14 U.S.C. § 308: Chief Acquisition Officer

There shall be in the Coast Guard a Chief Acquisition Officer selected by the Commandant who shall be a Rear Admiral or civilian from the Senior Executive Service (career reserved) and who meets the qualifications set forth under subsection (b). The Chief Acquisition Officer shall serve at the Assistant Commandant level and have acquisition management as that individual’s primary duty. the program executive officer; the program manager of a Level 1 or Level 2 acquisition project or program; the deputy program manager of a Level 1 or Level 2 acquisition; the project manager of a Level 1 or Level 2 acquisition; or any other acquisition position of significant responsibility in which the primary duties are supervisory or management duties. The Commandant shall periodically publish a list of the positions designated under paragraph (1). In this subsection each of the terms “Level 1 acquisition” and “Level 2 acquisition” has the meaning that term has in chapter 11 of this title. monitoring the performance of acquisition projects and programs on the basis of applicable performance measurements and advising the Commandant, through the chain of command, regarding the appropriate business strategy to achieve the missions of the Coast Guard; maximizing the use of full and open competition at the prime contract and subcontract levels in the acquisition of property, capabilities, assets, and services by the Coast Guard by establishing policies, procedures, and practices that ensure that the Coast Guard receives a sufficient number of sealed bids or competitive proposals from responsible sources to fulfill the Government’s requirements, including performance and delivery schedules, at the lowest cost or best value considering the nature of the property, capability, asset, or service procured; making acquisition decisions in concurrence with the technical authority, or technical authorities, of the Coast Guard, as designated by the Commandant, consistent with all other applicable laws and decisions establishing procedures within the Coast Guard; ensuring the use of detailed performance specifications in instances in which performance-based contracting is used; managing the direction of acquisition policy for the Coast Guard, including implementation of the unique acquisition policies, regulations, and standards of the Coast Guard; developing and maintaining an acquisition career management program in the Coast Guard to ensure that there is an adequate acquisition workforce; assessing the requirements established for Coast Guard personnel regarding knowledge and skill in acquisition resources and management and the adequacy of such requirements for facilitating the achievement of the performance goals established for acquisition management; developing strategies and specific plans for hiring, training, and professional development; reporting to the Commandant, through the chain of command, on the progress made in improving acquisition management capability; and keeping the Commandant informed of the progress of major acquisition programs (as that term is defined in section 1171); significant cost growth or schedule slippage; and requirements creep (as that term is defined in section 3104(c)(1) of title 10 ); and ensuring that the views of the Commandant regarding such programs on cost, schedule, technical feasibility, and performance trade-offs are strongly considered by program managers and program executive officers in all phases of the acquisition process. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [ Oct. 15, 2010 ] and in accordance with section 9701.333 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall establish special rate supplements that provide higher pay levels for employees necessary to carry out the amendment made by this section [enacting this section]. The requirement under paragraph (1) is subject to the availability of appropriations.”