{
  "id": "ACQ-43",
  "category": "Rapid acquisition",
  "capability": "Use middle-tier rapid prototyping and fielding pathways",
  "summary": "Run streamlined 2–5 year rapid-prototyping or rapid-fielding programs with coordinated requirements, resources and acquisition decisions.",
  "legal_basis": [
    {
      "citation": "10 U.S.C. §3602",
      "url": "https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section3602&num=0&edition=prelim",
      "kind": "statute",
      "note": "Primary statutory text; primary GovInfo baseline and amendment audit identified in research narrative."
    }
  ],
  "authority_holder": "USD(A&S) establishes pathways; Service acquisition executives/authorized decision authorities execute",
  "actor_chain": {
    "planner": [
      "Operational requirement owner; Service/component portfolio acquisition executive and program manager"
    ],
    "resource_owner": [
      "Sponsoring Service/component appropriations manager and comptroller"
    ],
    "approver": [
      "Service/component acquisition executive and authorized contracting authority, at applicable threshold"
    ],
    "executor": [
      "Warranted contracting officer and program manager"
    ],
    "partners": [
      "User command",
      "Counsel, fiscal, engineering, testing, logistics and security staff as applicable"
    ]
  },
  "actor_sources": [
    {
      "title": "P.L. 119-60 §1802 / 10 U.S.C. 1732 — portfolio plans, budgets, execution and reporting chain",
      "url": "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ60/html/PLAW-119publ60.htm"
    }
  ],
  "requirements": [
    "Prototype aims at operational demonstration/residual capability within 5 years; fielding aims at production in 6 months and fielding in 5 years.",
    "Merit consideration, acquisition/funding strategy, test and transition plan."
  ],
  "limits": [
    "A pathway is not its own contract instrument, appropriation or general statutory waiver.",
    "Regulatory waivers differ from statutory changes; statute directs seeking Congress for statutory waiver."
  ],
  "funding": [
    "Funded program plan and valid instrument; streamlined process does not create money."
  ],
  "coordination_path": "Operational sponsor → Service acquisition executive/PAE → rapid-pathway decision and funded strategy → program/contracting team → test and transition.",
  "availability": "Express statutory pathway; award-specific appropriations, available balances, delegations, implementation and approvals not independently verified.",
  "confidence": "High on express authority and cited conditions; execution assignment is illustrative unless statute expressly names it.",
  "currentness": "GovInfo 2024 Code (includes FY2025 NDAA, P.L. 118-159) read in full for cited provision; targeted FY2026 NDAA P.L. 119-60 amendment/repeal sweep. No claim of complete legislative currency through 2026-10-02; remaining 2026 delta needs counsel validation.",
  "family": "Acquisition, transition and contract finance",
  "mechanisms": [
    "Other statutory tools"
  ],
  "goal_ids": [
    "prototype-to-use"
  ],
  "office_links": [
    {
      "office_id": "counsel-award-officials",
      "role": "executor",
      "label": "Warranted contracting officer and program manager"
    }
  ]
}