FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR CONSOLIDATION OF DEFENSE LABORATORIES AND TEST AND EVALUATION CENTERS.

SEC. 277. FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR CONSOLIDATION OF DEFENSE LABORATORIES AND TEST AND EVALUATION CENTERS. (a) Five-Year Plan.— The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (in their roles as test and evaluation executive agent board of directors) shall develop a five-year plan to consolidate and restructure the laboratories and test and evaluation centers of the Department of Defense. (b) Objective.— The plan shall set forth the specific actions needed to consolidate the laboratories and test and evaluation centers into as few laboratories and centers as is practical and possible, in the judgment of the Secretary, by October 1, 2005. (c) Previously Developed Data Required To Be Used.— In developing the plan, the Secretary shall use the following: (1) Data and results obtained by the Test and Evaluation Joint Cross-Service Group and the Laboratory Joint Cross-Service Group in developing recommendations for the 1995 report of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. (2) The report dated March 1994 on the consolidation and streamlining of the test and evaluation infrastructure, commissioned by the test and evaluation board of directors, along with all supporting data and reports. (d) Matters To Be Considered.— In developing the plan, the Secretary shall consider, at a minimum, the following: (1) Consolidation of common support functions, including the following: (A) Aircraft (fixed wing and rotary) support. (B) Weapons support. (C) Space systems support. (D) Support of command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence. (2) The extent to which any military construction, acquisition of equipment, or modernization of equipment is planned at the laboratories and centers. (3) The encroachment on the laboratories and centers by residential and industrial expansion. (4) The total cost to the Federal Government of continuing to operate the laboratories and centers. (5) The cost savings and program effectiveness of locating laboratories and centers at the same sites. (6) Any loss of expertise resulting from the consolidations. (7) Whether any legislation is neccessary to provide the Secretary with any additional authority necessary to accomplish the downsizing and consolidation of the laboratories and centers. (e) Report.— Not later than May 1, 1996, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the plan. The report shall include an identification of any additional legislation that the Secretary considers necessary in order for the Secretary to accomplish the downsizing and consolidation of the laboratories and centers. 110 STAT. 243 (f) Limitation.— Of the amounts appropriated or otherwise made available pursuant to an authorization of appropriations in section 201 for the central test and evaluation investment development program, not more than 75 percent may be obligated before the report required by subsection (e) is submitted to Congress.