There is a “Great Divide” in government. It runs wide and deep and affects government efficiency and effectiveness.
No, I’m not talking about the divide between Democrats and Republicans. I’m talking about the divide in the acquisition community between the operational managers primarily responsible for awarding and managing government contracts and the oversight managers primarily responsible for checking that contract management is effective.
Yesterday, PSC and our friends at member-company Grant Thornton released the results of our fifth biennial Acquisition Policy Survey of federal government personnel. We found the following divisions among operational and oversight respondents regarding the effects conflict of interest rules, acquisition workforce development and other procurement reform initiatives on the federal government.
On Conflicts of Interest:
- More than 70 percent of operational professionals felt organizational conflict of interest structures in place today function effectively, while 60 percent of oversight professionals said they do not function effectively.
- More than 90 percent of operational professionals felt personal conflict of interest structures in place today function effectively, while 80 percent of oversight professionals said they do not function effectively.
On the Acquisition Workforce:
- Half of the operational respondents said workforce challenges are being met and agencies are able to recruit, train and retain employees with the right skills. But more than two-thirds of the oversight professionals felt the agencies’ ability to recruit, train and retain acquisition professionals remained unchanged.
On Oversight:
- More than 90 percent of respondents said oversight by inspectors general, GAO and Congress have increased, but the two sides differ on the value that oversight has provided.
While the divisions are great, there were also areas where the two sides were able to bridge the gap and find common concern.
On Insourcing:
- Whether on the operational or oversight side, 94 percent of respondents said that insourcing will hurt small businesses.
On Contract Type:
- More than 70 percent of respondents said that restrictions on contract type, such as preferences for fixed price contracts, did NOT result in better outcomes for the taxpayer or government.
On Bid Protests:
- Nearly two-thirds of respondents said the increase in the number of bid protests filed with GAO or federal courts have hurt the procurement process.
PSC and Grant Thornton briefed the media on these findings when we released the full report yesterday. You can read some of the coverage by following the links below.
Federal Computer Week: Acquisition workforce gets half-hearted support, survey shows
Federal News Radio: Survey: Acquisition policy doesn't translate
Government Executive: Senior acquisition officials question procurement policy direction
