---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 6277"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "6277"
heading: "Conceptual and construction design"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/6277"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part VI — Elements of Department of Defense and Other Matters"
  - "Subpart B — Atomic Energy Defense"
  - "Chapter 607 — Budget and Financial Management Matters"
  - "Subchapter I — Recurring National Security Authorization Provisions"
---

# §6277. Conceptual and construction design

- (a) **Conceptual Design.—**
  - (1) Subject to [paragraph (2)](#a-2) and except as provided in [paragraph (3)](#a-3), before submitting to Congress a request for funds for a construction project that is in support of a [national security](/usc/10/801.md?p=16) [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy shall complete a conceptual design for that project.
  - (2) If the estimated cost of completing a conceptual design for a construction project exceeds $5,000,000, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall submit to Congress a request for funds for the conceptual design before submitting a request for funds for the construction project.
  - (3) The requirement in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) does not apply to a request for funds—
    - (A) for a construction project the total estimated cost of which is less than the [minor construction threshold](/usc/10/6271.md?p=2-A); or
    - (B) for emergency planning, design, and construction activities under section 6278.
- (b) **Construction Design.—**
  - (1) Within the amounts authorized by a [DOE national security authorization](/usc/10/6271.md?p=1), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) may carry out construction design (including architectural and engineering services) in connection with any proposed construction project if the total estimated cost for such design does not exceed $5,000,000.
  - (2) If the total estimated cost for construction design in connection with any construction project exceeds $5,000,000, funds for that design must be specifically authorized by law.

## Source credit

(Added and amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), (d)(2), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1428, 1462.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2746 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).

### Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(d)(2)(B), realigned margins.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(d)(2)(A), struck out pars. (1) to (3) headings which read as follows: “Requirement”, “Requests for conceptual design funds”, and “Exceptions”, respectively.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(d)(2)(A), struck out pars. (1) and (2) headings which read as follows: “Authority” and “Limitation on availability of funds for certain projects”, respectively.