Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 4.djvu/70

 116 STAT. 2498 PUBLIC LAW 107-314—DEC. 2, 2002 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.— The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2359a (as added by section 242) the following new item: "2359b. Defense Acquisition Challenge Program.". 10 USC 2302 SEC. 244. ENCOURAGEMENT OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONTRADI- note. TIONAL DEFENSE CONTRACTORS TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS POTENTIALLY BENEFICIAL FOR COMBATING TER- RORISM. (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF OUTREACH PROGRAM. —During fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, shall carry out a program of outreach to small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors for the purpose set forth in subsection (b). (b) PURPOSE. —The purpose of the outreach program is to provide a process for reviewing and evaluating research activities of, and new technologies being developed by, small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors that have the potential for meeting a defense requirement or technology development goal of the Department of Defense that relates to the mission of the Department of Defense to combat terrorism. (c) GOALS.— The goals of the outreach program are as follows: (1) To increase efforts within the Department of Defense to survey and identify research activities and new technologies described in subsection (b). (2) To provide the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics with a source of expert advice on new technologies for combating terrorism. (3) To increase efforts to educate nontraditional defense contractors on Department of Defense acquisition processes, including regulations, procedures, funding opportunities, military needs and requirements, and technology transfer so as to encourage such contractors to submit proposals regarding research activities and new technologies described in subsection (b). (4) To increase efforts to provide timely response by the Department of Defense to acquisition proposals (including unsolicited proposals) submitted to the Department by small businesses and by nontraditional defense contractors regarding research activities and new technologies described in subsection (b), including through the use of electronic transactions to facilitate the processing of such proposals. Appointment. (d) REVIEW PANEL.— (1) The Secretary shall appoint, under the outreach program, a panel for the review and evaluation of acquisition proposals described in subsection (c)(4). (2) The panel shall be composed of qualified personnel from the military departments, relevant Defense Agencies, industry, academia, and other private sector organizations. Procedures. (3) Under procedures prescribed by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, a small business or nontraditional defense contractor may submit acquisition proposals for consideration under the program through the unsolicited proposal process or in response to a broad agency announcement. The Under Secretary shall issue on an annual basis not less than one such broad agency announcement inviting parties to submit proposals.

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