H.R. 3132House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Rapid Fielding Defense Capabilities and Risk Assessment Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 5:51 AM UTC

The Rapid Fielding Defense Capabilities and Risk Assessment Act requires the Secretary of Defense to brief the House and Senate Armed Services Committees about the "middle tier" of defense acquisition programs. The briefing, due by Dec. 1, 2019, must include lessons learned, how those lessons can be used for both middle‑tier and major acquisition programs, and recommendations for improving acquisition rules.

Key Provisions

The Secretary must deliver a briefing and written analysis to the congressional defense committees by Dec. 1, 2019.
The analysis must identify lessons learned from middle‑tier programs and explain how they can be applied to middle‑tier and major defense acquisition programs.
It must assess how "covered risk" (cost, schedule, performance, and operational risk) should influence the choice of acquisition authority, including fast‑track pathways, urgent operational needs, traditional processes, or other authorities.
The report must consider whether requirements that apply to major programs should also apply to middle‑tier programs.
It must recommend any changes to laws or regulations, supported by data, to improve acquisition practices.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

June 5, 2019

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 5, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Armed Services Committee

June 5, 2019

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued June 5, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3132

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 5, 2019

Mr. Johnson of South Dakota (for himself, Mrs. Davis of California, and Mr. Wilson of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees relating to the middle tier of acquisition programs, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Rapid Fielding Defense Capabilities and Risk Assessment Act.

Briefing relating to the middle tier of acquisition programs

(a)

In general

Not later than December 1, 2019, the Secretary of Defense shall provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees (as defined in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code) on lessons learned and best practices identified through the use of the middle tier of acquisition programs described under section 804 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 10 U.S.C. 2302 note). The briefing shall be accompanied by a written analysis—

(1)

identifying which lessons learned can be applied to—

(A)

middle tier acquisition programs; and

(B)

any major defense acquisition program (as defined under section 2430 of title 10, United States Code);

(2)

describing the extent to which covered risk should be a factor in determining which acquisition authority to use, including—

(A)

an acquisition pathway as described under subsection (b) of section 804 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 10 U.S.C. 2302 note);

(B)

the authority described under section 2371b of title 10, United States Code;

(C)

acquisition authority relating to urgent operational needs;

(D)

a traditional acquisition process; or

(E)

any other acquisition authority, as determined by the Secretary;

(3)

describing whether any requirements applicable to major defense acquisition programs should be applicable to middle tier acquisition programs under such section; and

(4)

recommending amendments or revisions (as applicable) to law or regulation, and including available data to support such recommendations.

(b)

Covered risk defined

In this section, the term covered risk shall have the meaning given by the Secretary of Defense, and shall include a consideration of cost, schedule, performance, risk to operational success.