Border security technology accountability

(a)

In general

Subtitle C of title IV of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 231 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

434.

Border security technology program management

(a)

Planning documentation

For each border security technology acquisition program of the Department that is determined to be a major acquisition program, the Secretary shall— (1)ensure that each such program has a written acquisition program baseline approved by the relevant acquisition decision authority; (2)document that each such program is meeting cost, schedule, and performance thresholds as specified in such baseline, in compliance with relevant departmental acquisition policies and the Federal Acquisition Regulation; and (3)have a plan for meeting program implementation objectives by managing contractor performance. (b)

Adherence to standards

The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Management and the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall ensure that border security technology acquisition program managers who are responsible for carrying out this section adhere to relevant internal control standards identified by the Comptroller General of the United States. The Commissioner shall provide information, as needed, to assist the Under Secretary in monitoring proper program management of border security technology acquisition programs under this section. (c)

Plan

The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Management, and in coordination with the Under Secretary for Science and Technology and the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, shall submit a plan to the appropriate congressional committees for testing and evaluation, and the use of independent verification and validation resources, for border security technology so that new border security technologies are evaluated through a series of assessments, processes, and audits to ensure— (1)compliance with relevant departmental acquisition policies and the Federal Acquisition Regulation; and (2)the effectiveness of taxpayer dollars. (d)

Major acquisition program defined

In this section, the term major acquisition program means a Department acquisition program that is estimated by the Secretary to require an eventual total expenditure of at least $300,000,000 (based on fiscal year 2017 constant dollars) over its life cycle cost.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 433 the following:

Sec. 434. Border security technology program management.