**Washington**: The US Department of Defense is introducing reforms to enhance procurement efficiency, preferring commercial solutions and centralising decision-making. A comprehensive plan will be developed to address training needs and optimise acquisition roles, establishing a new Configuration Steering Board to manage associated risks.
The JD Supra is reporting on new reforms aimed at overhauling the acquisition processes within the United States Department of Defense (DoD). These reforms are designed to streamline procurement and enhance efficiency in securing defence-related goods and services.
To begin with, the reforms will utilise existing authorities to facilitate faster acquisitions across the DoD. This includes a preference for commercial solutions and a general inclination towards Other Transactions Authority. There will also be the application of policies from the Rapid Capabilities Office and other pathways that support streamlined acquisitions, notably under the Adaptative Acquisition Framework. The Secretary of Defense is mandated to prioritise these authorities in all pending DoD contracting actions starting from the issuance of this order, thereby requiring their application whenever appropriate and aligned with applicable laws.
In addition, there will be an extensive review of the current acquisition workforce roles, focusing on eliminating unnecessary tasks, reducing duplication in approvals, and centralising decision-making processes. This review will encompass evaluations of various crucial support functions, including program managers, contracting officers, engineering authorities, financial managers, cost estimators, and logisticians, with the goal of enhancing overall efficiency within the acquisition framework.
Furthermore, a new formal steering board, known as the Configuration Steering Board, will be established to enable the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, alongside Service Acquisition Executives and Component Acquisition Executives, to effectively manage risks associated with all acquisition programmes.
In terms of timelines, the Secretary of Defense is required to develop and present a comprehensive plan to the President within 120 days of the order’s issuance. This plan aims to reform, right-size, and address training needs within the acquisition workforce. Similarly, a comprehensive review of all Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs), as delineated in section 4201 of title 10, is to be completed within 90 days to ascertain consistency with the order’s policy objectives. Lastly, a thorough review of the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System is scheduled to be finalised within 180 days from the date of the order.
The emphasis on reforming the DoD’s acquisition processes highlights a significant commitment to improving the efficacy and responsiveness of military procurement practices, addressing longstanding issues within the department’s operational framework.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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