Bill > HR1864

This bill directs the Secretary of Defense to appoint a single senior official within the Department of Defense (DOD) to be responsible for acquiring wideband satellite communications, which are essential for meeting the DOD's needs, including both military and commercial satellite services. While this designated official will handle most procurements, there's an exception allowing other senior officials, such as the Secretary of a military department, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, the DOD's Chief Information Officer, or a combatant command commander, to procure commercial wideband satellite communications if they determine it's necessary to meet an urgent need. If this exception is used, the official must report annually to the congressional defense committees on the urgent need, contract details, and value of each procurement. Additionally, the Secretary of Defense must submit a comprehensive plan to these committees outlining how the DOD will meet its satellite communication requirements, including the roles of various officials and how the procurement responsibilities will be managed.