---
type: "LegalText"
title: "10 U.S.C. § 6285"
description: "Life-cycle cost estimates of certain atomic energy defense capital assets"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
chapter_number: "607"
chapter_name: "BUDGET AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT MATTERS"
section: "6285"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 6285"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc10@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s6285"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-10/usc10.xml"
source_hash: "a6575dde7168b8b188541a1b49d7f2c1581d174a3e8f76e7492a97f9b51d3c3b"
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text_hash: "5a450a2901ddabc6824312eefeae2a318a749955b321a746954661b5bc79b056"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

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

## Text

(a) In General.— The Secretary of Energy shall ensure that an independent life-cycle cost estimate under Department of Energy Order 413.3B (relating to program management and project management for the acquisition of capital assets), or a successor order, of each capital asset described in subsection (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), 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 information as the sponsor, to determine if the life-cycle cost estimate of the sponsor is accurate and reasonable.

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

## Notes

Editorial Notes

Prior ProvisionsProvisions 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).