S.Amdt. 2728

SA 2728. Mr. YOUNG submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 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 C of title VIII, add the following:

SEC. 855. STUDY ON PILOT PROGRAM TO EXPAND THE SHRINKING
DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, acting through
the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and
Sustainment, shall conduct a study on the feasibility and
advisability of implementing a pilot program to assist small
businesses within the defense industrial base to transition
to unrestricted contracting.
(b) Elements.--The study required under subsection (a)
shall, for purposes of identifying support measures for
contractors growing from small to other-than-small under
North American Industry Classification System codes that are
among the top ten by total Federal contract spending or are
among any additional sectors the Secretary determines
critical to the defense industrial base, examine the
following:
(1) Whether an evaluation preference, reserves under
multiple award contracts, or other procurement assistance is
appropriate.
(2) Whether a pilot program to implement the procurement
assistance described in paragraph (1) would contribute to job
creation, increased competition, and a more resilient
industrial base and align with broader national security
interests.
(3) Criteria for the pilot program, including an
eligibility period and criteria for participation and
graduation.
(4) Methods to also encourage growth of startups and very
small businesses should the program proceed.
(5) Metrics to assess the success of the program.
(c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit
to the congressional defense committees a report on the
findings of the study conducted under subsection (a).
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