ARCA Act of 2023

The ARCA Act of 2023 creates new oversight structures for the Department of Veterans Affairs' major acquisition programs (those with estimated life-cycle costs of $250 million or more). It establishes an Acquisition Review Board to oversee program feasibility, compliance with cost and schedule baselines, and authorization for progression between acquisition phases. The bill also creates a Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation to provide independent cost analysis, conduct reviews of cost estimates, and produce annual reports on cost assessment activities. Additionally, it requires the VA to review its tracking of operating and support costs for major programs and submit reports to Congress on these matters. These changes aim to improve oversight and cost management for the VA's large acquisition projects.