Sound familiar? A complex professional service contract is awarded using the LPTA approach…..it costs millions more than expected. A recurring supply of widgets or routine services is obtained using a Best Value approach. The delivery is delayed months and when combined with the final price of the contract…..results in avoidable costs of millions. The lesson: …
Continue reading “Best Value or LPTA? One Size Does Not Fit All in Acquisition”
On a trip to San Diego I watched a Navy destroyer slip quietly under the Coronado Bridge. I remembered a phrase I’ve repeated many times throughout my career as a procurement leader and manager: “Don’t try to dial up an aircraft carrier in port to the perfect position. Just get it steaming in the right …
Continue reading “Smoother Acquisition Sailing – An Argument for Increased Communication”
With the number of certified and experienced federal acquisition professionals expected to drop in 2013, two new certifications could help industry fill the gap. Here’s my take on the DAWIA/FAC-C Certification equivalents for people looking to expand their skills.
In an environment of uncertain budgets and evolving technology, a modular or Agile approach to acquiring new systems can provide greater cost control and flexibility. In Part I of my primer on Agile, I wrote about the What and Why of the modular approach to buying information technology (IT). Now in Part II, I’ll look …
Continue reading “How to Make Agile Work for You in IT Acquisition”
Government agencies need the most innovative IT solutions, but they also need to “innovate with less.” That’s where Modular Acquisition comes in, taking a “small bites” approach to IT investment, which gives government fast access to the latest technology while lowering the risk of upfront spending on systems. The Agile approach is the most appropriate …
Continue reading “Think Agile in Modular Acquisition for IT”
As fiscal pressures rise, senior leaders across the federal government place additional emphasis on Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) contracts. A prime example is the Department of Defense “Better Buying Power” memoranda. FFP contracting is an important method to add simplicity and cost efficiency, but with respect to services, FFP contracting is not always appropriate. When bound …
Continue reading “The Hidden Costs of Firm-Fixed Price Contracts”
Our Integrity experts each forecast one top trend for 2013. What emerging trends will dominate the next 12 months or more in acquisition and program management? And what should you know right now? Trending Up: Back to the Basics — Choosing the Right Contract Type Last November Mr. Frank Kendall, Under Secretary of Defense …
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In my first post about the OMB 300/53, I laid out the operational basics, the scoring, and important stakes behind managing the business case process. It’s not easy to achieve an all green scorecard at the end of this process. But, it is do-able, if you anticipate the challenges and have proactive strategies. Having supported …
Continue reading “OMB 300/53 Business Case: The Path to Green Scores, Part II”
Each year Program Managers are tasked with proving that investments align with agency mission and support business needs with low risk during the investment lifecycle. The OMB Budget Exhibit 300/53 is a business case that justifies the strategic and economic value of any investment, say for example, in major IT infrastructure. The business case helps organizations …
Continue reading “Business Case Primer: How OMB 300/53 Can Lead to All-Green Scores”
Professional sports have successfully used Performance Based Contracting. Baseball players get bonuses for such things as making the all-star team, or winning so many games as a pitcher. Football players sometimes have a contract bonus tied to the number of offensive or defensive plays in which they participate. Can the Federal Government have similar success …
Continue reading “Making Performance Based Service Acquisition Work for You”
