GAO: To Get More Competition DoD Should Act Earlier in Acquisition Process

• The US Government Accountability Office is trying to figure out why DoD and the services issue so many noncompetitive contracts and task orders. The agency thinks that recently-introduced rules that kick in when only one offer is received apply too late in the acquisition process. GAO notes that:

“DOD’s one-offer rules do not require contracting officials to engage with the vendor community to learn why vendors chose not to submit offers. However, contracting officials chose to do so in two sample cases, and in one case, based on this information, changed the acquisition strategy to allow for recompetition sooner than planned.”

• Compete, but not too much! Congressman Michael Michaud [D-ME] was delighted to hear from (now former) acting defense undersecretary Christine Fox that the Pentagon would make sure to procure athletic shoes only from American manufacturers. (Bob Works has just been sworn in as the new defense undersecretary.)