DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR TECHNICAL EXPERTS INTO THE DEFENSE ACQUISITION WORKFORCE.

SEC. 1113. [10 U.S.C. 1701 note] DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR TECHNICAL EXPERTS INTO THE DEFENSE ACQUISITION WORKFORCE. (a) Authority.—Each Secretary of a military department may appoint qualified candidates possessing a scientific or engineering degree to positions described in subsection (b) for that military department without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code. (b) Applicability.—Positions described in this subsection are scientific and engineering positions within the defense acquisition workforce. (c) Limitation.—Authority under this section may not, in any calendar year and with respect to any military department, be exercised with respect to a number of candidates greater than the number equal to 5 percent of the total number of scientific and engineering positions within the acquisition workforce of that military department that are filled as of the close of the fiscal year last ending before the start of such calendar year. (d) Nature of Appointment.—Any appointment under this section shall be treated as an appointment on a full-time equivalent basis, unless such appointment is made on a term or temporary basis. (e) Employee Defined.—In this section, the term “employee” has the meaning given that term in section 2105 of title 5, United States Code. (f) Termination.—The authority to make appointments under this section shall not be available after December 31, 2020.