Gordon reiterates Obama's push for transparency

The clock is ticking while the Senate considers Daniel Gordon, President Barack Obama's nominee to be administrator for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. While Obama took several months to choose Gordon and the confirmation process is still ongoing, the administration has been dealing with a range of acquisition challenges and reform efforts.

Vivek Kundra, federal chief information officer, said earlier this year that the next OFPP head needs a detailed understanding of information technology and must “recognize we can’t treat technology procurements in the same way we do buying buildings."

Other observers, including former OFPP administrator Angela Styles and Bob Woods, former commissioner of the General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service, said a late-appointed agency head has the handicap of needing to implement an agenda he had no part in creating.

"You don't want to be the last wolf to the feast," Woods said in an earlier interview. "There’s been a lot of chewing going on since you've not been there."