§ 384.4 - Responsibilities.

The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, as the senior acquisition executive of the Department of Defense, is the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense for all matters relating to the DoD Acquisition System, research and development, advanced technology, test and evaluation, production, logistics, military construction, procurement, economic security, environmental security, and atomic energy.

(a) The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology shall:

(1) Serve as the Defense Acquisition Executive with responsibility for supervising the performance of the DoD Acquisition System and enforcing the policies and practices in DoD Directive 5000.1 1 and OMB Circular A-109.2

(2) Chair the Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) pursuant to DoD Directive 5000.49.3

(3) Serve as the DoD Procurement Executive, with responsibilities as prescribed in E.O. 12352, 47 FR 12125, 3 CFR, 1982 Comp., p. 137, and 41 U.S.C. 401-424.

(4) Serve as the United States representative at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Conference of National Armaments’ Directors and other multinational forums of armaments’ directors.

(5) Establish and publish policies and procedures governing the operations of the DoD Acquisition System and the administrative oversight of defense contractors.

(6) Prescribe the developmental testing and evaluation program (which excludes those statutory test and evaluation responsibilities assigned to the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation), including establishing and ensuring implementation of policies and program plans, including funding, for ranges and test facilities and also be responsible for the acquisition-related functions of weapons programs, including control of the elements of the OSD performing the acquisition-related function of strategic and theater nuclear forces programs and tactical warfare programs.

(7) Prescribe policies, in coordination with the IG, DoD, and the Comptroller of the Department of Defense (C, DoD), to ensure that audit and oversight of contractor activities are coordinated and carried out in a manner to prevent duplication by different elements of the Department. The exercise of this responsibility shall not affect the authority of the IG, DoD, under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-452, 92 Stat. 1101).

(8) Coordinate research and development programs DoD-wide to eliminate duplication of effort and ensure that available resources are used to maximum advantage.

(9) Establish policies and programs that strengthen DoD Component technology development programs, encourage technical competition and technology-driven prototyping that promise increased military capabilities, and exploit the cost-reduction potential of innovative or commercially developed technologies.

(10) Develop acquisition plans, strategies, guidance, and assessments, including affordability assessments and investment area analyses, in support of the acquisition Milestone review and the Planning, Programming, and Budgeting Systems (PPBS) processes.

(11) Designate major defense acquisition programs as either DAB or Component programs, sign congressional certifications and reports, administer the Selected Acquisition Report and Unit Cost Report systems, and exercise the other specific authorities provided for in the delegations of authority in the appendix A to this part.

(12) Develop, with the coordination of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)), agreements with friendly and Allied Nations relating to acquisition matters consistent with DoD Directive 5530.3.4

(13) Develop assessments of, and establish policies to maintain the capability of the U.S. defense industry to meet DoD needs.

(14) Supervise the management and performance of the Strategic and Critical Materials Program pursuant to E.O. 12626, 53 FR 47491, 3 CFR, 1988 Comp., p. 585.

(15) Establish policies and procedures, with the coordination of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), for the effective management of the acquisition workforce within the Department of Defense, including accession, education, training, and career development.

(16) Advise the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense on technical and programmatic issues arising in Defense Resources Board matters.

(17) Establish and manage the cooperative research and development program.

(18) Manage the OSD Study Program.

(19) Establish policies and procedures for the management of the DoD environmental security strategy for cleanup, compliance, conservation, and pollution prevention.

(20) Supervise the Defense Science Board.

(21) Chair the Nuclear Weapons Council.

(b) For each assigned functional area identified in § 384.5, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology shall:

(1) Direct planning and analyses activities to assess the technical, economic, and military worth of specific acquisition programs and investment areas.

(2) Establish policies, systems, and standards that promote more effective and efficient administration and management of acquisition resources, and monitor the execution of approved programs to ensure available resources are being applied in accordance with established policies and standards.

(3) Review and evaluate DoD Component plans, programs, and budget submissions to ensure adherence to established priorities, policies and procedures, standards, and resource guidance; and, as appropriate, develop recommended alternatives for Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense consideration during all phases of the PPBS process.

(4) Promote coordination, cooperation, and mutual understanding of all matters related to assigned activities, both inside and outside the Department of Defense.

(c) Perform such other duties as the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Defense may prescribe.