military departments, or their designees. The Chief Management Officers of the military departments, or their designees. The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment with respect to acquisition, logistics, and installations management processes. The Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) with respect to financial management and planning and budgeting processes. The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness with respect to human resources management processes. The Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense. the system has been, or is being, reengineered to be as streamlined and efficient as practicable, and the implementation of the system will maximize the elimination of unique software requirements and unique interfaces; the system and business system portfolio are or will be in compliance with the defense business enterprise architecture developed pursuant to subsection (e) or will be in compliance as a result of modifications planned; the system has valid, achievable requirements and a viable plan for implementing those requirements (including, as appropriate, market research, business process reengineering, and prototyping activities); the system has an acquisition strategy designed to eliminate or reduce the need to tailor commercial off-the-shelf systems to meet unique requirements, incorporate unique requirements, or incorporate unique interfaces to the maximum extent practicable; and the system is in compliance with the Department’s auditability requirements. Except as may be provided in subparagraph (C), in the case of a priority defense business system, the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense. in the case of a system of a military department, the Chief Information Officer of that military department; and in the case of a system of a Defense Agency or Department of Defense Field Activity, or a system that will support the business process of more than one military department or Defense Agency or Department of Defense Field Activity, the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense. In the case of any defense business system, such official other than the applicable official under subparagraph (A) or (B) as the Secretary designates for such purpose. For any fiscal year in which funds are expended for development or sustainment pursuant to a covered defense business system program, the appropriate approval official shall review the system and certify, certify with conditions, or decline to certify, as the case may be, that it continues to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1). If the approval official determines that certification cannot be granted, the approval official shall notify the milestone decision authority for the program and provide a recommendation for corrective action. The obligation of Department of Defense funds for a covered defense business system program that has not been certified in accordance with paragraph (3) is a violation of section 1341(a)(1)(A) of title 31 . The milestone decision authority for a covered defense business system program shall be responsible for the acquisition of such system and shall ensure that acquisition process approvals are not considered for such system until the relevant certifications and approvals have been made under this section. A financial system. A financial data feeder system. A contracting system. A logistics system. A planning and budgeting system. An installations management system or real estate system. A human resources management system. A training and readiness system. A budget system. A retail system. A health care system. A travel and expense system. A payroll system. A supply chain management system. A Departmentwide resource planning system. A contractor management system. a national security system; or an information system used exclusively by and within the defense commissary system or the exchange system or other instrumentality of the Department of Defense conducted for the morale, welfare, and recreation of members of the armed forces using nonappropriated funds. The term “covered defense business system” means a defense business system that is expected to have a total amount of budget authority, over the period of the current future-years defense program submitted to Congress under section 221 of this title , in excess of $50,000,000. The term “business system portfolio” means all business systems performing functions closely related to the functions performed or to be performed by a covered defense business system. The term “covered defense business system program” means a defense acquisition program to develop and field a covered defense business system or an increment of a covered defense business system. expected to have a total amount of budget authority over the period of the current future-years defense program submitted to Congress under section 221 of this title in excess of $250,000,000; or designated by the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense as a priority defense business system, based on specific program analyses of factors including complexity, scope, and technical risk, and after notification to Congress of such designation. The term “enterprise architecture” has the meaning given that term in section 3601(4) of title 44 . The term “information system” has the meaning given that term in section 11101 of title 40 , United States Code. The term “national security system” has the meaning given that term in section 3552(b)(6)(A) of title 44 . The term “business process mapping” means a procedure in which the steps in a business process are clarified and documented in both written form and in a flow chart. The term “common enterprise data” means business operations or management-related data, generally from defense business systems, in a usable format that is automatically accessible by authorized personnel and organizations. The term “data governance process” means a system to manage the timely Department of Defense-wide sharing of data described under subsection (e)(6)(A). Not later than September 1, 2026 , the Secretary of Defense shall, in coordination with the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense, the Secretaries of the military departments, and the Chief Information Officers of the military departments, develop a framework for the integration of technical debt assessment, tracking, and management into existing processes of the Department of Defense for information technology investment decisions and budget justification materials. The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a comprehensive reevaluation of the current definition of ‘technical debt’ used by the Department of Defense and develop a technical debt classification that adequately reflects different types of technical debt, including application, physical infrastructure, architecture, and documentation components. The Secretary of Defense shall ensure the framework developed under subsection (a) provides for integration of technical debt considerations into existing management processes and structures of the Department of Defense relating to resourcing and programmatic decisions for existing or proposed information technology systems, services, or related programs of record. baseline measurement for technical debt for a specific technology or program; objectives for technical debt reduction; and consolidated metrics for Department of Defense-wide use, including outcome-based metrics for assessing operational and financial impacts. The framework developed under subsection (a) shall use existing governance structures for overseeing information technology investments. establish methods for identifying and evaluating technical debt; integrate technical debt management into the planning, programming, budgeting, and execution process, as well as information technology governance bodies; establish prioritization approaches based on mission effects; develop mechanisms for identifying gaps in resourcing and funding required to resolve technical debt; and define organizational responsibilities for remediating assessed technical debt of a program or system. The Secretary of Defense shall implement the framework developed under subsection (a) not later than October 1, 2026 , to support the planning, programming, budgeting, and execution process for the budget justification materials to be submitted to Congress in support of the Department of Defense, as submitted with the budget of the President for fiscal year 2027 under section 1105(a) of title 31 , United States Code. technical debt status assessments; planned investments in physical devices, networks, and personnel, including training to develop skills, to transition to new technologies and resolve technical debt; risk assessments of remaining gaps in the investments by the Department of Defense and the military departments required to resolve the technical debt of the Department; and alignment with modernization priorities. The Secretary of Defense shall ensure Defense planning guidance and program objective memoranda address the resolution of funding requirements associated with resolution of technical debt. Not later than September 15, 2026 , the Secretary shall provide to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives] a briefing on the implementation and effectiveness of the framework developed under subsection (a). The term ‘information technology’ has the meaning given such term in section 11101 of title 40 , United States Code. The term ‘technical debt’ means design or implementation constructs that are expedient in the short-term, but that set up a technical context that can make a future change costlier or impossible, as defined in Department of Defense Instruction 5000.87, dated October 2, 2020 , or successor instruction.” depots, shipyards, or other manufacturing facilities run by the Department of Defense; and the adjudication and review of contracts; and activities related to the Modernization and Analytics Initiative managed by the Defense Contract Management Agency. the establishment of a new pilot program; or the designation of an existing initiative of the Department of Defense to serve as the pilot program required under such subsection. use best in breed software platforms; consider industry best practices in the selection of software programs; implement the program based on human centered design practices to best identify the business needs for improvement; and demonstrate connection to enterprise platforms of record with authoritative data sources. the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment; the Secretary of the Army; the Secretary of the Navy; and the Secretary of the Air Force. An evaluation of each software platform used in the pilot program. An analysis of how workflows and operations were modified as part of the pilot program. A quantitative assessment of the impact the software had at each of the locations in which the pilot program was carried out.” The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall develop an updated set of business health metrics to inform decision-making by senior leaders of the Department of Defense. using the latest literature on performance measurement, determine what additional new metrics should be implemented, or current metrics should be adapted, to reduce output-based measures and emphasize objective, measurable indicators aligned to enduring strategic goals of the Department of Defense; assess the current business processes of the Department and provide recommendations to align the metrics with available data sources to determine what gaps might exist in such processes; ensure that data can be collected automatically and, on a long-term basis, in a manner that provides for longitudinal analysis; link the metrics with the Strategic Management Plan and other performance documents guiding the Department; identify any shortfalls in resources, data, training, policy, or law that could be an impediment to implementing the metrics; revise leading and lagging indicators associated with each such metric to provide a benchmark against which to assess progress; improve visualization of and comprehension for the use of the metrics in data-driven decision-making, including adoption of new policies and training as needed; incorporate the ability to aggregate and disaggregate data to provide the ability to focus on functional, component-level metrics; and increase standardization of the use and collection of business health metrics across the Department. The Secretary of Defense may enter into a contract or other agreement with a federally funded research and development center or university-affiliated research center to support the development of the metrics required under subsection (a).” Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 22, 2023 ], under the authority of section 4025 of title 10 , United States Code, the Secretary of Defense shall establish one or more prize competitions to support the business systems modernization goals of the Department of Defense. The Secretary of Defense shall structure any prize competition established under subsection (a) to complement, and to the extent practicable, accelerate the delivery or expand the functionality of business systems capabilities sought by the Secretaries of the military departments that are in operation, in development, or belong to any broad class of systems covered by the defense business enterprise architecture specified in section 2222(e) of title 10 , United States Code. Integration of artificial intelligence or machine learning capabilities. Data analytics, business intelligence, or related visualization capabilities. Automated updating of business architectures, business systems integration, or documentation relating to existing systems or manuals. Improvements to interfaces or processes for interacting with other non-Department of Defense business systems. Updates or replacements for legacy defense business systems to improve operational effectiveness and efficiency, such as the system of the Defense Logistics Agency known as the ‘Mechanization of Contract Administration Services’ system, or any successor system. Contract writing systems, or expanded capabilities relating to such systems, that may be integrated into existing systems of the Department of Defense. Pay and personnel systems, or expanded capabilities relating to such systems, that may be integrated into existing systems of the Department of Defense. Other finance and accounting systems, or expanded capabilities relating to such systems, that may be integrated into existing systems of the Department of Defense. Systems supporting the defense industrial base and related supply chain visibility, analytics, and management. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a briefing on the framework to be used in carrying out the prize competition under subsection (a). Not later than October 1 of each year until the date of termination under subsection (e), the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the results of the prize competition under subsection (a). The authority to carry out the prize competition under subsection (a) shall terminate on September 30, 2028 .” Not later than 150 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 20, 2019 ], the Undersecretary [probably should be “Under Secretary”] of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report that evaluates service-level best practices for recording and maintaining real property data. Not later than 300 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Undersecretary [probably should be “Under Secretary”] of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall issue service-wide guidance on the recording and collection of real property data based on the best practices described in the report.” Not later than January 1, 2020 , and not less frequently than once every five years thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall, acting through the Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense, reform enterprise business operations of the Department of Defense, through reductions, eliminations, or improvements, across all organizations and elements of the Department with respect to covered activities in order to increase effectiveness and efficiency of mission execution. Not later than January 1 of every fifth calendar year beginning with January 1, 2025 , the Chief Management Officer shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report that describes the activities carried out by the Chief Management Officer under this subsection during the preceding five years, including an estimate of any cost savings achieved as a result of such activities. In this subsection, the term ‘covered activities’ means any activity relating to civilian resources management, logistics management, services contracting, or real estate management. The component or components of the Department responsible for performing such activity, and a business process map of such activity, in fiscal year 2019. The number of the military, civilian, and contractor personnel of the component or components of the Department who performed such activity in that fiscal year. The manpower requirements for such activity as of that fiscal year. The systems and other resources associated with such activity as of that fiscal year. The cost in dollars of performing such activity in fiscal year 2019. Not later than February 1, 2019 , the Chief Management Officer shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan, schedule, and cost estimate for conducting the reforms required under paragraph (1)(A). not less than 25 percent of the cost in dollars of performing covered activities in fiscal year 2019 as specified pursuant to paragraph (3)(E); or if the Chief Management Officer determines that achievement of savings of 25 percent or more will create overall inefficiencies for the Department, notice and justification will be submitted to the congressional defense committees specifying a lesser percentage of savings that the Chief Management Officer determines to be necessary to achieve efficiencies in the delivery of covered activities, which notice and justification shall be submitted by not later than October 1, 2019 , together with a description of the efficiencies to be achieved. Not later than 90 days after the submittal of the plan under paragraph (4), a report that verifies whether the plan is feasible. Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act [ Aug. 13, 2018 ], a report setting forth an assessment of the actions taken under paragraph (1)(A) since the date of the enactment of this Act. Not later than 270 days after the submittal of the reporting framework under paragraph (3), a report that verifies whether the baseline established in the framework is accurate. whether the activities described in the report were carried out; and whether any cost savings estimated in the report are accurate.” The Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense shall develop a policy on analysis of Department of Defense datasets on business management and business operations by the public for purposes of accessing data analysis capabilities that would promote savings and efficiencies and otherwise enhance the utility of such datasets to the Department. that are of significance to the Department of Defense; that are currently unresolved; and whose resolution from a business management or business operations dataset of the Department could benefit from a method or technique of analysis not currently familiar to the Department; identifying between three and five business management or business operations datasets of the Department not currently available to the public whose evaluation could result in novel data analysis solutions toward management or operations problems of the Department identified by the Chief Management Officer; and encouraging, whether by competition or other mechanisms, the evaluation of the datasets described in subparagraph (B) by appropriate persons and entities in the public or private sector (including academia). In providing for the evaluation of datasets pursuant to this subsection, the Chief Management Officer shall take appropriate actions to protect the security and confidentiality of any information contained in the datasets, including through special precautions to ensure that any personally identifiable information is not included and no release of information will adversely affect national security missions.” are provided all necessary data and records; and report independently on their findings.” Not later than October 1, 2020 , the Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence [now Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security], shall develop and implement standardized business process rules for the planning, programming, budgeting, and execution process for the Military Intelligence Program. The Chief Management Officer shall develop the standardized business process rules under paragraph (1) in accordance with section 911 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 ( Public Law 115–91 ; 131 Stat. 1519 ; 10 U.S.C. 2222 note) [set out below] and section 2222(e)(6) of title 10 , United States Code. In developing the standardized business process rules under paragraph (1), to the extent practicable, the Chief Management Officer shall use enterprise business systems of the Department of Defense in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act [ Aug. 13, 2018 ]. Not later than March 1, 2019 , the Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), and the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing a plan to develop the standardized business process rules under paragraph (1). The congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives]. The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.” Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 12, 2017 ], the Secretary of Defense shall establish a data policy for the Department of Defense that mandates that any data contained in a defense business system related to business operations and management is an asset of the Department of Defense. As part of the policy required by subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that, except as otherwise provided by law or regulation, data described in such subsection shall be made readily available to members of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the military departments, the combatant commands, the Defense Agencies, the Department of Defense Field Activities, and all other offices, agencies, activities, and commands of the Department of Defense, as applicable.” Not later than September 30, 2020 , the Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense shall establish and maintain within the Department of Defense a data analytics capability for purposes of supporting enhanced oversight and management of the Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities. The maintenance on a continuing basis of an accurate tabulation of the amounts expended by the Defense Agencies and Department of Defense Field Activities on Government and contractor personnel. Members of the regular components of the Armed Forces. Members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces. Civilian employees of the Department of Defense. Detailees, whether from another organization or element of the Department or from another department or agency of the Federal Government. The tracking of costs for employing contract personnel, including federally funded research and development centers. An identification of the functions being performed by each Defense Agency and Department of Defense Field Activity. An accurate tabulation of the amounts being expended by each Defense Agency and Department of Defense Field Activity on its functions. A description and assessment of the efforts of the Chief Management Officer through the date of the report to establish the data analytics capability. A description of current gaps in the data required to establish the data analytics capability, and a description of the efforts to be undertaken to eliminate such gaps. Not later than December 31, 2020 , the Chief Management Officer shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the data analytics capability as established pursuant to this section.” The Secretary of Defense shall carry out pilot programs to develop data integration strategies for the Department of Defense to address high-priority management challenges of the Department. The budget of the Department. Logistics. Personnel security and insider threats. At least two other high-priority challenges of the Department identified by the Secretary for purposes of this subsection. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 12, 2017 ], the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report describing the pilot programs to be carried out under this section, including the challenge of the Department to be addressed by the pilot program and the manner in which the data integration strategy under the pilot program will address the challenge. If any proposed pilot program requires legislative action for the waiver or modification of a statutory requirement that otherwise prevents or impedes the implementation of the pilot program, the Secretary shall include in the report a recommendation for legislative action to waive or modify the statutory requirement.” Establish and implement key quality assurance procedures, such as reconciliations, to ensure the completeness and accuracy of sampled populations. comply with Office of Management and Budget guidance and generally accepted statistical standards; produce statistically valid improper payment error rates, statistically valid improper payment dollar estimates, and appropriate confidence intervals for both; and in meeting clauses (i) and (ii), take into account the size and complexity of the transactions being sampled. With regard to identifying programs susceptible to significant improper payments, conduct a risk assessment that complies with the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 ( Public Law 111–204 [See Short Title of 2010 Amendment note set out under section 3301 of Title 31 , Money and Finance]) and the amendments made by that Act (in this section collectively referred to as ‘IPERA’). comply fully with IPERA and associated Office of Management and Budget guidance, including by holding individuals responsible for implementing corrective actions and monitoring the status of corrective actions; and measurement of the progress made toward remediating root causes of improper payments; and communication to the Secretary