Prototype to Production Act

The "Prototype to Production Act" modifies the Department of Defense's other transaction authority (OTA) to streamline the acquisition process. It mandates a non-delegable written determination from the head of the contracting activity for prototype projects or follow-on production contracts exceeding $100,000,000 . This ensures higher-level oversight for significant investments. The bill also defines "follow-on production" as a contract or transaction to further develop, test, produce, deploy, operate, or sustain a capability successfully prototyped under OTA. A new provision allows for the award of production transactions, potentially without competitive procedures, to rapidly field emergent and proven technologies . This authority can be exercised when the technology requires no additional development, has been demonstrated, and an acquisition executive determines exceptional circumstances warrant its use to meet a high-priority warfighter need.