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ANNEX 4 - SUMMARY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2017 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT SECTION 233 PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION CENTERS
This Annex memorializes ASN(RDA) approved initiatives under FY17 NDAA Section 233 Pilot Program for the Enhancement of the Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Centers. The FY17 NDAA Section 233 directs the military departments to carry out a pilot program to demonstrate methods for more effective development of technology and management functions at five eligible science and technology reinvention laboratories (STRLs).
The references supporting this Annex are:
(a) ASN(RDA) Memorandum, Revised Memorandum for Implementation of Section 233 Pilot Program for the Enhancement of the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Centers dated July 14, 2017;
(b) ASN(RDA) Memorandum, Approval of Initiatives Under FY2017 NDAA Section 233 Pilot Program for the Enhancement of the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Centers dated November 16, 2017;
(c) ASN(RDA) Memorandum, Approved Initiatives Under FY2017 NOAA Section 233 Pilot Program for the Enhancement of the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Centers, Phase II, Sprint I dated March 5, 2019; and
The table below captures approved initiatives as reflected in references (a) through (c).
| Reference Date | Initiative | Applicability | NMCARS Pointer |
| July 14, 2017 November 16, 2017 | Justifications and Approvals for Other than Full and Open competition not exceeding $93 million may be approved by a general/flag officer or Senior Executive of the STRL. | Naval Research Laboratory (NRL); NAVSEA Warfare Centers (NWCs) (Naval Surface Warfare Center and Naval Undersea Warfare Center); Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division (NAWCAD); Naval Air Warfare Center - Weapons Division (NAWCWD); and Naval Information and Warfare Centers - Atlantic and Pacific (formerly SPAWAR Systems Centers) | 5206.304(a)(S-90) |
| July 14, 2017 November 16, 2017 | Justifications and Approvals to not provide a Fair Opportunity to be considered on proposed orders not exceeding $93 million under Multiple Award Contracts, may be approved by a general/flag officer or Senior Executive of the STRL. | NRL, NWCs, NAWCAD, NAWCWD, and NIWC SCs | 5206.304(a)(S-90) |
| July 14, 2017 November 16, 2017 | Management and Oversight Process for the Acquisition of Services (MOPAS) actions with an estimated value of less than $100,000,000 may be approved by the STRL. | NRL, NWCs, NAWCAD, NAWCWD, and NIWC SCs | 5207.103(j)(ii) 5237.503(S-90)(b) |
| November 16, 2017 | Purchase card may be used to procure supplies/services | NRL, NWCs, NAWCAD, NAWCWD, and NIWC SCs | 5213.270 |
| November 16, 2017 | Single Award Task or delivery order contracts under $112 Million do not require HCA approval - NMCARS 5216.504-90 is waived. | NRL, NWCs, NAWCAD, NAWCWD, and NIWC SCs | 5216.504-90 |
| November 16, 2017 | Peer Reviews for actions less than $250 Million may be conducted by the STRL | NRL, NWCs, NAWCAD, NAWCWD, and NIWC SCs | 5201.170(b) |
| Reference Date | Initiative | Applicability | NMCARS Pointer |
| November 16, 2017 | NRL may approve bridge contract actions below $20 Million per NMCARS 5206.303-1(S-90), which permits HCAs to delegate bridge contract approval one level. | NRL | 5206.303-1(S-90)(a) |
| November 16, 2017 | Approve Business Clearance documents up to $75M and use an abbreviated Business Clearance Form for actions between $150K and $750K as consistent with NMCARS 5201.690, which instructs the HCA to establish Business Clearance Review procedures. | NWCs | 5201.690(d) |
| November 16, 2017 | Use contracting functions of Army Corp of Engineers and/or General Services administration in accordance with interagency acquisitions procedures in FAR 17.5, DFARS 217.5, NMCARS 5217.5 and is consistent with 10 U.S.C. Section 2851. | NWCs | 5217.502-2(a) |
| March 5, 2019 | Approval granted to increase current consolidation of contract approval thresholds from $2 Million to no more than $50 Million for STRL and less than $100 Million for Head of Contracting Activity (HCA). | DON STRLs | 5207.107-2(e)(2)(1) |
| March 5, 2019 | Approval granted to waive NMCARS 5237.502 and allow HCA discretion in establishing Management and Oversight Process for the Acquisition of Services (MOPAS-S) content and format requirement below $2.0M | DON STRLs | 5237.502 |
| March 5, 2019 | Approval granted to waive Source Selection Advisory Council (SSAC) requirement for procurements valued under $250M, increasing threshold from $100M to $250M | DON STRLs | 5215.300 |
| March 5, 2019 | Approval granted to increase the threshold for requiring DoD Item Unique Identification (IUID) identifiers from $5K to $10K for acquisitions at or below the micro-purchase threshold. | DON STRLs | 5211.274-2(a) |
| March 5, 2019 | Authority granted to execute architectural and engineering, planning and construction projects to Lab Revitalization Program limits per Title 10 Section 2363 and Section 2805(d) for RDT&E facilities [$6M per revitalization and recapitalization project and $7.5 M per repair project]. | DON STRLs | 5201.601-90(b) |
| Reference Date | Initiative | Applicability | NMCARS Pointer |
| March 5, 2019 | Approve Acquisition Plans for contract actions less than $250M. | DON STRLs | 5207.103(j)(ii) |
| March 5, 2019 | Delegation of contracting authority granted for facilities work to include Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization (SRM), facilities services and energy conservation projects within assigned buildings to include Heating and Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems (HVAC), lighting upgrades, and building envelope repairs. In addition to contracting for their own facility and sustainment repairs, STRLs may use contracting functions of Army Corps of Engineers and/ or General Services Administration in accordance with interagency acquisition procedures in FAR 17.5, DFARS 217.5, NMCARS 5217.5 and consistent with 10 U.S.C. Section 2851. | DON STRLs | 5217.502-2(a) |
| March 5, 2019 | Waive DFARS 215.404-70 for Weighted Guidelines Analysis and establish a 6% standard fee when assessing proposals submitted as a result of a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). STRLs will establish procedures to document performance risks, contract type risks, facilities capital employed, and cost efficiencies. | DON STRLs | 5215.4-4(b)(1) |
