Market Research and Requirements Definition Phase on UserVoice

Let's talk cloud and market research!

2011-12-08T07:24:27-08:00

Richard Blake suggested:
Let's talk cloud and market research. Difficult? What can we do to make it easier?

would it be possible to apply a little commonsense and logic in these decisions?

2011-10-18T09:07:48-07:00

Reduce spending on military pomp and circumstance events. [updated]

2011-09-01T07:32:35-07:00

Change of Command ceremonies occur with each new military Commander/Commanding Officer every 2-3 years at every installation. Activities are planned months in advance requiring massive manhours, planning, coordination, materials, equipment rentals, impact on facilities, and administrative costs. Keep the tradition, but minimize the cost and impact by setting limits on the allowed activities and pomp and circumstance expectations.

Anonymous said:

Has anyone ever audited the cost to government for military events? Honoring our military is important; however, I have personally participating and witnessed unneccesary government spending for frequent change of command events and other VIP functions. There is a very large price tag here that could be easily reduced and still maintain the tradition and recognition of service.

Start at the beginning. [updated]

2011-08-31T14:34:42-07:00

You are starting too late in the game. Improving acquisition begins with adequately trained personnel. The move toward education of procurement personnel is a good one, but they can't even put their training information into the electronic acquisition career management system (ACMIS) because it does not work correctly. Fix that. Begin at the beginning please.

Donna Jenkins - Director, Federal Acquisition Institute said:

Hello All -
I’m excited to tell you if you haven't already heard, FAI is decommissioning ACMIS. We heard the comments and understand that the system was not user friendly. We have enhanced the Federal Acquisition Institute Training Application System (FAITAS v2.0) to not only manage your training history, but in the near future you will be able to track your continuous learning, acquisition certifications, and warrants. If you haven't registered in FAITAS yet, join the over 35,000 acquisition professionals by visiting us at: www.FAI.Gov and clicking on the bright yellow button labeled “FAITAS v2.0.”

It should be mandatory for The POC of each solicitation to post the awardee and the price for vendor

2011-08-31T13:56:25-07:00

Frustrated with the process! suggested:
Out of all the notifications that we have submitted to in ebuy, Only about 3% post this information and about 1% of the POC's respond to phone calls or emails! This has proven to be a waste of time and MONEY for our firm!

Provide guidance to ensure incorporation of Assitive Technology solutions in the acquisition process

2011-06-17T15:32:03-07:00

the government can save money by:

2011-04-22T07:22:42-07:00

ricky degaro suggested:
the government can save money by:stopping the purchase of fuel by government agency's.why not use our own fuel for our own government agency's

Alpha Contracting [updated]

2010-12-10T05:03:09-08:00

I suggest that agencies use Alpha Contracting as a means to streamline the process. From the Contractors perspective, it negates the need for the huge proposal volumes that have become commonplace. Basically, alpha contracting is real time contracting and it works. Requirements are defined collabortively, the proposal is worked real time and negotiations occur real time.

Sterling Whitehead said:

Alpha Acquisition http://nawctsd.navair.navy.mil/Resources/Library/Acqguide/alpha-acquisition.htm

stop the love affair with FFP. They are training wheels for PMs that can't manage [updated]

2010-12-09T12:44:30-08:00

We are being forced into FFP contracts on IT projects, and they increase the costs to the gov't (contrary to popular opinion). Contactors increase their costs at the outset due to the "risk" they're assuming, and yet there is no flexibility to adapt to changing requirements/new technology without modifying the contract. A project manager/COTR that is actively involved/managing gets a better product via a T&M contract.

Doug Finnefrock said:

We have a verifiable cost increase of approximately just over $10M per year to over $13M going from T&M IT application development services to FFP. FFP in IT software development environments is nothing more than Contractors covering their increased risk with higher costs, it also forces the Gov't to write rock-solid PWSs and SOWs, which can also be $ as well as problematic, particularly for applications/systems in O&M.

Put at end to the dump of "end of year" procurements [updated]

2010-11-26T12:32:18-08:00

Agencies hold funds until the end of the year and make rash, rushed, and poorly planned procurements. The shortened lead time leads to higher cost, inadequate competition, and an inability to coduct procurements in an effective manner. If OMB really wants to improve processes, they should start there, and prohibit agency spending in the fourth quarter that exceeds the spending in the first two quarters. With adequate procurement lead time, procurement processes will improve.

