Prospects for Transforming Federal IT Acquisition

The federal acquisition landscape is riddled with lengthy procurement timelines, lack of tech innovation, a culture that doesn’t tolerate risk, and poor IT management.  However, the administration and pioneering federal organizations have put into play initiatives and legislation to bring about change.

The past several years have ushered in numerous IT acquisition reform initiatives that will have a varying impact in the near-term and long-term. Deltek researched the current federal IT procurement environment, acquisition reform initiatives, and creative contracting strategies that can be used today, to offer contractors insight into potential market changes.  

Deltek found that while most IT acquisition reform initiatives could greatly impact the federal IT landscape, most agencies are not ready to fully implement the initiatives.  For example, FITARA stands to have a major impact on the federal IT environment and is well supported by government and industry leaders, however success will depend on execution and implementation of its provisions. 

Additionally, Deltek found improved IT acquisition and project performance will not be achieved without better communication, collaboration, and transparency between government and industry.  Although some initiatives cite these as success factors, none of them directly address this problem.

Many innovative contracting practices can be put in place using existing laws and regulations that could improve IT acquisition and management, but only a small number of innovative federal organizations are attempting to use these practices.  It will take time and leadership for these contracting principles to take hold and become more widespread.

To operate in the this fluctuating environment of procurement reform contractors need to

• Clarify government needs as early in the procurement process as possible.
• Become familiar with innovative contracting practices that can be used and offer suggestions or advice to federal clients and prospects.
• Put in place capabilities to respond rapidly to short Statements of Objectives and requirements for prototype development, as efforts to speed IT acquisition to keep pace with innovation increase.

For more information on Deltek’s Federal Information Technology Acquisition Transformation report click here.