A recent conversation with Ellen Lord, the new undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, revealed her desire to make defense acquisition faster, compressing the timeline of requests for proposals, evaluation and contract award to 12 months.
One should take issue with this in one respect. The time spent from RFP up to award in 12 months or less is not a very high bar at all. In fact, this part of the acquisition process should be done in in less than 60 days, if not 30, which is still not aggressive enough.
However, what is understood to be included within the acquisition process is often muddled. The intent might better be stated that the entire Department of Defense acquisition (not only contracting) cycle — including requirements, definition and market research — occur within a year. For as all involved can attest, it’s the creation, coordination and validation process of the what and how (meaning the review and approval of acquisition decisions) that ensures delivery of systems that are almost technologically obsolete on Day One.
Keep reading this article at: https://www.federaltimes.com/opinions/2018/01/02/yes-it-can-be-done-expediting-defense-acquisition/