Jim said:

This problem has gone on for years and years, and with the current budget deficit, it is time for Congress to pay attention and save taxpayers millions through better fiscal planning by agencies. Fourth quarter spending is huge, and wastes a lot of money. Agencies deliberately spend their entire budget because they know if they don't they will have to return funds to the Treasury and will not get as large a budget in subsequent years. What can Congress do to stop this fourth quarter dump?

Alpha Contracting [updated]

2010-11-03T15:55:07-07:00

Sterling Whitehead said:

David, can you provide the link to Alpha contracting?

Time to afford for market research

2010-11-03T13:05:06-07:00

Rajesh Vinaykyaa suggested:
Market research has always been considered for biggies, but time has come for mid-sized and small companies to take a decision. Companies particularly in Asia need to invest part of their funds in market research to compete the best in the market.

Put at end to the dump of "end of year" procurements [updated]

2010-11-03T06:32:00-07:00

GRaymond said:

Adding to Lester's comments, then, perhaps the new Congress can do something about this. They obviously are unaware of the impact (or if they were aware we like to think they would do something about it) on Federal spending their delay in passing the budget causes. Taxpayers should insist - No Budget, no Congressional holiday - until the Budget is passed for the fiscal year. If a business was run the way the Federal Budget is handled, it would go broke.

Start at the beginning. [updated]

2010-09-08T20:09:04-07:00

OWIT_rookie said:

The right people need to be hired for the right job. In my agency, people with masters degrees in environmental science are hired to do procurement...because the job announcement isn't written right, the supervisors have no clue (and/or no interest in) how much work goes into good acquisition....these people come into these jobs expecting to do one thing that they actually have expertise in and end up doing something completely different with no proper training or support. And no one cares!!!

Put at end to the dump of "end of year" procurements [updated]

2010-08-18T10:48:21-07:00

Elizabeth McClure said:

I wish the Budget officers would decide how to divide the funds up in the very begining. and let each division handle there own money.

Put at end to the dump of "end of year" procurements [updated]

2010-07-08T20:37:44-07:00

Lester Diamond said:

The rush to spend in the 4th quarter can cause all sorts of problems if it isn't planned for. While level spending seems to make more sense, there is a reason it doesn't happen that way. Over the past few years very few agencies have had a budget before the 2nd quarter. Congress has simply not been able to pass a budget bill before that time. That means most agencies are working under a continuing resolution at reduced funding level. Once the budget is passed the agencies have to gear up and spend their funds at the higher rate most of these comments refer to. Some of the problem is with the agencies, I'm sure, but not all of it. Whenever a problem looks simple, look out!

Put at end to the dump of "end of year" procurements [updated]

2010-06-17T13:02:54-07:00

AmyZing said:

Haven't read all the comments, so maybe someone already said this, but before this will stop there must be a better process in place for encouraging and rewarding those who come under projected budget. Currently, we are penalized for not spending our maximum budget each year by receiving less funds the next year based on the previous year's spending. Just because we managed some savings one year does not equate to needing less funding the next year. Fix that dynamic and you will save money all around and not have a need for End of Year "Mad Money" spending.

Reduce spending on military pomp and circumstance events.

2010-06-17T11:58:50-07:00

AmyZing suggested:
Change of Command ceremonies occur with each new military Commander/Commanding Officer every 2-3 years at every installation. Activities are planned months in advance requiring massive manhours, planning, coordination, materials, equipment rentals, impact on facilities, and administrative costs. Keep the tradition, but minimize the cost and impact by setting limits on the allowed activities and pomp and circumstance expectations.

distinguish between improvements to services procurement and goods procurement. For services...talk.

2010-06-16T10:11:45-07:00

an anonymous user suggested:
Services are all about relationships (i.e. working relationships. The procurement process is rigid and dehumanizing -- undermines those relationships before they begin. For services procurement, dialogue is essential. A first pass at a proposal is only the first step in a conversation about how to meet the government's needs. Opportunities for real, human dialogue need to precede proposal writing to improve the quality of that first pass... and a second pass (after feedback from the government) should be mandatory.

Format for interagency agreements [updated]

2010-06-14T17:22:32-07:00

Recently a draft format for interagency agreements was distributed, and everyone agreed that it was a disaster. It was extremely lengthy and included many unncessary sections for most agencies. And was an uneditable form! It was a waste of paper, and no agency wanted to use it. How about using collaboration, preferably restricted to Government personnel who actually have familiarily with IAAs, to design a format for IAAs, similar to the wiki that is being used to design a solicitation?

AmWarren said:

This would make a great second project for this site! Construct a simple, easy format interagency agreement.

