FY26 NDAA, Section 1803
Assessment, Management, and Control of Operating and Support Costs
RETENTION OF DATA ON OPERATING AND SUPPORT COSTS.
(1) IN GENERAL - The Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation shall develop and maintain a database on operating and support estimates, supporting documentation, and actual operating and support costs for major weapon systems.
(2) SUPPORT - The Secretary of War shall ensure that the Director, in carrying out the requirements of paragraph (1)
(A) promptly receives the results of all cost estimates and cost analyses conducted by the military departments with regard to operating and support costs of major weapon systems;
(B) has timely access to any records and data of the military departments (including classified and proprietary information) that the Director considers necessary to carry out such requirements; and
(C) with the concurrence of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, may direct the military departments to collect and retain information necessary to support the database.
(3) COORDINATION - The Secretary of War, with concurrence of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, may direct each Secretary of a military department to collect and retain information necessary to support the database required under paragraph (1).
10 U.S. Code §4325
Major weapon systems: assessment, management, and control of operating and support costs…
(a) The Secretary of War shall issue and maintain guidance on actions to be taken to assess, manage, and control Department of War costs for the operation and support of major weapon systems.
(b) (2) require the military departments to retain each estimate of operating and support costs that is developed at any time during the life cycle of a major weapon system, together with supporting documentation used to develop the estimate;
(b) (3) require each Secretary of a military department to update estimates of operating and support costs periodically throughout the life cycle of a major weapon system, and make necessary adjustments to the life-cycle sustainment plan required by section 4324 of this title to ensure such major weapon system meets applicable operational readiness requirements and material readiness objectives (established in accordance with section 118(c) of this title) in the most cost-effective manner practicable;
(b) (4) The Secretary of War shall establish policies and procedures for collection, organization, maintenance, and availability of standardized data on operating and support costs for major weapon systems in accordance with section 2222 of this title.
10 U.S. Code §4251
Major Defense Acquisition Programs: Determination Required Before Milestone A Approval
Section 4251 states that an MDAP may not receive Milestone A approval until the Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) determines in writing that the program meets several criteria, including planning for sustainment.
10 U.S. Code §4252
Major Defense Acquisition Programs: Determination Required Before Milestone B Approval
Section 4252 states that an MDAP may not receive Milestone B approval until the MDA determines in writing that the program meets several specific criteria, including planning for life-cycle sustainment planning.
10 U.S. Code §4253
Major Defense Acquisition Programs: Determination Required Before Milestone C Approval
Section 4253 requires that the MDA provide the congressional defense committees a brief summary report not later than 15 days after granting Milestone C approval for an MDAP, including total life-cycle costs.
10 U.S. Code §4328
Sustainment Factors in Weapon System Design
Section 4328 states that DoW shall ensure that the Defense Acquisition System gives ample emphasis to sustainment factors, particularly those factors that are affected principally by the design of a weapon system, in the development of a weapon system.