Originally, this blog post was to focus on Thought No.7, “From Strategic Source to Strategic Acquisition,” of the Thirteen Thoughts for 2013.  The theme was to expand on my March 18th Federal Times editorial entitled “A New Framework for Acquiring Professional Services” which outlines the key elements of the strategic acquisition of complex services.  The elements outlined in the editorial are central [...]

This week “Thought No. 4” of the Thirteen Thoughts for 2013:  Contract duplication. . . .hitting the delete button.  The timing could not better for addressing this thought! Yesterday the Government Accountability Office (GAO) removed the High Risk Designation from “Management of Interagency Contracting.” GAO cited improvements in: (1) continued progress made by agencies in addressing identified deficiencies; [...]

Thirteen Thoughts for 2013 continues this week with Thought No. 3: ODCs in 2013!(?)   As you know, throughout the last year the Coalition for Common Sense in Government Procurement (the Coalition) has highlighted the fundamental value to customer agencies of the inclusion of ODCs and materials (at cost) in Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts.  The Coalition has [...]

Today marks the end of the first full work week of 2013.  Welcome back everybody!  The Coalition hopes all had a wonderful Holiday Season.  This time of year everybody does lists.  This year the Coalition, for the first time, is providing a list that we hope you find interesting and thought provoking.  Here are our “Thirteen [...]

This week the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memorandum “Improving Acquisition through Strategic Sourcing.”  The memorandum establishes a new Strategic Sourcing Leadership Council (SSLC) and directs each of the 24 Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Act agencies to designate a Strategic Sourcing Accountable Official (SSAO).  The SSAO is to have the authority to coordinate each [...]

On October 19th the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued its decision denying the protest of Herman Miller against the Air Force’s solicitation for commercial office furniture.  Unfortunately, the GAO failed to clearly address the solicitation’s consistency with commercial practice as required by FAR Part 12 and essentially punted on significant issues regarding the overall structure of [...]

This week’s blog post was to begin a series on “urban myths” regarding GSA’s multiple award schedule program.  Instead, this week’s blog post focuses on the ongoing reforms of GSA’s operations. On Wednesday, Acting Administrator Dan Tangherlini testified before the Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs on “Moving from Scandal to Strategy.”  Acting Administrator [...]

Contract duplication is one of the central strategic acquisition challenges facing the Federal Government and its contractors.  Contract duplication (i.e. many contracts for the same and/or similar services and products across the federal enterprise) unnecessarily increases government and contractor administrative, bid and proposal, and other overhead costs.  These unnecessary costs are ultimately borne by the [...]

On Wednesday the Coalition submitted comments in response to GSA’s Federal Register Notice regarding the Federal Acquisition Service’s (FAS’s) intent to institute a Demand Based Model (DBM).  Central to the DBM is the prospect of FAS eliminating continuous open seasons for selected schedule solicitations.  As stated in our comments to GSA, although the Coalition appreciates GSA’s focus [...]

As announced last week, the Coalition is launching a new Excellence in Partnership (EIP) Savings award “which will go to a government and industry activity based on sound acquisition planning and use of well-defined requirements that lead to significant savings for the government/taxpayer.”   This new EIP Savings award reflects the central, fundamental principle of government [...]