Requirements development process

(a) In general Subchapter VI of chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 2 and amended by sections 3 and 6, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: 8185. Requirements development process (a) Establishment of process (1) The Secretary shall establish a standardized requirements development process for major acquisition programs. (2) The process established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall— (A) define and validate mission-driven requirements for major acquisition programs exceeding $200,000,000 annually or $1,000,000,000 in lifecycle costs, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition; (B) incorporate data-driven needs assessments, stakeholder input from relevant administrations, staff offices, and other elements of the Department and veterans service organizations, and alignment with statutory mandates, such as section 8121 of this title; and (C) ensure iterative validation of requirements through independent verification and validation, as described in section 8185 of this title, to confirm cost, schedule, and performance baselines. (b) Limitation on personnel The Secretary shall implement the process established pursuant to subsection (a) using staff within the Office of Acquisition and other relevant offices of the Department, as established under section 8182 of this title, without creating new positions, unless a subsequent cost-benefit analysis, validated by the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, justifies additional resources.. (b) Report Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report detailing the requirements process established pursuant to section 8187 of such title, as added by subsection (a) and a plan for implementation of such process, including timelines for integration with major acquisition program baselines.