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/
This amendment (dubbed the “Amazon amendment”) will permit government agencies to buy commercial products through online portals like Amazon, Overstock, Staples, and Walmart.
The defense bill passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year contains language that would allow the Pentagon and other government agencies to buy directly from commercially run online marketplaces, bypassing a highly regulated purchasing process managed by the General Services Administration.
That day may not be too far off if a provision in the House version of the annual National Defense Authorization Act makes it into law.
