Congress crucial to federal procurement reform

Federal IT acquisition reform is possible, even despite all of the controversy stemming from things like HealthCare.gov, but lawmakers need to better understand the intricacies of federal IT acquisition practices, which is exactly what TechAmerica’s senior vice president for public sector, Mike Hettinger, is set on doing, FCW reports.

While HealthCare.gov has been troublesome as far as progressing federal IT acquisition reform, it has also served as a blessing in disguise since it’s fueled the most intense policy discussions over federal IT acquisition rules and law since the 1990s, Hettinger said.

In the near term, the lobbying focus is on efforts like the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act, but the long term focus is on helping foster a sustained effort that would address deeper systemic problems, FCW reported, and Congress is crucial to this.