Respect the FAR

What: “Closing the Procurement Gap Survey Report," from the Association of Proposal Management Professionals, drawn from a compilation of survey results from more than 500 responses (350 from industry and 157 from government).

Why: With increasing talk in Washington of a potential overhaul of federal procurement rules, the report contends that the existing Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), the rules that control government procurement, aren't broken and do not need to be reconditioned, renovated or overhauled. The report concludes that what is broken is how the FAR is used and interpreted when it is applied to federal procurement.

Survey questions tracked the procurement process from the early stages through protests, and ran a parallel track for government and industry respondents. The report includes recommendations from both segments, and reveals fundamental differences between industry and government on acquisition policy and practice, although there was considerable agreement on "the need to reduce cycle time, costs, and to improve the draft RFP process."

Verbatim: "Stop protesting every deal. Identify issues, concerns, and worries, but stop protesting on a whim to get the Government to award to everybody on IDIQs, to drag out new contract starts to maintain revenue, or to attempt to thwart procurements. If you protest, make sure you have a good reason, and can defend that reason with certitude."

Read the full report here.