summary
Introduced
03/13/2014
03/13/2014
In Committee
04/30/2014
04/30/2014
Crossed Over
06/10/2014
06/10/2014
Passed
Dead
01/03/2015
01/03/2015
Introduced Session
113th Congress
Bill Summary
DHS Acquisition Accountability and Efficiency Act – Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to: (1) designate the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the Chief Acquisition Officer for DHS; (2) include the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Information Officer of DHS in the DHS acquisition process; (3) establish the position of Chief Procurement Officer under the Under Secretary for Management to exercise leadership over the DHS procurement function and to issue acquisition regulations and policies; and (4) require the Under Secretary for Management to take steps to improve the accountability, standardization, and transparency of major DHS acquisition programs. Directs the Under Secretary for Management to: (1) establish an Acquisition Review Board to strengthen accountability and uniformity within the DHS acquisition review process, review acquisition programs, and review the use of best practices; and (2) establish DHS-wide policies to increase opportunities for effectiveness and efficiencies in the DHS major acquisition process. Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to conduct a review of the effectiveness of the Acquisition Review Board. Establishes a process for notifying the congressional homeland security committees of a breach in a major DHS acquisition program (e.g., failure to meet any cost, schedule, or performance requirements). Directs the Under Secretary for Management to develop a plan for remediating a breach and for analyzing the root cause of the breach. Requires the DHS Secretary to submit to such committees a multiyear acquisition strategy to guide the overall direction of DHS acquisition, including a plan to address DHS acquisition workforce accountability and talent management and an assessment of the feasibility of conducting a pilot program to establish a Homeland Security Acquisition Workforce Development Fund to ensure that the DHS workforce has the capacity to perform its mission.
AI Summary
This bill, the DHS Acquisition Accountability and Efficiency Act, aims to improve how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) manages its acquisitions, which are the processes of obtaining goods and services. It designates the Under Secretary for Management as the Chief Acquisition Officer, giving them overall responsibility for acquisition activities. The bill also brings the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer into the acquisition process and establishes a Chief Procurement Officer to lead procurement efforts. To enhance oversight and accountability, it creates an Acquisition Review Board to review major acquisition programs and ensure best practices are used. The bill mandates that DHS develop clear policies for its acquisition process, including plans to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of major acquisition programs. Furthermore, it requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent government watchdog, to review the effectiveness of the Acquisition Review Board. The bill also establishes a process for notifying Congress if a major acquisition program experiences a "breach," meaning it fails to meet its cost, schedule, or performance goals, and requires the Under Secretary for Management to develop plans to fix these issues and analyze their causes. Finally, the DHS Secretary must submit a multiyear acquisition strategy to Congress, outlining the department's long-term acquisition goals and including plans for managing the acquisition workforce and exploring a pilot program for an Acquisition Workforce Development Fund.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs, Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (15)
Jeff Duncan (R)*,
Ron Barber (D),
Lou Barletta (R),
John Carter (R),
Steve Daines (R),
Blake Farenthold (R),
Richard Hudson (R),
Sheila Jackson-Lee (D),
Cynthia Lummis (R),
Jim Matheson (D),
Michael McCaul (R),
Beto O'Rourke (D),
Stevan Pearce (R),
Mike Pompeo (R),
Todd Young (R),
Last Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (on 06/10/2014)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...