Missing Pieces of Procurement Reform

Few activities have vexed the federal complex of Congress, agency managers, overseers and regulation-writers over the decades more than procurement. Buying things, so simple to individuals, is a highly legalized and regulated process in government. Federal News Radio’s special report, Missing Pieces of Procurement Reform, will look back at the past 20 years of acquisition laws enacted to gauge their impact, and look ahead to short- and long-term changes that need to happen today to make a difference in 2016 and beyond.

Regular review of the federal government’s acquisition laws and regulations is appropriate, and even necessary, in order to keep up with changing times and circumstances. Enacting new laws, however, isn’t always the solution, unless we fully understand and analyze our past paths, says acquisition policy expert Cathleen Garman.

William Greenwalt, the former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, says its long overdue to update the way the Defense Department purchases goods and services.

Tom Davis, director of government relations at Deloitte and former chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said acquisition offices haven’t improved much since Congress passed SARA in 2003.

The practices and procedures for how the federal government procures goods and services did not happen overnight. They were established by multiple pieces of legislation over many decades.

In Federal News Radio’s special report, Missing Pieces of Procurement Reform, the Defense Acquisition University, the Federal Acquisition Institute and other experts say a new kind of acquisition worker is needed. One that brings business acumen, understands technology and knows the FAR forward and back. The ever-evolving training regime for federal acquisition workers is no longer just about the hard skills of acquisition.

The U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations asked 31 acquisition experts to weigh in on how the Defense acquisition process can be reformed. Federal News Radio brings you some of the highlights.

If you keep hearing the same thing over and over, is it true? Take certain federal procurement axioms: virtually every procurement nowadays is protested, contracting officers are not allowed to talk to potential bidders, there are too many contracting vehicles out there. Federal News Radio set out to explore these refrains, with the help of two procurement experts.

NCMA Executive Director Michael Fischetti and Tom Davis, former chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, conclude that better leadership will get the acquisition process where it needs to be.

The success of defense acquisition will always depend on the capability of a limited number of people inside and outside government whose resources of time and attention are finite. Increased skill, relevant experiences, and cultural adjustment of the workforce will occur only gradually and only with adequate funding and congressional oversight, says contracting expert Jonathan Etherton.

Big programs at DoD continue to overspend their budgets and blow past their schedules because of unrealistic requirements and rosy cost projections. As part of our special report, The Missing Pieces of Procurement Reform, several acquisition experts pointed out that DoD acquisition is one of the most studied problems in the history of government.

Kelvin Wood, the director of TAI, said the organization is investing more in virtual training as travel budgets continue to decrease. Wood said the institute also is focusing on more tailored courses to meet specific needs of its students.

Strong management is essential to driving successful project and program results. But many executives say their organizations struggle to move ideas into action. As part of our special report, Missing Pieces of Procurement Reform, Federal News Radio offers a best practices for program management.

Like virtually everything in the federal government, the relationship federal agencies and industry organizations is complex. Contracts, buying and selling are just a small piece of the pie. Communication and collaboration are key factors that must exist in the pipeline between the public and private sectors. As part of our special report, the Missing Pieces of Procurement Reform, Federal News Radio hosted a panel with acquisition experts.

Roger Waldron, president of the Coalition for Government Procurement, and Stan Soloway of the Professional Services Council discuss what hurdles stand in the way of real procurement reform as part of Federal News Radio’s special report, Missing Pieces of Procurement Reform.

Knowing and appreciating the industry side of the acquisitions process is key to training the acquisition workforce of the future, according to two acquisition experts.