Segment acquisitions into smaller pieces for faster procurement and more competition [updated]

2010-06-04T07:22:17-07:00

Government procurement takes so long and the scopes are so large that the technology is often out of date and can only be supplied by a few big, entrenched vendors. 1. Crowd source ways of breaking projects into smaller pieces that can start immediately. A risk with using social media for requirements gathering is that the scopes will become impossibly large. 2. Require open standards, open development environments, and open source code so that individual pieces of the project can be tracked as they are developed and will fit together. 3. Keep the pieces small enough that vendors other than IBM and accenture can effectively compete for them, reducing cost for the government through competition and creating small business jobs.

anonymous said:

Can't do it! That's splitting requirements and is prohibited by the FAR.

Create agency advisory boards comprising the eventual users of the procured items

2010-06-04T07:12:15-07:00

Matthew Burton suggested:
The federal employees who end up using procured items have no place in the procurement process. People above them and in different offices decide what is needed and monitor contractors' progress; these same people have little first-hand, on-the-ground experience with the problems they are trying to solve. When the supposed solution arrives, users find that it isn't really what they need. Agencies should create procurement advisory boards comprising the very same people who will eventually use the items being procured; not supervisors, but people at the bottom who have demonstrated passion for and competency in a particular sector. There should be separate boards for each sector: IT, building services, transportation, security, recruiting, etc. The advisory boards' job will be to review RFP drafts and insure the RFPs accurately describe the problem at hand; comment on RFP responses to help procurement officers make better decisions when awarding contracts; and give constructive feedback to the winning contractors throughout the process, insuring that their work is sufficiently addressing the problem. It is important that the boards have close, constant access to the work being done, so that when a project begins to go off-course, the advisors can correct it immediately instead of months later, after much money has been wasted.

Listen

2010-06-03T18:42:59-07:00

Build Collaborative Technology Experience Knowledge (C-TEK) virtual world [updated]

2010-05-27T08:23:10-07:00

C-TEK for virtualized modeling of requirements and solutions evaluation. Put the requirements in common/academic terminology, end marketeer jargon, get everyone working on the same requirements and solutions seeking the best apt and agile lifecycle consensus decision. Let the customers and academia design and model initial requirements and academia and industry provide the best solution. Sometime industry does not have customers' best interest as their top agenda. Recognize that great strategy (C*O-Desk) is defining a desired reality goal, but great execution (Warrior/Worker) is building the actuality for US.

Joel Worst said:

I posted this for another thread but collaboration enablement seems to be Your interest, and this automation can reduce existing knowledge bias:
More replicated content just means more infrastructure, applications, interfaces, newly funded mgmt groups, data input error and people forced to use it. Also personal judgment calls on what goes in, and what doesn't. As You put it, Mr. Tuttle, the differing needs of divisions within organizations within Agencies can't know what any other Agency entities would consider useful. Plus, requiring Your personnel to manually access one more application to post dumb data that just sits waiting for someone to manually search and pull it isn't collaboration or knowledge transfer. It turns into something more like "what You're going to find out, is all I'm going to tell You".
*Proposal: Automating content awareness based on its metadata and its evolving context based use is one approach. Software data integration frameworks [not data fusion, cuz we don't want new infrastructure, systems, and training for personnel(COST)] can automate data discovery and awareness real-time delivering only metadata (info about content) so the created data always lives with its creator(best data integrity). The framework builds a single automated intelligent real-time information space of discoverable content through extending the reachable self-healing network to infinite nodes in each of their differing domains. Automated smart push/pull brings content to one's attention based on their specific need, role, or mission. If this content is used in that specific situation, the metadata is automatically updated. This provides greater context (what the content means to probable users) and is now smart push/pulled based on new profile needs requiring that knowledge. And then the Terminator said "I'll be Back"… WOW. Sorry for the rant. This is the field in which I work. And I tell You the problem with Transparency is, it isn't. Even when that's the first order of business or mandate, at some point it's always gonna get to "what You're going to find out, is all I'm going to tell You". Thoughts?

