Pub. L. 100-147, tit. I, sec. 121

Sec. 121. (a) It is the sense of the Congress that the solid rocket motor project of the space shuttle program would benefit from competition, and that an advanced solid rocket motor would enhance the margin of safety, reliability, and performance of the space shuttle. (b) By the date on which the President submits to the Congress the fiscal year 1990 budget request for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Administrator shall issue a request for proposals to acquire by means of a competitive procurement an advanced solid rocket motor. The Administrator shall also consider ways and means to improve quality control, reduce operational hazards, reduce costs, increase competition, and enhance manufacturing processes, including, but not limited to, constructing a government-owned and contractor-operated solid rocket motor production facility and providing for a dual source of supply of the advanced solid rocket motor. (c) Until a request for proposals has been issued under subsection (b) of this section, no contract for the purchase of additional solid rocket motors shall be extended or signed by the Administrator. The Administrator may proceed with the procurement of long-lead materials for the solid rocket motors from the current contractor only after the Administrator has certified to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of101 STAT. 869 Representatives that such action is necessary to prevent a delay in the space shuttle launch schedule. (d) The Administrator shall notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives if the competitive procurement specified in subsection (b) cannot be conducted. The Administrator shall transmit such notice along with a complete explanation of the reasons supporting such determination. Following such determination, but no sooner than 30 days following the transmission of the notice required under this subsection, the Administrator shall— (1) conduct a competition to select a qualified second source of supply (in addition to the current contractor) for flight sets of the redesigned solid rocket motor that is currently under development; or (2) recompete the current source of supply for flight sets of the redesigned solid rocket motor. (e) No later than March 31, 1988, the Administrator shall present to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a comprehensive acquisition plan for the advanced solid rocket motor in accordance with this section.