Congress Says Get Educated on Other Transactions, Again!

In this episode Strategic Institute discusses the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in regard to acquisition for R&D, and specifically the report language, "strongly encouraging" DoD to educate the workforce in flexible acquisition authorities - other transactions.     

Other Transactions are the authorities that can enable and permit the #disruption and #innovation that is commensurate with the frequently heard rhetoric.  There is nothing that is potentially more game-changing than Other Transactions and related authorities for innovating federal business processes to deliver the fruits of R&D efforts; which has been in dire straights for generations and is characterized by slowness and waste.   Dysfunction is normalized and has been inculcated in the minds of many.  The status-quo is protected institutionally, nonetheless it is dysfunctional and corrupted.  It is a shame since just about everyone knows significant change and real improvement is needed.   Instead of staying stuck in the past, the mindset must be allowed to progress and professionals need to innovate at least at "the speed of relevance."   We can do even better, if leadership gets on board and supports.   Why is the thinking around this subject so limited and lackluster?  Shouldn't we aim higher than the unclear messaging of sucking less?  The federal government has highly flexible, broad, remedial acquisition authorities to experiment with and prototype a variety of business approaches and arrangements to see what works.  Instead of supporting with education, leaders are content misunderstanding and using the authorities to suit business-as-usual.  

Unfortunately, the status quo, myth, lore, and ignorance drive the conversations surrounding federal acquisition for R&D.  The business of R&D is an intellectual activity, it is drastically different from the delivery of goods and services.  The knowledge, value, and advancement gained is quantifiably different.  For R&D, make contracting a verb again!  Explore the flexibility and conceive and  learn new approaches to business.  That is what they are there for, not to be put in a box. 

It has been FIVE years since Congress mandated that DoD get "management, technical, and contracting personnel" educated and supported by continuous and experiential learning opportunities.   This has been ignored from the top-down.  Congress, in 2023 committee report, emphasized this again, but added attorney's to the list. 

With absolutely nothing to lose and so much potentially to be gained, while complying with the law, one has to ask, "why is top defense acquisition leadership against OT education?"   or "are they even serious when they mouth the rhetoric of acquisition innovation?" and "why are they protecting the status quo, who benefits?"  

A journey of thousand miles starts with the first step.  That step is education.