MYTH BUSTING


Federal procurement offi cial debunks commonly held beliefs in government contracting


by Michael P. Truman T


alk with industry. Don’t be afraid of pro- tests. Understand your customer. These are just a few of the numerous sugges- tions that Joanie F. Newhart, Associate


Administrator for Acquisition Workforce Programs, Offi ce of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) in the White House Offi ce of Management and Bud- get, offered at the DAU Acquisition Community Symposium April 10 at Fort Belvoir, VA.


Newhart, a Certifi ed Professional Contracts


Manager who spent 13 years in industry before joining the government, talked about “Myths Regarding Acquisition of Services.” Newhart’s


“myth busting” echoed a favorite theme of OFPP leadership, who on Feb. 2, 2011, issued a memo- randum for chief


acquisition offi cers, senior


procurement executives, and chief information offi cers


that has come to be known as “Myth- Busting 1” (http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/


Industry days and similar events attended by potential vendors have no value because they don’t disseminate a lot of information. On the contrary, Newhart said, Federal Acquisi- tion Regulation (FAR) 15.2 (online at https://www. acquisition.gov/far/html/Subpart%2015_2. html) specifi cally authorizes industry days; OFPP encourages them and has received feedback that they’re very helpful.


HARNESSING INDUSTRY KNOW-HOW Industry has a great deal of knowledge and expertise that can help in defi ning solutions and establishing requirements at the right stage in the procurement process, said Joanie F. Newhart, Associate Administrator for Acquisition Workforce Programs, Offi ce of Federal Procurement Policy. Here, industry representatives visit the Communications Systems Design Center, which tests and evaluates the capabilities, equipment, and integration of the Warfi ghter Information Network – Tactical, at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, Jan 11. Attendees at the Industry Day toured the laboratories and integra- tion facilities that support the Network Integration Evaluations, the Agile Process, and capability set fi elding. (U.S. Army photo by Claire Schwerin, Program Executive Offi ce Command, Control, and Communications – Tactical.)


default/files/omb/procurement/memo/Myth- Busting.pdf). “Myth-Busting 2” followed on May


7, 2012 (http://www.whitehouse.gov/


sites/default/files/omb/procurement/memo/ myth-busting-2-addressing-misconceptions- and-further-improving-communication-during- the-acquisition-process.pdf).


Following are commonly held “myths” that Newhart addressed.


ASC.ARMY.MIL


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CONFERENCE CALL


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