Industry's wish list for procurement reform

UPDATE: Since the blog was published, the Senate voted to confirm Daniel Gordon as the new administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. If only Martha Johnson could get so lucky -- Nick. 

Now that the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has approved Daniel Gordon to be administrator for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy in the Office of Management and Budget, it’s a good time to review industry’s wish list for the new OFPP administrator.

Interviews with a variety of industry executives and knowleable observers revealed the six areas industry wants Gordon to concentrate on:

• Be open to industry and ask for its feedback.
• Deal fairly and evenhandedly with industry and policy reforms.
• Encourage innovative approaches to acquisitions.
• Address the growing number of contract protests.
• Break down the two bodies of government acquisition — defense agencies and civilian agencies — by having them use the same definitions and approaches to contracting.
• Focus on the acquisition workforce. Train contracting officers, contracting officer’s technical representatives and program managers to improve the overall procurement process, from solicitation to contract closeout.

During his confirmation hearing, Gordon set out his agenda that could deliver what industry says it most wants:

• Save money and reduce risk in acquisitions.
• Improve planning for procurements.
• Emphasize management after contract award.
• Demand trustworthy procurement data as a contract management tool.

Gordon hasn't cleared all the hurdles. He still needs to be confirmed by the entire Senate. Let’s hope he doesn’t get held up like Martha Johnson, the nominee to head the General Services Administration, who has been stuck in limbo waiting for a full Senate vote.