EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF DEFENSE LABORATORIES.

SEC. 913. EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF DEFENSE LABORATORIES. (a) Analysis by Independent Panel.—(1) Not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall convene a panel of independent experts under the auspices of the Defense Science Board to conduct an analysis of the resources and capabilities of all of the laboratories and test and evaluation facilities of the Department of Defense, including those of the military departments. In conducting the analysis, the panel shall identify opportunities to achieve efficiency and reduce duplication of efforts by consolidating responsibilities by area or function or by designating lead agencies or executive agents in cases considered appropriate. The panel shall report its findings to the Secretary of Defense and to Congress not later than August 1, 2000. (2) The analysis required by paragraph (1) shall, at a minimum, address the capabilities of the laboratories and test and evaluation facilities in the areas of air vehicles, armaments, command, control, communications, and intelligence, space, directed energy, electronic warfare, medicine, corporate laboratories, civil engineering, geophysics, and the environment. (b) Performance Review Process.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall develop an appropriate performance review process for rating the quality and relevance of work performed by the Department of Defense laboratories. The process shall include customer evaluation and peer review by Department of Defense personnel and appropriate experts from outside the Department of Defense. The process shall provide for rating all laboratories of the Army, Navy, and Air Force on a consistent basis.113 STAT. 721