The future success of government missions depends on having a resilient, diverse and reliable supplier base.
Jason Oxman
This week marks 50 years since Congress established the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP). The bureau is the agency responsible for directing efficient, economical, and effective purchases across the government, from staplers to supercomputers. Since OFPP was founded in his 1974, innovative technological advances over the past few decades have seen significant changes in the types of goods, services, and solutions used by the federal government. Today, government agencies rely on commercial technologies that didn't exist 50 years ago, including hardware, software, AI, cloud solutions, and cybersecurity.
Unfortunately, many of the policies that govern how the U.S. government purchases goods and services were enacted prior to the creation of OFPP, and many of the policies governing how the U.S. government purchases goods and services that individuals and businesses rely on on a daily basis predate the creation of OFPP. We haven't kept up with how we buy and use technology. This can result in taxpayer dollars being wasted by denying government agencies access to the most functional and secure IT solutions at prices comparable to those paid outside the public sector. To ensure that U.S. government agencies are prepared for the next 50 years and meet today's needs, we need to improve government procurement.
Key leaders in Congress have an opportunity to advance important legislation that addresses these challenges and increases the effectiveness of government technology purchases. The bipartisan Federal Technology Improvement (FIT) Acquisition Act, authored by Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), provides targeted reforms, specialized training, and and specialized training to address long-standing problems in the federal technology acquisition process. The long-awaited purchasing authority that will bring U.S. procurement into the 21st century.
The FIT procurement law recognizes that purchased technology is unique and must be treated as such. Importantly, the bill prioritizes IT procurement-specific training for government acquisition personnel. This is critically needed to help government purchasers understand the complex technology they are purchasing and ensure they are getting the best value solution that meets their agency's requirements. This complements recent training reforms for government contract workers, including allowing technology-focused government buyers to obtain specialized certifications to acquire digital services.
The bill also recognizes that the way the government buys technology must match the way it sells it on the commercial market. Technology solutions, including cloud, are increasingly sold on a pay-as-you-go basis. Charges are based on actual usage and other metrics and are billed in arrears. However, current government-specific spending laws and practices prevent government buyers from taking full advantage of these pricing models, limiting the government's ability to take advantage of the benefits of these innovative technologies. There is a possibility that As a solution, the FIT procurement law gives government buyers the flexibility they need to procure consumption-based solutions on par with the commercial sector, realize higher value for IT, and save taxpayers money. provide sex.
The future success of government missions depends on having a resilient, diverse and reliable supplier base. This includes more companies participating in government acquisitions, creating a path for all the innovation in the private sector to help the government better serve Americans, whether it's the Post Office or the Department of Defense. It includes making. The FIT Acquisition Act is intended to ensure that federal contracting opportunities are accessible to businesses of all sizes, including new entrants to the federal market. The measure doubles the simplified acquisition threshold, expands contracting opportunities available to small and disadvantaged businesses, and allows government buyers to conduct more effective market research that prioritizes commercial capabilities. is encouraged and creates opportunities for public-private partnerships for government and industry to identify and implement. Eliminate barriers to entry.
In summary, the sound acquisition policy proposals promoted by the FIT Acquisition Act will improve the government's technology acquisition process today and ensure that the federal government is well positioned to leverage private sector innovation for generations to come. Helps ensure. We urge legislators to move forward with this commonsense bill.
Jason Oxman is Chairman and CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council.
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