Transparency in the Acquisition process by eliminating Milestone Reviews & making data accessible [updated]

2010-05-27T08:20:28-07:00

The oversight process for very large Defense Acquisition programs, which are referred to as Major Defense Acquisition Programs or MDAPs, and their IT counterparts, called Major Automated Information Systems (MAIS) is very inefficient, time consuming and is ripe for improvement. By eliminating point-in-time milestone reviews, and instead providing ongoing access to the program data, significant time and cost savings could result. In reality, the massive amounts of documentation required oversight personnel has significant content overlaps. Each document (such as a Test & Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP), Acquisition Strategy, etc.) is really a compilation of a bunch of smaller "chunks" of information. Often different documents will contain the same "chunk" of information. For instance, a program's risk posture will be communicated many different requirements. Its not unheard of for all this information to be recreated (by paid contractors) time and time again for each document its needed in. If instead the program was able to produce a single smart file (such as an XBRL file) with updated versions of each of the document "chunks" in them, and there were templates which could be created for each of the functions to "recreate" the required oversight documents on the fly from those chunks, a huge amount of work could be lifted from the program. They would go from producing and combing through massive numbers of complicated documents to managing their information elements. The documents would always be accessible, as they would be based on the current version of the information elements the programs are managing. If this smart file was accessible, all the oversight personnel could track progress in real time (with alerts, etc.), and could "sign off" when satisfied. The need for point in time milestone reviews where info is hoarded until the last moment could be eliminated.

Joel Worst said:

I posted this for another thread, but process and tasking automation can eliminate many of the manual processes that create inefficiency and reporting inconsistancy:
More replicated content just means more infrastructure, applications, interfaces, newly funded mgmt groups, data input error and people forced to use it. Also personal judgment calls on what goes in, and what doesn't. As You put it, Mr. Tuttle, the differing needs of divisions within organizations within Agencies can't know what any other Agency entities would consider useful. Plus, requiring Your personnel to manually access one more application to post dumb data that just sits waiting for someone to manually search and pull it isn't collaboration or knowledge transfer. It turns into something more like "what You're going to find out, is all I'm going to tell You".
*Proposal: Automating content awareness based on its metadata and its evolving context based use is one approach. Software data integration frameworks [not data fusion, cuz we don't want new infrastructure, systems, and training for personnel(COST)] can automate data discovery and awareness real-time delivering only metadata (info about content) so the created data always lives with its creator(best data integrity). The framework builds a single automated intelligent real-time information space of discoverable content through extending the reachable self-healing network to infinite nodes in each of their differing domains. Automated smart push/pull brings content to one's attention based on their specific need, role, or mission. If this content is used in that specific situation, the metadata is automatically updated. This provides greater context (what the content means to probable users) and is now smart push/pulled based on new profile needs requiring that knowledge. And then the Terminator said "I'll be Back"… WOW. Sorry for the rant. This is the field in which I work. And I tell You the problem with Transparency is, it isn't. Even when that's the first order of business or mandate, at some point it's always gonna get to "what You're going to find out, is all I'm going to tell You". Thoughts?

Use an open and collaborative approach to market research and req def [updated]

2010-05-27T08:15:48-07:00

The value of an open and collaborative framework has been proven in many other domains. Applying it to acquisition may look like this: 1. Gather requirements (wiki and interviews) 2. Select software candidates (traditional means, existing investments, open source) 3. Establish req weighting (through survey) 4. Score/evaluate candidates (web conference and survey) 5. Determine Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) 6. Publish recommendation report Proposed process can be found here http://www.scribd.com/doc/21823749

Joel Worst said:

I posted this for a different thread, but collaboration effectiveness is enhanced with this principle:
More replicated content just means more infrastructure, applications, interfaces, newly funded mgmt groups, data input error and people forced to use it. Also personal judgment calls on what goes in, and what doesn't. As You put it, Mr. Tuttle, the differing needs of divisions within organizations within Agencies can't know what any other Agency entities would consider useful. Plus, requiring Your personnel to manually access one more application to post dumb data that just sits waiting for someone to manually search and pull it isn't collaboration or knowledge transfer. It turns into something more like "what You're going to find out, is all I'm going to tell You".
*Proposal: Automating content awareness based on its metadata and its evolving context based use is one approach. Software data integration frameworks [not data fusion, cuz we don't want new infrastructure, systems, and training for personnel(COST)] can automate data discovery and awareness real-time delivering only metadata (info about content) so the created data always lives with its creator(best data integrity). The framework builds a single automated intelligent real-time information space of discoverable content through extending the reachable self-healing network to infinite nodes in each of their differing domains. Automated smart push/pull brings content to one's attention based on their specific need, role, or mission. If this content is used in that specific situation, the metadata is automatically updated. This provides greater context (what the content means to probable users) and is now smart push/pulled based on new profile needs requiring that knowledge. And then the Terminator said "I'll be Back"… WOW. Sorry for the rant. This is the field in which I work. And I tell You the problem with Transparency is, it isn't. Even when that's the first order of business or mandate, at some point it's always gonna get to "what You're going to find out, is all I'm going to tell You". Thoughts?

