COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT OF CERTAIN OPHTHALMIC SERVICES.

SEC. 745. [10 U.S.C. 1073 note] COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT OF CERTAIN OPHTHALMIC SERVICES. (a) Competitive Procurement Required.—Beginning not later than October 1, 1998, the Secretary of Defense shall competitively procure from private-sector sources, or other sources outside of the Department of Defense, all ophthalmic services related to the provision of single vision and multivision eyeware for members of the Armed Forces, retired members, and certain covered beneficiaries under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, who would otherwise receive such ophthalmic services through the Department of Defense. (b) Exception.—Subsection (a) shall not apply to the extent that the Secretary of Defense determines that the use of sources within the Department of Defense to provide such ophthalmic services— (1) is necessary to meet the readiness requirements of the Armed Forces; or (2) is more cost effective. (c) Completion of Existing Orders.—Subsection (a) shall not apply to orders for ophthalmic services received on or before September 30, 1998. * * * * * * *