[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22682-22683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09129]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-GSA-OFPP-2014-01; Docket No. 2014-0002; Sequence 15]


Open Dialogue on Improving Federal Procurement

AGENCY: Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Chief Acquisition Officers Council (CAOC), in coordination 
with the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council), the 
Chief Information Officers Council (CIOC), the General Services 
Administration (GSA) and the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
Office

[[Page 22683]]

of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), is conducting an open dialogue to 
discuss improvements to the federal acquisition process. This dialogue 
is part an ongoing effort to improve the effectiveness and efficiency 
of the federal acquisition system by identifying impactful steps that 
can be taken by agencies to improve the way they do business with the 
best companies and enter into contracts that allow these companies to 
provide their best solutions for the taxpayer.

DATES: Effective: April 23, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may participate in the dialogue through 
an online platform by reviewing the information and participation dates 
posted at www.cao.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jim Wade, OFPP, 202-395-2181 or 
[email protected]; or Mr. Mathew Blum, OFPP, 202-395-4953, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The President's Management Agenda lays the 
foundation for creating a 21st century government that delivers better 
results to the American people. This foundation includes an efficient 
and effective acquisition system that maximizes the value of every 
taxpayer dollar.
    The federal acquisition system is governed by a myriad of rules, 
both administrative and statutory, that are designed to help agencies 
maximize results from their contracts, make sure that contractors are 
qualified to do business with the federal government, and ensure 
consistency with key economic and social policies. Efforts to 
streamline, modernize, and improve requirements may allow contractors 
and agencies to execute in a more efficient and effective manner, while 
still supporting the execution of these policies.
    The CAOC, in collaboration with the FAR Council, the CIOC, GSA and 
OFPP, seeks to conduct an open conversation to identify specific rules 
and requirements, tools, procedures, and practices that impact the 
efficiency and effectiveness of federal procurement and ways to improve 
them. The CAOC is interested in hearing about proposed improvements 
that can be accomplished through executive (regulatory, administrative, 
or management) action, as well as potential legislative proposals where 
requirements are based in statute. Dialogue will be encouraged in each 
of the following areas:
     Reporting and compliance requirements--e.g., opportunities 
where collection processes and systems can be reengineered or 
automated, duplicative reporting can be eliminated, the frequency of 
reporting can be reduced, and outdated compliance thresholds can be 
changed.
     Procurement practices--e.g., opportunities where 
acquisition strategies can be modernized (to support more efficient and 
effective acquisition of IT, in particular), where best commercial 
practices can be utilized, as well as efforts to promote greater 
consideration of innovative solutions and contracting practices.
     Participation by small and minority businesses, new 
entrants, and non-traditional government contractors--e.g., 
opportunities for improving existing technical or strategic assistance 
programs, making buying platforms for finding business opportunities 
and bidding more user friendly, and lowering the cost of doing 
business.
    To facilitate feedback, an online platform is being launched so 
that interested parties may submit ideas, respond to questions posed by 
moderators, and comment on other ideas--including those that they think 
are most promising and impactful. Information on the platform and the 
dates for participating in the dialogue are posted at www.cao.gov.

    Dated: April 17, 2014.
William Clark,
Acting Senior Procurement Executive, Office of Acquisition Policy, 
Office of Government-wide Policy.
[FR Doc. 2014-09129 Filed 4-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-61-P