Adopt collaboration platform such as CentralDesktop [updated]

2010-05-27T08:12:38-07:00

Existing online collaboration platforms help achieve the goals of this project. Check out CentralDesktop (used by theObama campaigns in Texas and California) and others. Adopt/adapt a platform that best supports the mission.

Joel Worst said:

I posted this for a different thread but the proposal is a means to enhance collaboration by increasing the knowledge set available:
More replicated content just means more infrastructure, applications, interfaces, newly funded mgmt groups, data input error and people forced to use it. Also personal judgment calls on what goes in, and what doesn't. As You put it, Mr. Tuttle, the differing needs of divisions within organizations within Agencies can't know what any other Agency entities would consider useful. Plus, requiring Your personnel to manually access one more application to post dumb data that just sits waiting for someone to manually search and pull it isn't collaboration or knowledge transfer. It turns into something more like "what You're going to find out, is all I'm going to tell You".
*Proposal: Automating content awareness based on its metadata and its evolving context based use is one approach. Software data integration frameworks [not data fusion, cuz we don't want new infrastructure, systems, and training for personnel(COST)] can automate data discovery and awareness real-time delivering only metadata (info about content) so the created data always lives with its creator(best data integrity). The framework builds a single automated intelligent real-time information space of discoverable content through extending the reachable self-healing network to infinite nodes in each of their differing domains. Automated smart push/pull brings content to one's attention based on their specific need, role, or mission. If this content is used in that specific situation, the metadata is automatically updated. This provides greater context (what the content means to probable users) and is now smart push/pulled based on new profile needs requiring that knowledge. And then the Terminator said "I'll be Back"… WOW. Sorry for the rant. This is the field in which I work. And I tell You the problem with Transparency is, it isn't. Even when that's the first order of business or mandate, at some point it's always gonna get to "what You're going to find out, is all I'm going to tell You". Thoughts?

Leverage Integrated Project Teams (IPTs) to define requirements and frame solicitations. [updated]

2010-05-27T08:07:16-07:00

VA now mandates the use of IPTs for procurements greater than $5M and the initial results have been overwhelmingly positive. A typical IPT brings in representation from Contracting, Legal, OSDBU, and the Program (i.e. those who ultimately require the product or services) to define need, generate an acquisition plan, and construct the SOW/PWS, etc. More agencies could benefit from this simply collaborative approach that ultimately helps to mitigate the risks commonly associated with unclear Program-Contracting communications.

Joel Worst said:

I posted this in response to another thread but its essense seems to fit here to enable cross Agency/domain knowledge collaboration to not reinvent something already in use:
More replicated content just means more infrastructure, applications, interfaces, newly funded mgmt groups, data input error and people forced to use it. Also personal judgment calls on what goes in, and what doesn't. As You put it, Mr. Tuttle, the differing needs of divisions within organizations within Agencies can't know what any other Agency entities would consider useful. Plus, requiring Your personnel to manually access one more application to post dumb data that just sits waiting for someone to manually search and pull it isn't collaboration or knowledge transfer. It turns into something more like "what You're going to find out, is all I'm going to tell You".
*Proposal: Automating content awareness based on its metadata and its evolving context based use is one approach. Software data integration frameworks [not data fusion, cuz we don't want new infrastructure, systems, and training for personnel(COST)] can automate data discovery and awareness real-time delivering only metadata (info about content) so the created data always lives with its creator(best data integrity). The framework builds a single automated intelligent real-time information space of discoverable content through extending the reachable self-healing network to infinite nodes in each of their differing domains. Automated smart push/pull brings content to one's attention based on their specific need, role, or mission. If this content is used in that specific situation, the metadata is automatically updated. This provides greater context (what the content means to probable users) and is now smart push/pulled based on new profile needs requiring that knowledge. And then the Terminator said "I'll be Back"… WOW. Sorry for the rant. This is the field in which I work. And I tell You the problem with Transparency is, it isn't. Even when that's the first order of business or mandate, at some point it's always gonna get to "what You're going to find out, is all I'm going to tell You". Thoughts?

Create a searchable repository for RFQs [updated]

2010-05-27T08:03:09-07:00

The first thing I do when I have to issue a new RFQ is look for someone that has recently had a similar requirement so I can use their SOW and technical requirements as a template. So much effort is wasted on writing and rewriting statements of work, getting SMEs to provide technical specs - all for something that has already been purchased by the government probably numerous times. How many RFQs for web hosting services have been written - does each have to be a completely new effort? This would be as easy as taking the publicly available RFQs and depositing them into a cloud storage solution and making them searchable. Eventually, you could even have ratings from government personnel or even vendors on the quality of the RFQs in the repository.

