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10 USC § 4253 - Major defense acquisition programs: submissions to Congress on Milestone C

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s4253"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 4253 - Major defense acquisition programs: submissions to Congress on Milestone C"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "4253"
section_name: "Major defense acquisition programs: submissions to Congress on Milestone C"
chapter_number: 322
chapter_name: "MAJOR SYSTEMS AND MAJOR DEFENSE ACQUISITION PROGRAMS GENERALLY"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "MILESTONES FOR MAJOR DEFENSE ACQUISITION PROGRAMS"
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. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, § 808(c)(1), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2265, § 2366c; amended Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VIII, § 838(a)(2), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1474; renumbered § 4253 and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1847(d)(3), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4256.)"
---

# § 4253. Major defense acquisition programs: submissions to Congress on Milestone C

**(a)** **Brief Summary Report.—** Not later than 15 days after granting Milestone C approval for a major defense acquisition program, the milestone decision authority for the program shall provide to the congressional defense committees and, in the case of intelligence or intelligence-related activities, the congressional intelligence committees a brief summary report that contains the following:

**(1)** The estimated cost and schedule for the program established by the military department concerned, including—

**(A)** the dollar values estimated for the program acquisition unit cost, average procurement unit cost, and total life-cycle cost; and

**(B)** the planned dates for initial operational test and evaluation and initial operational capability.

**(2)** The independent estimated cost for the program established pursuant to section 3221(b)(6) of this title, and any independent estimated schedule for the program, including—

**(A)** the dollar values estimated for the program acquisition unit cost, average procurement unit cost, and total life-cycle cost; and

**(B)** the planned dates for initial operational test and evaluation and initial operational capability.

**(3)** A summary of any production, manufacturing, and fielding risks associated with the program.

**(4)** An assessment of the sufficiency of the developmental test and evaluation completed, including the use of automated data analytics or modeling and simulation tools and methodologies.

**(b)** **Additional Information.—** At the request of any of the congressional defense committees or, in the case of intelligence or intelligence-related activities, the congressional intelligence committees, the milestone decision authority shall submit to the committee further information or underlying documentation for the information in a brief summary report submitted under subsection (a), including the independent cost and schedule estimates and the independent technical risk assessments referred to in that subsection.

**(c)** **Congressional Intelligence Committees Defined.—** In this section, the term “congressional intelligence committees” has the meaning given that term in section 437(c) of this title.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, § 808(c)(1), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2265, § 2366c; amended Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VIII, § 838(a)(2), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1474; renumbered § 4253 and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1847(d)(3), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4256.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021— renumbered  as this section and, in subsec. (a)(2), substituted “section 3221(b)(6)” for “section 2334(a)(6)” in introductory provisions. Section was inserted after , as renumbered by par. (2) of , to reflect the probable intent of Congress, notwithstanding language directing this section be inserted after  “as transferred and redesignated by paragraph (3)” of section 1847(d).

2017—Subsec. (a)(4).  added par. (4).

## 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 .

### Responsibility for Conducting Assessments; Guidance

For provisions designating officials responsible for conducting assessments and provisions requiring guidance for assessments under subsec. (a)(4) of this section, see section 838(a)(3), (4) of , set out as notes under .