of Defense and the heads of departments, agencies, and organizations and elements of the Department of Defense, and key stakeholders, on the progress made toward remediating the root causes of improper payments. identify costs related to the recovery audits and recovery efforts of the Department of Defense; and evaluate improper payment recovery efforts in order to ensure that they are cost effective. Monitor the implementation of the revised chapter of the Financial Management Regulations on recovery audits in order to ensure that the Department of Defense, the military departments, the Defense Agencies, and the other organizations and elements of the Department of Defense either conduct recovery audits or demonstrate that it is not cost effective to do so. Develop and submit to the Office of Management and Budget for approval a payment recapture audit plan that fully complies with Office of Management and Budget guidance. With regard to reporting on improper payments, design and implement procedures to ensure that the annual improper payment and recovery audit reporting of the Department of Defense is complete, accurate, and complies with IPERA and associated Office of Management and Budget guidance.” The Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) shall develop and maintain on an Internet website available to Department of Defense agencies a tool (commonly referred to as a ‘dashboard)’ [sic] to permit officials to track key indicators of the financial performance of the Department of Defense. Such key indicators may include outstanding accounts payable, abnormal accounts payable, outstanding advances, unmatched disbursements, abnormal undelivered orders, negative unliquidated obligations, violations of sections 1341 and 1517(a) of title 31, United States Code (commonly referred to as the ‘Anti-Deficiency Act’), costs deriving from payment delays, interest penalty payments, and improper payments, and actual savings realized through interest payments made, discounts for timely or advanced payments, and other financial management and improvement initiatives. The tool shall cover financial performance information for the military departments, the defense agencies, and any other organizations or elements of the Department of Defense. The tool shall permit the tracking of financial performance over time, including by month, quarter, and year, and permit users of the tool to export both current and historical data on financial performance. The information covered by the tool shall be updated not less frequently than quarterly.” Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 23, 2016 ], the Secretary of Defense shall designate units, subunits, or entities of the Department of Defense, other than Centers of Industrial and Technical Excellence designated pursuant to section 2474 of title 10 , United States Code, that conduct work that is commercial in nature or is not inherently governmental to prioritize efforts to conduct business operations in a manner that uses modern, commercial management practices and principles to reduce the costs and improve the performance of such organizations. The Secretary shall ensure that each such unit, subunit, or entity of the Department described in subsection (a) is authorized to adopt and implement best commercial and business management practices to achieve the goals described in such subsection. Financial management. Human resources. Facility and plant management. Acquisition and contracting. Partnerships with the private sector. Other business and management areas as identified by the Secretary. The Secretary of Defense shall identify savings goals to be achieved through the implementation of the commercial and business management practices adopted under subsection (b), and establish a schedule for achieving the savings. using savings derived from implementation of best commercial and business management practices for high priority military missions of the Department of Defense; creating incentives for the most efficient and effective development and adoption of new commercial and business management practices by organizations; and investing in the development of new commercial and business management practices that will result in further savings to the Department of Defense. establish an annual baseline cost estimate of its operations; and certify that costs estimated pursuant to paragraph (1) are wholly accounted for and presented in a format that is comparable to the format for the presentation of such costs for other elements of the Department or consistent with best commercial practices.” The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Chief Management Officer, and the Chief Information Officer, shall establish a set of science, technology, and innovation activities to improve the acquisition outcomes of major automated information systems through improved performance and reduced developmental and life cycle costs. The activities established under subsection (a) shall be carried out by such military departments and Defense Agencies as the Under Secretary and the Chief Management Officer consider appropriate. Development of capabilities in Department of Defense laboratories, test centers, and federally funded research and development centers to provide technical support for acquisition program management and business process re-engineering activities. Funding of intramural and extramural research and development activities as described in subsection (e). The Secretary shall identify the current activities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) that are being carried out as of the date of the enactment of this Act [ Nov. 25, 2015 ]. The Secretary shall consider such current activities in determining the set of activities to establish pursuant to subsection (a). the set of activities to establish pursuant to subsection (a) that carry out the purposes specified in subsection (c)(1); and the proposed funding requirements and timelines. In carrying out the set of activities required by subsection (a), the Secretary may award grants or contracts to eligible entities to carry out intramural or extramural research and development in areas of interest described in paragraph (3). Entities in the defense industry. Institutions of higher education. Small businesses. Nontraditional defense contractors (as defined in section 3014 of title 10 , United States Code). Federally funded research and development centers, primarily for the purpose of improving technical expertise to support acquisition efforts. Nonprofit research institutions. Government laboratories and test centers, primarily for the purpose of improving technical expertise to support