Joel Worst said:

More replicated content just means more infrastructure, applications, interfaces, newly funded mgmt groups, data input error and people forced to use it. Also personal judgment calls on what goes in, and what doesn't. As You put it, Mr. Tuttle, the differing needs of divisions within organizations within Agencies can't know what any other Agency entities would consider useful. Plus, requiring Your personnel to manually access one more application to post dumb data that just sits waiting for someone to manually search and pull it isn't collaboration or knowledge transfer. It turns into something more like "what You're going to find out, is all I'm going to tell You".
*Proposal: Automating content awareness based on its metadata and its evolving context based use is one approach. Software data integration frameworks [not data fusion, cuz we don't want new infrastructure, systems, and training for personnel(COST)] can automate data discovery and awareness real-time delivering only metadata (info about content) so the created data always lives with its creator(best data integrity). The framework builds a single automated intelligent real-time information space of discoverable content through extending the reachable self-healing network to infinite nodes in each of their differing domains. Automated smart push/pull brings content to one's attention based on their specific need, role, or mission. If this content is used in that specific situation, the metadata is automatically updated. This provides greater context (what the content means to probable users) and is now smart push/pulled based on new profile needs requiring that knowledge. And then the Terminator said "I'll be Back"… WOW. Sorry for the rant. This is the field in which I work. And I tell You the problem with Transparency is, it isn't. Even when that's the first order of business or mandate, at some point it's always gonna get to "what You're going to find out, is all I'm going to tell You". Thoughts?

Use Crowd-sourcing as a viable means for conducting market research. [updated]

2010-05-27T08:01:33-07:00

I propose that federal agencies consider the creation of an online application that supports Crowd-Sourcing so that members from academia, industry and private citizens can provide input and recommended solutions for upcoming government requirements. This type of information sharing would be invaluable during the market research phase because it is more fluid than a static RFI and the degree of information is more robust. Crowd-sourcing has been used by some agencies but the challenge is preventing unfair competitive advantages so wide acceptance has not yet occurred - which hamstrings our ability to leverage the benefits of transparency. One way to alleviate unfair competitive advantages would be to design the application to protect the anonymity of the external users. Drop-downs could allow them to identify minimal information pertaining to their categories (Industry, Academia, Citizen) and respective sectors (Defense, Homeland Security, Energy etc.) but not specific information like individual or company names. That way federal government employees involved in the procurement process can receive the information from the "crowd" but not be biased because of who it comes from and procurement integrity can be protected in the process. It would be helpful if the Chief Acquisition Officers Council endorsed the application. Having them as the champion for change would go a long way.

Joel Worst said:

I posted this on a different topic, but its essence seems to fit here too:
More replicated content just means more infrastructure, applications, interfaces, newly funded mgmt groups, data input error and people forced to use it. Also personal judgment calls on what goes in, and what doesn't. As You put it, Mr. Tuttle, the differing needs of divisions within organizations within Agencies can't know what any other Agency entities would consider useful. Plus, requiring Your personnel to manually access one more application to post dumb data that just sits waiting for someone to manually search and pull it isn't collaboration or knowledge transfer. It turns into something more like "what You're going to find out, is all I'm going to tell You".
*Proposal: Automating content awareness based on its metadata and its evolving context based use is one approach. Software data integration frameworks [not data fusion, cuz we don't want new infrastructure, systems, and training for personnel(COST)] can automate data discovery and awareness real-time delivering only metadata (info about content) so the created data always lives with its creator(best data integrity). The framework builds a single automated intelligent real-time information space of discoverable content through extending the reachable self-healing network to infinite nodes in each of their differing domains. Automated smart push/pull brings content to one's attention based on their specific need, role, or mission. If this content is used in that specific situation, the metadata is automatically updated. This provides greater context (what the content means to probable users) and is now smart push/pulled based on new profile needs requiring that knowledge. And then the Terminator said "I'll be Back"… WOW. Sorry for the rant. This is the field in which I work. And I tell You the problem with Transparency is, it isn't. Even when that's the first order of business or mandate, at some point it's always gonna get to "what You're going to find out, is all I'm going to tell You". Thoughts?

build repositories to share market research across gov't [updated]

2010-05-27T07:59:23-07:00

every day people in government are re-duplicating the same market research. there should be repositories to share market research amongst all levels of government.

Joel Worst said:

Compete Micro Purchases [updated]

2010-05-24T11:22:31-07:00

Jim said:

No way. The idea is to raise the micropurchase threshold, not compete ridiculously low cost purchases. It would cost more to compete them than to make the purchase, and this is taxpayer dollars we are spending.

