Ҥ 8171. Definitions

“In this subchapter:

“(1) The term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means—

“(A) the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate; and

“(B) the Subcommittees on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

“(2) The term ‘information technology’ has the meaning given that term in section 11101 of title 40.

“(3) The term ‘life cycle costs’ means all direct and indirect costs to acquire, implement, operate, and maintain an information technology system.

“(4) The term ‘major information technology project’ means a project or program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (including a project or program of any element of the Department) for, or including, the acquisition or implementation of an information technology system if—

“(A) the project or program is designated—

“(i) by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the Chief Information Officer of the Department as a major information technology project; or

“(ii) by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget as a major information technology investment, as defined in section 11302 of title 40;

“(B) the dollar value of the project or program is estimated by the Secretary to exceed—

“(i) $50,000,000 (as adjusted for inflation pursuant to section 1908 of title 41) for all project or program costs in a single fiscal year;

“(ii) $200,000,000 (as adjusted for inflation pursuant to section 1908 of title 41) for all project acquisition or implementation costs for the duration of the project or program; or

“(iii) $500,000,000 (as adjusted for inflation pursuant to section 1908 of title 41) for the total life cycle costs of the project or program; or

“(C) any increment of the project or program separately meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) or (B).

Ҥ 8172. Management of major information technology projects

“(a) Cost, schedule, and performance information.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not obligate or expend funds for any major information technology project that begins after the date of the enactment of this section unless the Secretary, acting through the Chief Information Officer, submits to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing information on the cost, schedule, and performance of such project. Each such report shall include, with respect to such project, the following:

“(1) An estimate of acquisition, implementation, and life cycle costs.

“(2) An intended implementation schedule indicating significant milestones, initial operating capability, and full operating capability or completion.

“(3) Key business, functional, or performance objectives.

“(b) Baseline.— (1) The Secretary shall use the information on the cost, schedule, and performance of a major information technology project included in the report under subsection (a) as the baseline against which changes or variances are measured during the life cycle of such project.

“(2) The Secretary shall—

“(A) annually update the baseline of a major information technology project pursuant to subsection (c); and

“(B) include such updated baseline in the documents providing detailed information on the budget for the Department that the Secretary submits to Congress in conjunction with the President's budget submission pursuant to section 1105 of title 31.

“(c) Changes and variances.— (1) Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary identifies a change or variance described in paragraph (2) in the cost, schedule, or performance of a major information technology project, the Secretary, acting through the Chief Information Officer, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a notification of such change or variance, including a description and explanation for such change or variance.

“(2) A change or variance in the cost, schedule, or performance of a major information technology project described in this paragraph is—

“(A) with respect to the acquisition, implementation, or life cycle cost of the project, or an increment therein, a change or variance that is 10 percent or greater compared to the baseline;

“(B) with respect to the schedule for achieving a significant milestone, initial operating capability, or final completion of the project, a change or variance that is 180 days or greater compared to the baseline; or

“(C) with respect to the performance, an instance where a key business, functional, or performance objective is not attained, or is not anticipated to be attained, in whole or in part.

“(d) Management.—The Secretary shall ensure that each major information technology project is managed by an interdisciplinary team including the following:

“(1) A project manager who is—

“(A) certified in project management at level three by the Department or the Department of Defense pursuant to section 1701a of title 10, or who holds an equivalent certification by a private sector project management certification organization, as determined appropriate by the Secretary; and

“(B) an employee of the Office of Information and Technology of the Department or an employee of an element of the Department at which the project originates.

“(2) A functional lead who is an employee of the element of the Department at which the project originates.

“(3) A technical lead who is an employee of the Office of Information and Technology of the Department.

“(4) A contracting officer.

“(5) Sufficient other project management, functional, technical, and procurement personnel as the Secretary determines appropriate.

Ҥ 8173. Information technology activities of the Financial Services Center

“(a) Management.—Consistent with sections 11302 and 11319 of title 40—

“(1) the Chief Information Officer of the Department shall—

“(A) exercise authority over the management, governance, and oversight processes relating to information technology of the Financial Services Center of the Department, or such successor office; and

“(B) supervise the information technology employees and contractors of the Financial Services Center; and

“(2) the Director of the Financial Services Center of the Department, or the head of such successor office, may not enter into a contract or other agreement for information technology or information technology services unless the contract or other agreement has been reviewed and approved by the Chief Information Officer.

“(b) Oversight.—The Chief Information Officer shall have oversight and operational authority over all information security practices of the Financial Services Center of the Department.

Ҥ 8174. Submission of annual reviews of information technology

“The Secretary, acting through the Chief Information Officer, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees each annual review of the information technology portfolio of the Department conducted pursuant to section 11319(d)(3) of title 40. The first such annual review so submitted shall include a copy of each previous annual review conducted under such section.”.