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10 USC § 6285 - Life-cycle cost estimates of certain atomic energy defense capital assets 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s6285"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 6285 - Life-cycle cost estimates of certain atomic energy defense capital assets"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "6285"
section_name: "Life-cycle cost estimates of certain atomic energy defense capital assets"
chapter_number: 607
chapter_name: "BUDGET AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT MATTERS"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "RECURRING NATIONAL SECURITY AUTHORIZATION PROVISIONS"
part_number: "VI"
part_name: "ELEMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND OTHER MATTERS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1434.)"
---

# § 6285. Life-cycle cost estimates of certain atomic energy defense capital assets

**(a)** **In General.—** The Secretary of Energy shall ensure that an independent life-cycle cost estimate under Department of Energy Order 413.3B (relating to program management and project management for the acquisition of capital assets), or a successor order, of each capital asset described in subsection (b) is conducted before the asset achieves critical decision 2 in the acquisition process.

**(b)** **Capital Assets Described.—** A capital asset described in this subsection is an atomic energy defense capital asset—

**(1)** the total project cost of which exceeds $100,000,000; and

**(2)** the purpose of which is to perform a limited-life, single-purpose mission.

**(c)** **Independent Defined.—** For purposes of subsection (a), the term “independent”, with respect to a life-cycle cost estimate of a capital asset, means that the life-cycle cost estimate is prepared by an organization independent of the project sponsor, using the same detailed technical and procurement information as the sponsor, to determine if the life-cycle cost estimate of the sponsor is accurate and reasonable.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1434.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in , War and National Defense, prior to repeal by .