technology investments. (2) Briefing Not later than February 3, 2020, the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense shall brief the congressional defense committees on the process optimization undertaken pursuant to paragraph (1), including any recommendations for legislation. (b) Delivery of information technology budget The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees the Department of Defense budget request for information technology not later than 15 days after the submittal to Congress of the budget of the President for a fiscal year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code. 852. Special pathways for rapid acquisition of software applications and upgrades (a) Guidance required Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish guidance authorizing the use of special pathways for the rapid acquisition of software applications and upgrades that are intended to be fielded within one year. (b) Software acquisition pathways (1) Use of proven technologies and solutions The guidance required by subsection (a) shall provide for the use of proven technologies and solutions to continuously engineer and deliver capabilities in software. (2) Objectives The objectives of using the acquisition authority under this section shall be to begin the engineering of new capabilities quickly, to demonstrate viability and effectiveness of those capabilities in operation, and to continue updating and delivering new capabilities iteratively afterwards. (3) Treatment not as acquisition program An acquisition using the authority under this section shall not be treated as an acquisition program for the purpose of section 2430 of title 10, United States Code, or Department of Defense Directive 5000.01 without the specific direction of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment or a Senior Acquisition Executive. (4) Pathways The guidance shall provide for the following two rapid acquisition pathways: