Year End: State of Innovative Acquisition and Education for Federal R&D Artwork

Innovation in Government Business

Hosted by: Strategic Institute for Innovation in Government Contracting - Few subjects have been studied more than federal acquisition for the development and delivering of new capability and innovation. Since the 1980's the system has empirically and anecdotally demonstrated abysmal performance. The best and brightest have proffered solutions and Congress has followed with polices and mandates to encourage these. Leadership, specifically within the DoD has chosen to ignore these mandates. This is a rare case, where polices are far more advanced than practice, yet the stagnation continues and even gets worse. This podcast is for those interested in solving our Nation's critical technological challenges, by offering solutions, lessons learned, and highlighting the incredible potential of Other Transactions Agreements for fielding new advanced capability. If you are a federal acquisition professional or industry partner we invite you to explore the art of the possible.

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Innovation in Government Business

Year End: State of Innovative Acquisition and Education for Federal R&D

December 21, 2022 • Strategic Institute for Innovation in Government Contracting • Season 1 • Episode 35

In this year end episode Strategic Institute discusses what improvements have been made to educate and support the federal workforce to make positive changes (innovation) for better outcomes from investments in federal R&D.

Business-as-usual influences kicked the butt of federal business process innovation this year. The bright spots in federal acquisition did not draw much attention. It appears that acquisition reform has fallen out of trend, even though Congress continues to broaden innovative acquisition and flexible contracting authorities for R&D. Those who gain by preserving the status quo appear to be ignoring mandates while making excuses as to why education, training, and various (needed) support is unnecessary. Stakeholders like the warfighter, taxpayer, industrial base, and national security are forsaken for the interests of government and industry insiders. Even the normally lofty rhetoric was noticeably weak this year. Is this what shrugging looks like? Regressive thinking appears fashionable again, "we are the government and have the purse, therefore you must comply no matter how dysfunctional it is." There has been a lack of clear and decisive leadership.

As for 2023, there are reasons to be optimistic. The Millennials are moving into and filling leadership ranks. This generation has been vocal about being disruptive, innovative, and has indicated a willingness to deviate in order to solve normative problems and make good on federal R&D investments. Let's pray that they do and those in senior positions will be supportive and clear the way. Removing blinders and relinquishing the shackles of abysmally performing systems would be more than enough reason for cheer and optimism next year and for years to come. Make the decision to learn, explore, and create the alternatives using highly flexible acquisition authorities for federal R&D ;)

"[other transactions] they are a gift!" - LTG Ostrowski

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!