(a) Selection of Prototype Project for Production and Rapid Fielding.—A weapon system component or technology prototype project may be selected by the service acquisition executive of the military department concerned for a follow-on production contract or other transaction without the use of competitive procedures, notwithstanding the requirements of sections 3201 through 3205 of this title, if—
(1)
the follow-on production project addresses a high priority warfighter need or reduces the costs of a weapon system;
(2)
competitive procedures were used for the selection of parties for participation in the original prototype project;
(b) Special Transfer Authority.—
(1)
The Secretary of a military department may, as specified in advance by appropriations Acts, transfer funds that remain available for obligation in procurement appropriation accounts of the military department to fund the low-rate initial production of the rapid fielding project until required funding for full-rate production can be submitted and approved through the regular budget process of the Department of Defense.
(2)
The funds transferred under this subsection to fund the low-rate initial production of a rapid fielding project shall be for a period not to exceed two years, the amount for such period may not exceed $50,000,000, and the special transfer authority provided in this subsection may not be used more than once to fund procurement of a particular new or upgraded system.
(c) Notification to Congress.—
Within 30 days after the service acquisition executive of a military department selects a weapon system component or technology project for a follow-on production contract or other transaction, the service acquisition executive shall notify the congressional defense committees of the selection and provide a brief description of the rapid fielding project.
(Added Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, § 806(a)(1), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2259, § 2447d; renumbered § 4424 and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1851(c)(1), (4), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4272, 4273.)