The largest contractors trade organization has asked the House Armed Services Committee to rethink several components of its bill to reform the Pentagon’s acquisition process, opposing in particular a plan to centralize decision-making on whether to buy products on the existing commercial market.
The 400-company Professional Services Council on April 17 sent a letter to committee Chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, and top Democrat Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., calling their bill (H.R. 1597) a step in the right direction, but raising several objections over provisions they said might place contractors at a disadvantage while complicating acquisition management.
Thornberry’s Agile Acquisition to Retain Technological Edge Act is designed to streamline the acquisition process, modernize military technology and enhance workforce training.
But the bill’s plan to have the Defense secretary designate an individual to make determinations on whether an item sought by a Pentagon unit is commercially available “would likely result in actions contrary to Congress’ desire to foster greater reliance on commercial items and, at the same time, reduce competition,” said the letter from council President and CEO Stan Soloway, who served as an undersecretary of Defense during the Clinton administration.
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