OFPP to adopt GAO framework for acquisition

The OFPP chief is looking at ways to improve the way the federal government purchases goods and services. He plans to implement a year-old framework presented by GAO in September 2005.

During remarks delivered at an NCMA conference in the Beltway last week, he said, "“It is too easy to say that the number of procurement people has gone down and the money has gone up, ergo we need more people,” said Denett. “We have to find out if we have the right people."

But then, he continues and I hope he did not mean to start name calling when he says, "Do we have round people in square jobs? It is not one size fits all.”

There are a lot of round people in the procurement offices I have worked- including me.

Mr. Denett, are you talking to me???? I hope you aren't talking to me.

Iraq Study Group urges agencies to order civilians to Iraq (12/6/06)

Bipartisan panel urges agencies to order civilians to Iraq (12/6/06) The actual words in the article is "directed assignments." Since using civilians as contracting officers throughout the Army (and to a lesser extent the Air Force), you would have thought this would have come much sooner.

Thank goodness it didn't.

Robert Gates brings new eyes to Sec Def position

During the furor surrounding Robert Gates' confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill, it is interesting that there are few voices addressing acquisition and procurement reform issues. All I have found so far is that Mr. Gates "avoided most questions on DOD management, " would review DoD's reliance on service contractors, "will continue to implement DOD’s National Security Personnel System," and on the important (to us) issues of "defense acquisitions reform and weapons systems growth, Gates said he was not familiar with the details of those problems and would study them upon taking office."

I figured we hear more from the past president of Texas A&M about how we, as government procurement experts, would be the executive department's 12th man.

Interesting ethical reading

The DoD Office of General Counsel has an entertaining and ethically informative publication, called the Encyclopedia of Ethical Failure. It includes a lot of examples and explanations regarding the rules of proper ethical behavior.

It is amazing what some people will do with Uncle Sam's (and our) taxpayer money.

The new acquisition professional

The current Government Executive Magazine has a long article about the acquisition career field, showing how attractive what we do really is. When they put it online, I will link to it.

In the meantime, a couple of juicy quotes:

(From page 51) Federal contracting isn't the most tantalizing of career choices. It involves details, paperwork and lots of rules. Contracting officers...are among the most scrutinized of government professionals. Contracting's deadly reputation for being boring yet stressful undoubtedly is part of the reason that procurement people are so hard to recruit.

Really makes you want to sign up, doesn't it? Here's a great recruiting slogan (page 56),

There are a lot of people retiring, why don't you give it a shot?

On the plus side, there is a of discussion of appealing to 20- and 30-somethings and their need for "meaningful" work and on how government employers might make more attractive work environments, including,"giv(ing) workers what they want, whether its working from home or bringing their dogs to work...(page 56).

This is an interesting article. Look for it around the office or wait until it comes online (they usually put it online a week or so after it comes in the mail).

Interim payments for cost-reimbursable contracts need this clause

Sometimes we forget that our business is in the details. Here is another reminder.

If you have a cost-reimbursable contract, make sure you add Alternate I to the Prompt Payment clause and modify the standard payment time to 14 days. This allows contractors to receive quicker payments and to deflect DoD IG audit concerns.