acquisition efforts. Management innovation, including personnel and financial management policy innovation. Business process re-engineering. Systems engineering of information technology business systems. Cloud computing to support business systems and business processes. Software development, including systems and techniques to limit unique interfaces and simplify processes to customize commercial software to meet the needs of the Department of Defense. Hardware development, including systems and techniques to limit unique interfaces and simplify processes to customize commercial hardware to meet the needs of the Department of Defense. Development of methodologies and tools to support development and operational test of large and complex business systems. Analysis tools to allow decision-makers to make tradeoffs between requirements, costs, technical risks, and schedule in major automated information system acquisition programs. Information security in major automated information system systems. Innovative acquisition policies and practices to streamline acquisition of information technology systems. Such other areas as the Secretary considers appropriate. address the innovation and technology needs of the Department of Defense; and support activities of initiatives, programs, and offices identified by the Under Secretary and Chief Management Officer; and the projects and programs identified in paragraph (2). Major automated information system programs. Projects and programs under the oversight of the Chief Management Officer. Projects and programs relating to defense procurement acquisition policy. Projects and programs of the agencies and field activities of the Office of the Secretary of Defense that support business missions such as finance, human resources, security, management, logistics, and contract management. Military and civilian personnel policy development for information technology workforce.” The Secretary of Defense shall work in coordination with the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board to establish accounting standards to value large and unordinary general property, plant, and equipment items. The accounting standards required by subsection (a) shall be established by not later than September 30, 2017 , and be available for use for the full audit on the financial statements of the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2018, as required by section 1003(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 ( Public Law 113–66 ; 127 Stat. 842 ; 10 U.S.C. 2222 note).” increased reliance on individual obligation and expenditure plans for measuring program financial performance; mechanisms to improve funding stability and to increase the predictability of the release of funding for obligation and expenditure; and streamlined mechanisms for a program manager to submit an appeal for funding changes and to have such appeal evaluated promptly. The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) shall ensure that, as part of the training required for program managers and business managers, an emphasis is placed on obligating and expending appropriated funds in a manner that achieves the best value for the Government and that the purpose and limitations of obligation and expenditure benchmarks are made clear. The Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense shall include a report on the results of the review under this section in the next update of the strategic management plan transmitted to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives under section 904(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 ( Public Law 110–181 ; 122 Stat. 275 ; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 2201) after the completion of the review.” The Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense and the Chief Management Officers of each of the military departments shall ensure that plans to achieve an auditable statement of budgetary resources of the Department of Defense by September 30, 2014 , include appropriate steps to minimize one-time fixes and manual work-arounds, are sustainable and affordable, and will not delay full auditability of financial statements. A description of the actions taken by the military departments pursuant to paragraph (1). A determination by the Chief Management Officer of each military department whether or not such military department is able to achieve an auditable statement of budgetary resources by September 30, 2014 , without an unaffordable or unsustainable level of one-time fixes and manual work-arounds and without delaying the full auditability of the financial statements of such military department. an explanation why the military department is unable to meet the deadline; an alternative deadline by which the military department will achieve an auditable statement of budgetary resources; and a description of the plan of the military department for meeting the alternative deadline.” The report to be issued pursuant to section 1003(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010 ( Public Law 111–84 ; 123 Stat. 2440 ; 10 U.S.C. 2222 note) and provided by not later than May 15, 2012 , shall include a plan, including interim objectives and a schedule of milestones for each military department and for the defense agencies, to support the goal established by the Secretary of Defense that the statement of budgetary resources is validated for audit by not later than September 30, 2014 . Consistent with the requirements of such section, the plan shall include process and control improvements and business systems modernization efforts necessary for the Department of Defense to consistently prepare timely, reliable, and complete financial management information. The reports to be issued pursuant to such section after the report described in paragraph (1) shall update the plan required by such paragraph and explain how the Department has progressed toward meeting the milestones established in the plan. a justification of the time required for each activity; metrics identifying the progress made within each activity; and mitigating strategies for milestone timeframe slippages. The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report relating to the Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness Plan of the Department of Defense submitted in accordance with section 1003 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010 ( Public Law 111–84 ; 123 Stat. 2440 [2439]; 10 U.S.C. 2222 note) and section 881 of the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 ( Public Law 111–383 ; 121 Stat. 4306 ; 10 U.S.C. 2222 note). identify near- and long-term measures for resolving any such weaknesses or deficiencies; assign responsibilities within the Department of Defense to implement such measures; specify implementation steps for such measures; and provide timeframes for implementation of such measures.” Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Jan. 7, 2011 ], the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), in consultation with the Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense, the secretaries of the military departments, and the heads of the defense agencies and defense field activities, shall establish interim milestones for achieving audit readiness of the financial statements of the Department of Defense, consistent with the requirements of section 1003 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 ( Public Law 111–84 ; 123 Stat. 2439 ; 10 U.S.C. 2222 note). an interim milestone for achieving audit readiness for each major element of the statement of budgetary resources, including civilian pay, military pay, supply orders, contracts, and funds balance with the Treasury; and an interim milestone for addressing the existence and completeness of each major category of Department of Defense assets, including military equipment, real property, inventory, and operating material and supplies. The Under Secretary shall describe each interim milestone established pursuant to paragraph (1) in the next semiannual report submitted pursuant to section 1003(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 ( Public Law 111–84 ; 123 Stat. 2439 ; 10 U.S.C. 2222 note). Each subsequent semiannual report submitted pursuant to section 1003(b) shall explain how the Department has progressed toward meeting such interim milestones. examine the costs and benefits of alternative approaches to the valuation of Department of Defense assets; select an approach to such valuation that is consistent with principles of sound financial management and the conservation of taxpayer resources; and begin the preparation of a business case analysis supporting the selected approach. The Under Secretary shall include information on the alternatives considered, the selected approach, and the business case analysis supporting that approach in the next semiannual report submitted pursuant to section 1003(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 ( Public Law 111–84 ; 123 Stat. 2439 ; 10 U.S.C. 2222 note). the component will meet the interim milestone no more than one year after the originally scheduled date; and the component’s failure to meet the interim milestone will not have an adverse impact on the Department’s ability to carry out the plan under section 1003(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 ( Public Law 111–84 ; 123 Stat. 2439 ; 10 U.S.C. 2222 note); and a statement of the reasons why the Department of Defense, or component of the Department of Defense, will be unable to meet such interim milestone; the revised completion date for meeting such interim milestone; and a description of the actions that have been taken and are planned to be taken by the Department of Defense, or component of the Department of Defense, to meet such interim milestone. Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) shall review options for providing appropriate incentives to the military departments, Defense Agencies, and defense field activities to ensure that financial statements are validated as ready for audit earlier than September 30, 2017 . Consistent with the need to fund urgent warfighter requirements and operational needs, priority in the release of appropriated funds. Relief from the frequency of financial reporting in cases in which such reporting is not required by law. Relief from departmental obligation and expenditure thresholds to the extent that such thresholds establish requirements more restrictive than those required by law. Increases in thresholds for reprogramming of funds. Personnel management incentives for the financial and business management workforce. Such other measures as the Under Secretary considers appropriate. would be consistent with the efficient operation of the Department of Defense and the effective funding of essential Department of Defense programs and activities; and would contribute to the achievement of Department of Defense goals to prepare auditable financial statements; and a recommendation on whether such option should be adopted, a schedule for implementing the option if adoption is recommended, or a reason for not recommending the option if adoption is not recommended.” the business process to be supported by such defense business system modernization will be as streamlined and efficient as practicable; and the need to tailor commercial-off-the-shelf systems to meet unique requirements or incorporate unique interfaces has been eliminated or reduced to the maximum extent practicable. shall develop a plan to undertake business process reengineering efforts with respect to the defense business system modernization; and may direct that the defense business system modernization be restructured or terminated, if necessary to meet the requirements of paragraph (1). The term ‘appropriate chief management officer’, with respect to a defense business system modernization, has the meaning given that term in paragraph (2) of [former] subsection (f) of section 2222 of title 10 , United States Code (as amended by subsection (a)(2) of this section). The term ‘defense business system modernization’ has the meaning given that term in [former] subsection (j)(3) of section 2222 of title 10 , United States Code.” The Secretary of each military department shall, acting through the Chief Management Officer of such military department, carry out an initiative for the business transformation of such military department. The development of a comprehensive business transformation plan, with measurable performance goals and objectives, to achieve an integrated management system for the business operations of the military department. The development of a well-defined enterprise-wide business systems architecture and transition plan encompassing end-to-end business processes and capable of providing accurately and timely information in support of business decisions of the military department. The implementation of the business transformation plan developed pursuant to paragraph (1) and the business systems architecture and transition plan developed pursuant to paragraph (2). Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Oct. 14, 2008 ], the Secretary of each military department shall establish within such military department an office (to be known as the ‘Office of Business Transformation’ of such military department) to assist the Chief Management Officer of such military department in carrying out the initiative required by this section for such military department. The Office of Business Transformation of a military department under this subsection shall be headed by a Director of Business Transformation, who shall be appointed by the Chief Management Officer of the military department, in consultation with the Director of the Business Transformation Agency of the Department of Defense, from among individuals with significant experience managing large-scale organizations or business transformation efforts. The Director of Business Transformation of a military department under paragraph (2) shall report directly to the Chief Management Officer of the military department, subject to policy guidance from the Director of the Business Transformation Agency of the Department of Defense. In carrying out the initiative required by this section for a military department, the Director of Business Transformation of the military department under paragraph (2) shall have the authority to require elements of the military department to carry out actions that are within the purpose and scope of the initiative. Transforming the budget, finance, accounting, and human resource operations of the military department in a manner that is consistent with the business transformation plan developed pursuant to subsection (b)(1). Eliminating or replacing financial management systems of the military department that are inconsistent with the business systems architecture and transition plan developed pursuant to subsection (b)(2). Ensuring that the business transformation plan and the business systems architecture and transition plan are implemented in a manner that is aggressive, realistic, and accurately measured. Such other responsibilities as the Secretary of that military department determines are appropriate. the requirements of the Business Enterprise Architecture and Transition Plan developed by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to section 2222 of title 10 , United States Code; the Standard Financial Information Structure of the Department of Defense; the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996 [section 101(f) [title VIII] of title I of div. A of Pub. L. 104–208 , 31 U.S.C. 3512 note] (and the amendments made by that Act); and other applicable requirements of law and regulation. Not later than nine months after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Oct. 14, 2008 ], the Chief Management Officer of each military department shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report on the actions taken, and on the actions planned to be taken, by such military department to implement the requirements of this section. Not later than March 1 of each of 2010, 2011, and 2012, the Chief Management Officer of each military department shall submit to the congressional defense committees a current update of the report submitted by such Chief Management Officer under paragraph (1).” The Director of the Business Transformation Agency of the Department of Defense shall carry out an initiative for financial management transformation in the Defense Agencies. The initiative shall be known as the ‘Defense Agencies Initiative’ (in this section referred to as the ‘Initiative’). In carrying out the Initiative, the Director of the Business Transformation Agency may require the heads of the Defense Agencies to carry out actions that are within the purpose and scope of the Initiative. To eliminate or replace financial management systems of the Defense Agencies that are duplicative, redundant, or fail to comply with the standards set forth in subsection (d). To transform the budget, finance, and accounting operations of the Defense Agencies to enable the Defense Agencies to achieve accurate and reliable financial information needed to support financial accountability and effective and efficient management decisions. the utilization of commercial, off-the-shelf technologies and web-based solutions; a standardized technical environment and an open and accessible architecture; and the implementation of common business processes, shared services, and common data structures. the requirements of the Business Enterprise Architecture and Transition Plan developed pursuant to section 2222 of title 10 , United States Code; the Standard Financial Information Structure of the Department of Defense; the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996 [section 101(f) [title VIII] of title I of div. A of Pub. L. 104–208 , 31 U.S.C. 3512 note] (and the amendments made by that Act); and other applicable requirements of law and regulation. Budget formulation. Budget to report, including general ledger and trial balance. Procure to pay, including commitments, obligations, and accounts payable. Order to fulfill, including billing and accounts receivable. Cost accounting. Acquire to retire (account management). Time and attendance and employee entitlement. Grants financial management. In carrying out subsections (d) and (e), the Director of the Business Transformation Agency shall consult with the Comptroller of the Department of Defense [now Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)] to ensure that any financial management systems developed for the Defense Agencies, and any changes to the budget, finance, and accounting operations of the Defense Agencies, are consistent with the financial standards and requirements of the Department of Defense. a board (to be known as the ‘Configuration Control Board’) to manage scope and cost changes to the Initiative; and a program management office (to be known as the ‘Program Management Office’) to control and enforce assumptions made in the acquisition plan, the cost estimate, and the system integration contract for the Initiative, as directed by the Configuration Control Board. In at least one Defense Agency by not later than eight months after the date of the enactment of this Act. In not less than five Defense Agencies by not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.” consistent with the financial management improvement plan of the Department of Defense required by section 376(a)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 ( Public Law 109–163 ; 119 Stat. 3213 ); and likely to improve internal controls or otherwise result in sustained improvements in the ability of the Department to produce timely, reliable, and complete financial management information. The limitation in subsection (a) shall not apply to an activity directed exclusively at assessing the adequacy of internal controls and remediating any inadequacy identified pursuant to such assessment.”