10 USC § 3101 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s3101"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 3101 - Definitions"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "3101"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 205
chapter_name: "DEFENSE ACQUISITION SYSTEM"
part_number: "V"
part_name: "ACQUISITION"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VIII, § 861(a), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4288, § 2545; amended Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, § 1071(a)(11), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3505; renumbered § 3101 and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1808(a)(2), (b)(1), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4159, 4160; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title XVIII, § 1801(e)(1), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1224.)"
---


# § 3101. Definitions

In this chapter:

**(1)** The term “best value” means, with respect to an acquisition, the optimal combination of cost, quality, technical capability or solution quality, and delivery schedule.

**(2)** The term “capability requirement” means a capability that is critical or essential to address an operational problem.

**(3)** The term “cost-effective” means, with respect to an acquisition, delivering superior end-user results at equal or lower cost compared to alternatives.

**(4)** The term “operational problem” means—

**(A)** a challenge of a military department in achieving an assigned military objective based on current doctrine, emerging threats, or future concepts; and

**(B)** may include limitations in capabilities, capacity, resources, or the ability to effectively and efficiently coordinate across the joint force, with another combatant command, or among military capabilities.

**(5)** The term “service chief” means—

**(A)** the Chief of Staff of the Army, with respect to matters concerning the Army;

**(B)** the Chief of Naval Operations, with respect to matters concerning the Navy;

**(C)** the Commandant of the Marine Corps, with respect to matters concerning the Marine Corps;

**(D)** the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, with respect to matters concerning the Air Force; and

**(E)** the Chief of Space Operations, with respect to matters concerning the Space Force.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VIII, § 861(a), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4288, § 2545; amended Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, § 1071(a)(11), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3505; renumbered § 3101 and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1808(a)(2), (b)(1), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4159, 4160; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title XVIII, § 1801(e)(1), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1224.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

, which was transferred to this section by , was also transferred or copied in large part to  by –(4).

### Amendments

2025— amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text defined the term “acquisition”.

2021—, substituted “In this chapter, the term” for “In this chapter:”, par. (1) designation, and “The term” and struck out pars. (2) to (4) which defined “defense acquisition system”, “element of the defense acquisition system”, and “acquisition workforce”.

, renumbered  as this section.

2014—Par. (1).  substituted “” for “section 4(16) of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act ()”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see , set out as a note preceding .