Format for interagency agreements [updated]

2010-05-24T11:18:50-07:00

Jim said:

What a great idea! The Chief Acquisition Officer's Council put out the proposed format for comment, but it was so off the mark that it was hard to know where to suggest changes. I agree with Patrick that it was a disaster. The form was overly complex and they actually suggested manually filling out the form until it could become acrobat adobe fillable. They are crazy to think that any contracting office in it's right mind, with the workload these days, is going to be able to comply with that. The CAO is so out of touch that it is ridiculous. But enough political comment. I agree that we should start over and develop a sensible interagency agreement format and a great way to do that would be to wiki it on the GSA site.

Format for interagency agreements [updated]

2010-05-24T09:25:32-07:00

Nancy Forest said:

You are writing about the Standard Interagency Agreement (IAA) Form sent out in April 2010. It is completely alien to agency reviewers, calling the first part "General Terms and Conditions" and the second "Order." Both documents are twice as long as most current agency IAA formats. They appear to be based on something from DOD. Excess sections that don't apply are not deletable. Use of these forms would be a disaster, even if they are editable in Adobe. Otherwise, you would have to put them in a typewriter. Who needs a form anyway? What's wrong with a Word document that includes all the necessary applicable sections?

Format for interagency agreements

2010-05-23T19:55:18-07:00

Patrick A suggested:
Recently a draft format for interagency agreements was distributed, and everyone agreed that it was a disaster. It was extremely lengthy and included many unncessary sections for most agencies. And was an uneditable form! It was a waste of paper, and no agency wanted to use it. How about using collaboration, preferably restricted to Government personnel who actually have familiarily with IAAs, to design a format for IAAs, similar to the wiki that is being used to design a solicitation?

Put at end to the dump of "end of year" procurements [updated]

2010-05-20T17:15:01-07:00

Garrett said:

But GSA does not have any authority over OMB. Can the National Academy of Public Administration or the American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council, or ideally, both, make a recommendation to this administration that they do something about end of year spending? An investigation into exactly what the agencies spend funds on at the end of the year that they could not plan to procure in the first three quarters of the year, is needed. So that we can determine if it is truly wasteful. The dollars can be obtained from Federal Procurement Data Center, but to really know what is being purchased you have to look at the nature of the purchases. I would bet that a lot of them are not even approved in the agency budget that went to Congress so how can this be OK and how can it be fair to industry that they are rushed to try to quote on all these services and supplies and equipment and construction in only the fourth quarter? It would be so much better to spread this work out during the year especially since we are in a fiscal crisis and unemployment is so high.

Leverage Integrated Project Teams (IPTs) to define requirements and frame solicitations. [updated]

2010-05-17T10:02:10-07:00

Anna Bethea said:

Free or affordable social networking platforms such as CubeTree allow for users to set up impromptu groups to discuss specific projects and share resources - documents, wikis, blogs, status comments, chat rooms, etc. With a virtual environment in which different functions can be assigned and come together, collaboration becomes a cinch! I'm actually currently trying to implement this approach at the state level.

Put at end to the dump of "end of year" procurements [updated]

2010-05-13T09:13:19-07:00

HappyMom said:

I have seen how poor planning and the mad spending at the end of the fiscal year results in agencies spending money on things that are not required. Who is the watchdog for this? No one, apparently. If these needs are real they could be planned ahead of time. Willing to bet that most of the spending in the fourth quarter is a waste of money.

research [updated]

2010-05-13T09:08:30-07:00

Jan said:

More info on the type of research?

research

2010-05-11T11:40:40-07:00

Put at end to the dump of "end of year" procurements [updated]

2010-05-04T13:52:28-07:00

Mickael said:

Be sure to read OMB's B-280218 - In response to the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management which held hearings and issued a report, entitled "Hurry-Up Spending." GAO addressed problems with federal spending practices and the award of government contracts. The Subcommittee found that the rush to obligate
expiring funds before the end of the fiscal year frequently resulted in a
lack of competition, poorly defined statements of work, inadequately
negotiated contracts, and the procurement of low-priority items or
services. But has there been any improvement at Government agencies?

Put at end to the dump of "end of year" procurements [updated]

2010-04-30T07:00:22-07:00

Steph said:

It worries me a great deal that contracting offices which are already understaffed, must deal with this rush of contracts at the end of the year. It is very hard to do contracting properly with all of the Government requirements. This makes it extra hard. Isn't this lack of planning and funds management by the agencies tantamount to waste, fraud and abuse if it results in less procurement lead time and therefore possibly higher contracts? If competition has to be limited, or companies just don't want to participate because of the fast response times, doesn't this negate the intent of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to maximize competition? And wouldn't the burden be greatest on the small businesses that we are trying to encourage to participate? This would be extremely hard on them given the economic climate.

