Sec. 3116 — Contracting authority to acquire commercial testing services for effects of radiation

Statutory text

(a) In general. The Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, may seek to enter into contractual arrangements with private entities to acquire services to test the effects of radiation in support of National Nuclear Security Administration and Department of Defense mission requirements for—(1)nuclear deterrence;(2)strategic systems survivability; and(3)weapons component qualification testing.

(b) Reporting requirement. Not later than 180 days after the first contractual agreement is executed under this section, and annually thereafter, the Administrator, in coordination with the Secretary, shall submit to Congress a report that includes—(1)an assessment on the contractual arrangements best suited for accelerating timelines and delivering capabilities, to include, with respect to the number of parts to be tested, the—(A)cost per radiation shot;(B)cost per qualification; or(C)cost per dose rate or fluence;(2)testing capabilities acquired under the contractual agreement and the cost of such testing capabilities;(3)an identification of the entities that will use such testing capabilities;(4)cost comparison analysis relative to Government-owned facilities;(5)test execution timelines compared to Government-owned facilities; and(6)an assessment of how commercial entities can complement ongoing Government-owned facilities; and(7)any recommendations for additional authorities or resources that the Administrator or the Secretary determines is necessary to support the implementation of this section.