REQUIREMENT AND REVIEW RELATING TO USE OF BRAND NAMES OR BRAND-NAME OR EQUIVALENT DESCRIPTIONS IN SOLICITATIONS.

SEC. 888. [10 U.S.C. 2305 note] REQUIREMENT AND REVIEW RELATING TO USE OF BRAND NAMES OR BRAND-NAME OR EQUIVALENT DESCRIPTIONS IN SOLICITATIONS. (a) Requirement.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that competition in Department of Defense contracts is not limited through the use of specifying brand names or brand-name or equivalent descriptions, or proprietary specifications or standards, in solicitations unless a justification for such specification is provided and approved in accordance with section 2304(f) of title 10, United States Code. (b) Review of Anti-competitive Specifications in Information Technology Acquisitions.— (1) Review required.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall conduct a review of the policy, guidance, regulations, and training related to specifications included in information technology acquisitions to ensure current policies eliminate the unjustified use of potentially anti-competitive specifications. In conducting the review, the Under Secretary shall examine the use of brand names or proprietary specifications or standards in solicitations for procurements of goods and services, as well as the current acquisition training curriculum related to those areas. (2) Briefing required.—Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives on the results of the review required by paragraph (1). (3) Additional guidance.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall revise policies, guidance, and training to incorporate such recommendations as the Under Secretary considers appropriate from the review required by paragraph (1).