10 U.S.C. § 4171 — Operational test and evaluation of defense acquisition programs

**(a) Condition for Proceeding Beyond Low-rate Initial Production.—** (1) The Secretary of Defense shall provide that a covered major defense acquisition program, a covered designated major subprogram, or an element of the ballistic missile defense system may not proceed beyond low-rate initial production until initial operational test and evaluation of the program, subprogram, or element is completed. (2) In this subsection: (A) The term “covered major defense acquisition program” means a major defense acquisition program that involves the acquisition of a weapon system that is a major system. (B) The term “covered designated major subprogram” means a major subprogram designated under [section 4203(a)(1) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section4203/a/1&num=0&edition=prelim) that is a major subprogram of a covered major defense acquisition program. **(b) Operational Test and Evaluation.—** (1) Operational testing of a major defense acquisition program may not be conducted until the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation of the Department of Defense approves (in writing) the adequacy of the plans (including the projected level of funding) for operational test and evaluation to be conducted in connection with that program. (2) The Director shall analyze the results of the operational test and evaluation conducted for each major defense acquisition program. At the conclusion of such testing, the Director shall prepare a report stating— (A) the opinion of the Director as to— (i) whether the test and evaluation performed were adequate; and (ii) whether the results of such test and evaluation confirm that the items or components actually tested are effective and suitable for combat; and (B) additional information on the operational capabilities of the items or components that the Director considers appropriate based on the testing conducted. (3) The Director shall submit each report under paragraph (2) to the Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and the congressional defense committees. Each such report shall be submitted to those committees in precisely the same form and with precisely the same content as the report originally was submitted to the Secretary and Under Secretary and shall be accompanied by such comments as the Secretary may wish to make on the report. (4) A final decision within the Department of Defense to proceed with a major defense acquisition program beyond low-rate initial production may not be made until the Director has submitted to the Secretary of Defense the report with respect to that program under paragraph (2) and the congressional defense committees have received that report. (5) If, before a final decision described in paragraph (4) is made for a major defense acquisition program, a decision is made within the Department of Defense to proceed to operational use of that program or to make procurement funds available for that program, the Director shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the congressional defense committees the report with respect to that program under paragraph (2) as soon as practicable after the decision described in this paragraph is made. (6) In this subsection, the term “major defense acquisition program” has the meaning given that term in [section 139(a)(2)(B) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section139/a/2/B&num=0&edition=prelim). **(c) Determination of Quantity of Articles Required for Operational Testing.—** The quantity of articles of a new system that are to be procured for operational testing shall be determined by— (1) the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation of the Department of Defense, in the case of a new system that is a major defense acquisition program (as defined in [section 139(a)(2)(B) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section139/a/2/B&num=0&edition=prelim)); or (2) the operational test and evaluation agency of the military department concerned, in the case of a new system that is not a major defense acquisition program. **(d) Impartiality of Contractor Testing Personnel.—** In the case of a major defense acquisition program (as defined in subsection (a)(2)), no person employed by the contractor for the system being tested may be involved in the conduct of the operational test and evaluation required under subsection (a). The limitation in the preceding sentence does not apply to the extent that the Secretary of Defense plans for persons employed by that contractor to be involved in the operation, maintenance, and support of the system being tested when the system is deployed in combat. **(e) Impartial Contracted Advisory and Assistance Services.—** (1) The Director may not contract with any person for advisory and assistance services with regard to the test and evaluation of a system if that person participated in (or is participating in) the development, production, or testing of such system for a military department or Defense Agency (or for another contractor of the Department of Defense). (2) The Director may waive the limitation under paragraph (1) in any case if the Director determines in writing that sufficient steps have been taken to ensure the impartiality of the contractor in providing the services. The Inspector General of the Department of Defense shall review each such waiver and shall include in the Inspector General’s semi-annual report an assessment of those waivers made since the last such report. (3) (A) A contractor that has participated in (or is participating in) the development, production, or testing of a system for a military department or Defense Agency (or for another contractor of the Department of Defense) may not be involved (in any way) in the establishment of criteria for data collection, performance assessment, or evaluation activities for the operational test and evaluation. (B) The limitation in subparagraph (A) does not apply to a contractor that has participated in such development, production, or testing solely in testing for the Federal Government. **(f) Source of Funds for Testing.—** The costs for all tests required under subsection (a) shall be paid from funds available for the system being tested. **(g) Director’s Annual Report.—** As part of the annual report of the Director under [section 139 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section139&num=0&edition=prelim), the Director shall describe for each program covered in the report the status of test and evaluation activities in comparison with the test and evaluation master plan for that program, as approved by the Director. The Director shall include in such annual report a description of each waiver granted under subsection (e)(2) since the last such report. **(h) Operational Test and Evaluation Defined.—** In this section, the term “operational test and evaluation” has the meaning given that term in [section 139(a)(2)(A) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section139/a/2/A&num=0&edition=prelim). For purposes of subsection (a), that term does not include an operational assessment based exclusively on— (1) computer modeling; (2) simulation; or (3) an analysis of system requirements, engineering proposals, design specifications, or any other information contained in program documents.