S.Amdt. 406

SA 406. Mr. DONNELLY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill H.R. 2810, to authorize appropriations for fiscal
year 2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for
military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of
Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year,
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as
follows:

At the end of subtitle A of title XI, add the following:

SEC. ___. PILOT PROGRAM ON APPOINTMENT OF GRADUATE AND
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN POSITIONS IN THE
DEFENSE ACQUISITION WORKFORCES OF THE MILITARY
DEPARTMENTS.

(a) Pilot Program Required.--The Secretary of Defense
shall, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for
Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics and the service
acquisition executives of the military departments, carry out
a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of
appointing graduate and undergraduate students described in
subsection (b) to positions in the defense acquisition
workforce of the military departments in accordance with the
provisions of this section.
(b) Graduate and Undergraduate Students.--
(1) In general.--The graduate and undergraduate students
described in this subsection are individuals who--
(A) are citizens of the United States;
(B) are currently enrolled in a qualifying educational
institution on a full-time basis in a course of academic
study leading to a graduate degree or baccalaureate degree in
a field that is related to acquisition; and
(C) are in good academic standing at the qualifying
educational institution concerned.
(2) Qualifying educational institutions.--For purposes of
this subsection, a qualifying educational institution is any
educational institution awarding graduate or baccalaureate
degrees that is accredited by an appropriate accrediting body
recognized by the Secretary of Education.
(c) Limitation.--The number of positions in the defense
acquisition workforce of a military department that are
filled under the pilot program in any fiscal year may not
exceed the number equal to one percent of the total number of
positions in the defense acquisition workforce of the
military department that are filled as of the end of the
preceding fiscal year.
(d) Agreements.--
(1) In general.--Each graduate or undergraduate student
selected for participation

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in the pilot program shall enter into an agreement with the
Under Secretary regarding participation in the pilot program.
(2) Elements.--A graduate or undergraduate student shall
agree in the agreement under this subsection as follows:
(A) To accept a term appointment with the Department of
Defense as described in subsection (e).
(B) To obtain and maintain a security clearance at the
secret level or higher during participation in the pilot
program.
(C) To successfully complete the course of academic study
of the student as described in subsection (b)(1)(B).
(3) Participants.--Each graduate or undergraduate student
participating in the pilot program may be known as an
``Acquisition Collegiate Program Intern'' or ``ACPI''.
(e) Appointment.--
(1) In general.--Each graduate or undergraduate student
participating in the pilot program shall be appointed to a
renewable term appointment in a position in the defense
acquisition workforce of a military department performing
such acquisition or acquisition-related duties, and for such
term, as the performance plan of the student under subsection
(h) shall specify.
(2) Scope of appointment authority.--Appointments under the
pilot program may be made without regard to the provisions of
subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code.
(f) Compensation.--
(1) In general.--The rates of compensation for graduate and
undergraduate students in a position under the pilot program
pursuant to an initial appointment under the pilot program
shall be established in accordance with guidance issued by
the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program.
(2) Funds.--Funds for the compensation of graduate and
undergraduate students appointed to positions under the pilot
program may be derived from amounts in the Department of
Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund.
(g) Work Schedules.--The work schedule of a graduate or
undergraduate student participating in the pilot program
shall include a formal schedule of work and study designed to
ensure that periods of work do not interfere with the taking
of courses.
(h) Performance Evaluation.--Each graduate or undergraduate
student participating in the pilot program shall be evaluated
for performance in the position to which appointed under the
pilot program using a performance plan issued to the student
upon appointment under the pilot program.
(i) Promotion.--A graduate or undergraduate student
participating in the pilot program who performs successfully
in a position under the pilot program, and who otherwise
successfully meets all other requirements applicable to the
student under the pilot program, may be promoted.
(j) Termination.--A graduate or undergraduate student
participating in the pilot program may be terminated from the
pilot program, and a position under the pilot program, for
misconduct, poor performance in position, or lack of
suitability for continuation in a position in the defense
acquisition workforce of a military department or any other
department, agency, organization, or element of the
Department of Defense.
(k) Conversion to Competitive Service.--
(1) In general.--The term appointment in a position under
the pilot program of a graduate or undergraduate student
participating in the pilot program may be converted on a
noncompetitive basis to a renewable term appointment in a
competitive service position upon the student's successful
completion of participation in the pilot program if the
student meets such conditions as the Secretary shall
establish at the commencement of the term appointment.
(2) Scope of conversion.--A conversion under paragraph (1)
may be made to an appropriate position in any department,
agency, organization, or other element of the Department.
(3) No right of employment.--Participation in the pilot
program confers no right on a student for further employment
by the Department of Defense in the competitive or excepted
service.
(4) Accrual of career tenure.--The tenure of a student in a
position under the pilot program shall count the toward the
career tenure of the student in Department after a
conversation of the student's position under paragraph (1),
whether with or without an intervening term appointment in
the competitive service.
(l) Termination.--
(1) In general.--The authority to appoint graduate or
undergraduate students to positions under the pilot program
shall expire on the date that is five years after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
(2) Effect on existing appointments.--The termination by
paragraph (1) of the authority referred to in that paragraph
shall not affect any appointment made under that authority
before the termination date specified in that paragraph in
accordance with the terms of such appointment.
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