Put at end to the dump of "end of year" procurements [updated]

2010-04-29T15:34:28-07:00

Bill Martin said:

Even if Congress were to pass the budget on time, it is up to the agency to manage their funding cycle so that not all buying is done in the fourth quarter. Many years ago, DOD tried to limit 4th quarter spending, but then the country just sort of forgot about it. Not realizing that this is a serious serious serious (and expensive) problem. Unless the Feds force the agencies to do something about it, it will never change.

Put at end to the dump of "end of year" procurements [updated]

2010-04-28T15:48:22-07:00

Mark Lawrence said:

Most of these comments are about Government but commercial businesses are impacted as well. Here's where some of the networking stuff could come in. We are asked to respond to solicitations so quickly at the end of the year that it puts a huge burden on the company pricing and technical staff. It would be better for industry if spending occurred throughout the year and not so much in July August and September with a huge rush.

Put at end to the dump of "end of year" procurements [updated]

2010-04-28T15:38:39-07:00

Jackie Morano said:

The wiki right now is to design a solicitation. But what a great idea! Can we start a website to work with Congress on funding issues? I don't know if we can ever resolve the political situation that the budget is not passed on time because it is so complex. But what can we do as a Budget/Acquisition Community to influence Congress to require agencies to plan spending more equally throughout the fiscal year so that this end of year dump does not happen? Ideas?

Ask Congress to be more fiscally responsible by passing a timely buget so agencies can plan better [updated]

2010-04-27T11:54:04-07:00

Year end spending is often driven by a lack of planning when it's hard to take a long-term perspective. The agencies are often put in a box because Congress is always looking at the short-term election cycle and posturing for their personal agendas. Therefore, funding isn't approved until half way through the fiscal year which results in the "rush to spend."

Travis Miconder said:

Every year it is the same thing. If I don't finish up my job before a planned vacation, I'm not allowed to take it. Why does the President allow Congress to leave town before they have passed a budget to fund the most important operation - to run our entire country! It's scandalous and embarrassing.

tie acquisition planning to budget formulation [updated]

2010-04-27T11:51:06-07:00

Once FY budget request has left the agency, procurement officials need to comb through the requests to identify high dollar programs which can benefit from acquisition planning. Once identified, the aspects of competition, contract type and contract management would be address at a high level with the agency "customer." This would promote the submission of a written acquisition plan (FAR requirement) prior to the FY which funds the requirement. While some may never get funded, the exercise will educate the agency personnel. If funds do become available, the vetted acquisition plan would greatly assist the Contracting Officer bothe during the procurement and after award.

Gerry Westaff said:

Yes, but try getting agency officials to make decisions on what they are going to buy early enough in the fiscal year to do this. It's just about impossible. I'm all in favor of better acquisition planning, but procurement officials can't operate in a vacuum.

Companies buy accessible product

2010-04-23T09:47:34-07:00

require disclosure of salaries for staff augmentation contracts [updated]

2010-04-22T16:33:08-07:00

The biggest cost to governement is the staff augmentation contracts that place contractors on-site, essentially acting as virtual FTEs. However, Contracts claims that we are buying a service not a body, so we are not allowed to know what the contracting company actually pays the contractor. This practise leads to excessive overhead costs with less going to the contractor salaries. Low salaries means that the government is not getting the level of skills, professionalism and dedication it should for its contracting dollar.

anonymous said:

Great idea. I'd like to see what they are really paid. In the end it is always cheaper to hire, but agencies won't because they don't want to raise the numbers on their employment ceilings. It's all a ruse.

Put at end to the dump of "end of year" procurements [updated]

2010-04-20T10:36:28-07:00

David Grouser said:

I noticed that the Better Buy wiki didn't discuss this critical issue at all. Of course, the focus of this project was using collaboration and social media. So how can we use those two things to obtain better spending plans? Well one is to make all taxpayers aware through our own wikis, tweets, facebook, etc. about this end of year spending. I would bet that most taxpayers and members of Congress don't have the slightest idea that this is a problem both from:
1) a huge spending perspective and
2) the impossible burden it places on contracting offices, resulting in rush, higher prices, poor procurements, etc.
We need a collaborative effort with Congress to revise the Budget rules for Federal agencies.
More ideas?