---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 3221"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "3221"
heading: "Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/3221"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part V — Acquisition"
  - "Subpart B — Acquisition Planning"
  - "Chapter 222 — Independent Cost Estimation and Cost Analysis"
---

# §3221. Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation

- (a) **In General.—** The Director of Cost Assessment and [Program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) Evaluation shall ensure that the cost estimation and cost analysis processes of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense provide accurate information and realistic estimates of cost for the acquisition [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense.
- (b) **Functions.—** In carrying out the responsibility of the Director under [subsection (a)](#a), the Director shall—
  - (1) prescribe, by authority of the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense, policies and procedures for the conduct of cost estimation and cost analysis for the acquisition [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense;
  - (2) with respect to cost estimation in the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense in general and with respect to specific cost estimates and cost analyses to be conducted in connection with a [major defense acquisition program](/usc/10/4201.md?p=a) or major subprogram under chapters [321](/usc/10/chstA/ptV/sptF/ch321.md), [324](/usc/10/chstA/ptV/sptF/ch324.md), and [325](/usc/10/chstA/ptV/sptF/ch325.md), subchapter I of [chapter 322](/usc/10/chstA/ptV/sptF/ch322.md), and sections [3042](/usc/10/3042.md), [4232](/usc/10/4232.md), [4273](/usc/10/4273.md), [4293](/usc/10/4293.md), [4321](/usc/10/4321.md), [4323](/usc/10/4323.md), and [4328](/usc/10/4328.md) of this title, provide guidance to and consult with—
    - (A) the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense;
    - (B) the Under [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment;
    - (C) the Under [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense (Comptroller);
    - (D) the [Secretaries](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of the [military departments](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-8); and
    - (E) the heads of the [Defense Agencies](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-11);
  - (3) issue guidance relating to the proper discussion of risk in cost estimates generally, and specifically, for the proper discussion of risk in cost estimates for [major defense acquisition programs](/usc/10/4201.md?p=a) and major subprograms;
  - (4) issue guidance relating to full consideration of life-cycle management and sustainability costs in [major defense acquisition programs](/usc/10/4201.md?p=a) and major subprograms;
  - (5) review all cost estimates and cost analyses conducted in connection with [major defense acquisition programs](/usc/10/4201.md?p=a) and major subprograms;
  - (6) conduct or approve independent cost estimates and cost analyses for all [major defense acquisition programs](/usc/10/4201.md?p=a) and major subprograms—
    - (A) in advance of—
      - (i) any decision to grant milestone approval pursuant to [section 4252 of this title](/usc/10/4252.md);
      - (ii) any decision to enter into low-[rate](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-9) initial production or full-[rate](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-9) production;
      - (iii) any certification under [section 4376 of this title](/usc/10/4376.md); and
      - (iv) any decision to enter into a contract in connection with a [military construction](/usc/10/2801.md?p=a) project of a value greater than $500,000,000; and
    - (B) at any other time considered appropriate by the Director, upon the request of the Under [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, or upon the request of the milestone decision authority;
  - (7) periodically assess and update the cost indexes used by the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) to ensure that such indexes have a sound basis and meet the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6)’s needs for realistic cost estimation; and
  - (8) annually review the cost and associated information required to be included, by [section 4351(c)(1) of this title](/usc/10/4351.md?p=c-1), in the Selected Acquisition Reports required by that section.
- (c) **Staff.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall ensure that the Director of Cost Assessment and [Program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) Evaluation has sufficient professional staff of [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) and civilian personnel to enable the Director to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Director under this chapter.

