Online Marketplace | The Contracting Education Academy

April 11, 2018 By AMK

Could the online marketplace be a catalyst for procurement transformation?

The rest of the world has been buying online for a long time now, and with Congressional permission, our government agencies will finally get to try it out.

A section included in the annual defense authorization bill allows the Pentagon and other government agencies to buy directly from online marketplaces such as Amazon, Grainger and Office Depot as part of a pilot program.

Section 846 could be the catalyst for far-reaching change, leading to new procurement business processes and innovative procurement technology. If the federal government wants to make this initiative as successful as possible, there are a few key things they need to consider.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.nextgov.com/ideas/2018/03/could-online-marketplace-be-catalyst-procurement-transformation/146807/

January 23, 2018 By AMK

Report of GSA’s public meeting to discuss ‘Amazon’ amendment

On Tuesday, January 9, 2018, the General Services Administration (GSA) convened a public meeting to discuss the implications and ramifications of Section 846 of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Procurement Through Commercial e-Commerce Portals.

This amendment (dubbed the “Amazon amendment”) will permit government agencies to buy commercial products through online portals like Amazon, Overstock, Staples, and Walmart.

Implications abound, from privity of contract to dealing with preference programs to determining how competition will best be served. GSA’s public meeting was an opportunity to discuss these issues as part of an ongoing dialogue that started with a request for comment and notice of yesterday’s meeting in mid-December.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.publicspendforum.net/blogs/frank-mcnally/2018/01/12/gsa-event-discusses-amazon-amendment

November 14, 2017 By AMK

Industry tries to prune ‘Amazon’ amendment before NDAA is finalized

As House and Senate conferees close in on an agreement for the 2018 National Defense Authorization bill, the controversial “Amazon” provision remains in play.

But it seems likely the final version will look a lot different than the current one.

If you aren’t familiar with this provision, Section 801 of the House version of the NDAA would require the General Services Administration to create one or more online marketplaces for agencies to buy commercial items, therefore simplifying the process and reducing costs. House Armed Services Committee staff members say the goal of the provision is to make federal procurement less complex and more competitive.

The Senate version of the bill doesn’t include such a provision, meaning it is one of many differences that have to be ironed out in the conference committee.

And because the Senate Armed Services Committee didn’t include or fully understand the “Amazon” provision, staff members did some last-minute cramming before the conference on the bill started.

Keep reading this article at: https://federalnewsradio.com/reporters-notebook-jason-miller/2017/11/industry-tries-to-prune-amazon-amendment-before-ndaa-is-finalized/

November 6, 2017 By AMK

The ‘Amazon Amendment’ would effectively hand government purchasing power over to Amazon

Last week, representatives of three major internet platforms — Google, Facebook, and Twitter — are testifying before Congress about their role in facilitating Russian meddling in the 2016 election. But a fourth giant sat comfortably removed: Amazon.

Instead of getting yelled at by lawmakers, Amazon is on the verge of winning a multibillion-dollar advantage over retail rivals by taking over large swaths of federal procurement.

Language buried in Section 801 of the House-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act, which is being hashed out in a conference committee with the Senate, would move Defense Department purchases of commercial off-the-shelf products to “online marketplaces.” Theoretically, that means any website that offers an array of options for paper clips or office furniture; in reality that signals likely dominance for Amazon Business, the company’s commercial sales platform.

Keep reading this article at: https://theintercept.com/2017/11/02/amazon-amendment-online-marketplaces/

October 18, 2017 By AMK

Breaking the stranglehold of calcified federal acquisition policies

Mac Thornberry, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, thinks government ought to be able to take advantage of the robust world of online marketplaces (think Amazon or EBay).

Thus, he has included in the House version of the 2018 defense authorization bill a provision authorizing just that. Since there is no similar language in the Senate bill, the provision will be decided in conference committee, although significant opposition jeopardizes its survival.

In truth, it shouldn’t be a question at all. There is no reason the government cannot or should not be a part of this global shift. The only question should be how to make it work.

First, we have to answer the core question of the extent to which the government is willing to let go of longstanding acquisition policies and requirements.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2017/10/breaking-stranglehold-calcified-federal-acquisition-policies/141668/

The rest of the world has been buying online for a long time now, and with Congressional permission, our government agencies will finally get to try it out.

On Tuesday, January 9, 2018, the General Services Administration (GSA) convened a public meeting to discuss the implications and ramifications of Section 846 of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Procurement Through Commercial e-Commerce Portals.

As House and Senate conferees close in on an agreement for the 2018 National Defense Authorization bill, the controversial “Amazon” provision remains in play.

Last week, representatives of three major internet platforms — Google, Facebook, and Twitter — are testifying before Congress about their role in facilitating Russian meddling in the 2016 election. But a fourth giant sat comfortably removed: Amazon.

Mac Thornberry, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, thinks government ought to be able to take advantage of the robust world of online marketplaces (think Amazon or EBay).

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