---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 6285"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "6285"
heading: "Life-cycle cost estimates of certain atomic energy defense capital assets"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/6285"
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"
---

# §6285. Life-cycle cost estimates of certain atomic energy defense capital assets

- (a) **In General.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy shall ensure that an independent life-cycle cost estimate under [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy Order 413.3B (relating to [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) management and project management for the acquisition of capital assets), or a successor order, of each capital asset described in [subsection (b)](#b) is conducted before the asset achieves critical decision 2 in the acquisition process.
- (b) **Capital Assets Described.—** A capital asset described in this subsection is an atomic energy defense capital asset—
  - (1) the total project cost of which exceeds $100,000,000; and
  - (2) the purpose of which is to perform a limited-life, single-purpose mission.
- (c) **Independent Defined.—** For purposes of [subsection (a)](#a), the term “independent”, with respect to a life-cycle cost estimate of a capital asset, means that the life-cycle cost estimate is prepared by an organization independent of the project sponsor, using the same detailed technical and [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) information as the sponsor, to determine if the life-cycle cost estimate of the sponsor is accurate and reasonable.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1434.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2754 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).