## Source credit

(Added and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1812(a), (b), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4174; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(c)(1), (d)(5), (o)(6)(A)(i), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2135, 2136, 2147; Pub. L. 117–263, div. B, title XXVIII, § 2806(b), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2995; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title VIII, § 806(b)(2), title XVII, § 1701(a)(35), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1974, 2205.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

The text of subsec. (a) of section 2334 of this title, which was transferred to this section, redesignated as subsecs. (a) and (b), and amended by Pub. L. 116–283, § 1812(b)(1), (2), was based on Pub. L. 111–23, title I, § 101(b)(1), May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1706; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title VIII, § 812(c)(1), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 808; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, § 824(b), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 907; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, §§ 842(a)(1), (2), (b)(1), (2), 846(3), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2288, 2289, 2292; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, § 1081(a)(31), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1596; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, § 902(53), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1549.

The text of subsec. (h) of section 2334 of this title, which was transferred to this section, redesignated as subsec. (c), and amended by Pub. L. 116–283, § 1812(b)(3), was based on Pub. L. 111–23, title I, § 101(b)(1), May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1706; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title X, § 1077(a), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 998; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, § 842(a)(3), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2288.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 3221, act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 176, related to authorized strength of Army Reserve, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §§ 1662(a)(3), 1691, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2988, 3026, effective Dec. 1, 1994. See section 12001 of this title.

### Amendments

2024—Subsec. (b)(6)(A)(i). Pub. L. 118–159, § 806(b)(2), struck out “4251 or” before “4252 of this title”.

Subsec. (b)(6)(A)(iv), (v). Pub. L. 118–159, § 1701(a)(35), redesignated cl. (v) as (iv) and struck out former cl. (iv) which read as follows: “any report under section 2445c(f) of this title; and”.

2022—Subsec. (b)(6)(A)(v). Pub. L. 117–263 added cl. (v).

2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1812(b)(1), transferred subsec. (a) of section 2334 of this title to this section.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1812(b)(1), (2)(A), designated second sentence of subsec. (a) as (b), inserted heading, and substituted “In carrying out the responsibility of the Director under subsection (a),” for “In carrying out that responsibility,” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 117–81, § 1701(d)(5), in introductory provisions, substituted “chapters 321, 324, and 325, subchapter I of chapter 322, and sections 3042, 4232, 4273, 4293, 4321, 4323, and 4328” for “chapter 144”.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 1812(b)(2)(B), struck out “provide guidance to and consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), the Secretaries of the military departments, and the heads of the Defense Agencies” before “with respect to cost estimation” and substituted “of this title, provide guidance to and consult with—” and subpars. (A) to (E) for “of this title;”.

Subsec. (b)(6)(A)(i). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1812(b)(2)(C)(i), substituted “section 4251 or 4252” for “section 2366a or 2366b”.

Subsec. (b)(6)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1812(b)(2)(C)(ii), substituted “section 4376” for “section 2433a”.

Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 116–283, § 1812(b)(2)(D), as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, § 1701(o)(6)(A)(i), substituted “section 4351(c)(1)” for “section 2432(c)(1)”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–81, § 1701(c)(1), substituted “under this chapter” for “under this section”.

Pub. L. 116–283, § 1812(b)(3), redesignated subsec. (h) of section 2334 of this title as subsec. (c) of this section.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2022 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 117–263 applicable to contracts entered into on or after Dec. 23, 2022, see section 2806(c) of Pub. L. 117–263, set out as a note under section 2851 of this title.

### Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by section 1701(c)(1), (d)(5) of Pub. L. 117–81 to take effect immediately after the amendments made by title XVIII of Pub. L. 116–283 have taken effect, see section 1701(a)(3) of Pub. L. 117–81, set out in a note preceding section 3001 of this title and Effective Date note below.

Amendment by section 1701(o)(6)(A)(i) of Pub. L. 117–81 applicable as if included in the enactment of title XVIII of Pub. L. 116–283 as enacted, see section 1701(a)(2) of Pub. L. 117–81, set out in a note preceding section 3001 of this title and Effective Date note below.

### Effective Date

Section and amendment by Pub. L. 116–283 effective Jan. 1, 2022, with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see section 1801(d) of Pub. L. 116–283, set out as an Effective Date of 2021 Amendment note preceding section 3001 of this title.