As the House Armed
Services Committee announced a new
initiative to improve Defense Department acquisitions today, the
Professional Services Council urges the committee to include in its initiative
the recommendations outlined in the 2013 PSC Leadership Commission report, “From
Crisis to Opportunity,” for the acquisition of services.
“We support the committee’s effort to tackle the current and
future challenges facing the defense acquisition community,” said PSC President
and CEO Stan Soloway. “Our Leadership Commission report provides a valuable
resource and roadmap for informing how best to improve the acquisition and
program management systems.”
Among the overarching report themes the committee should
embrace are:
1. Rethinking human
capital investments and training;
2. Fostering an
ecosystem that awards true innovation and breaks down barriers to entry;
3. Reinvigorating a
collaborative relationship among DoD program offices, DoD contracting offices
and industry; and
4. Recognizing that the
acquisition of professional services differs from the acquisition of weapons
platforms and thus a one size will not fit all defense acquisitions.
”The recognition by Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith
of the importance of seriously and thoughtfully addressing the persistent
challenges in defense acquisition today is an important first step,” said
Soloway. “Given constrained resources, massive demographic challenges, and the
nature and pace of technology development, now is the time to act boldly,
broadly, and smartly. And we look forward to working with them and Rep. Mac
Thornberry, who is chairing the initiative, on finding and pursuing those kinds
of solutions.”
