PUBLIC LAW 106-65—OCT. 5, 1999 113 STAT. 571 tested to ensure that it meets the performance requirements of the Army and all other functional requirements. At each step in the testing process, confirmation of successful test completion should be required before the contractor begins the next step of the modernization process. (2) IMPLEMENTATION TEAM.— The Secretary of the Army should establish an implementation team to monitor efficiencies and effectiveness of the modernization solutions. (d) READINESS SUSTAINMENT. —It is the sense of Congress that the following additional readiness sustainment measures should be undertaken as part of the modernization of the computer services referred to in subsection (a): (1) GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT.— It is extremely important that the Army Materiel Command retains sufficient in-house expertise to ensure that readiness is not adversely affected by the modernization efforts and to effectively oversee contractor performance. (2) USE OF CONTRACT PARTNERING.—The Army Materiel Command should encourage partnerships with the contractor, with the primary goal of providing quality contract deliverables on time and at a reasonable price. Any such partnership agreement should constitute a mutual commitment on how the Army Materiel Command and the contractor will interact during the course of the contract, with the objective of facilitating optimum contract performance through teamwork, enhanced communications, cooperation, and good faith performance. Subtitle F—Defense Dependents Education SEC. 351. ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES THAT BEN- EFIT DEPENDENTS OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. (a) MODIFIED DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000.— Of the amount authorized to be appropriated by section 301(5) for operation and maintenance for Defense-wide activities, $35,000,000 shall be available only for the purpose of providing educational agencies assistance (as defined in subsection (d)(1)) to local educational agencies. (b) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than June 30, 2000, the Secretary Deadliine. of Defense shall notify each local educational agency that is eligible for educational agencies assistance for fiscal year 2000 of— (1) that agency's eligibility for educational agencies assistance; and (2) the amount of the educational agencies assistance for which that agency is eligible. (c) DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS. —The Secretary of Defense shall disburse funds made available under subsection (a) not later than 30 days after the date on which notification to the eligible local educational agencies is provided pursuant to subsection (b). (d) DEFINITIONS. —In this section: (1) The term "educational agencies assistance" means assistance authorized under section 386(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 (Public Law 102-484; 20 U.S.C. 7703 note).
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