For years, government has worked to streamline acquisition so needed technologies get in the hands of agencies more quickly. With the new administration's focus on efficiency and improved use of emerging technology, these ongoing efforts to evolve government acquisition will likely move into high gear.
Legislation Driving Change
2024 saw a number of bi-partisan legislative proposals aimed at streamlining acquisition and spending. The Federal Improvement in Technology (FIT) Procurement Act was introduced in March 2024 to eliminate restrictive requirements and expand procurement options that let agencies move quickly to buy and utilize technology. A key focus of the legislation is enabling agencies to make advance payments for cloud computing, data center solutions, and other technology acquired on a subscription or tenancy basis. A pay-in-advance model is standard for these technologies, but not something that government procurement rules are set up to easily allow.
The Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets (SAMOSA) Act was introduced to require agencies to complete a comprehensive assessment of their software and make a plan to both consolidate their software licenses and adopt enterprise licenses. The goal is to have the resulting inventory detail agency software licenses by vendor, cost, and volume. With this visibility, agencies will be able to reduce duplicative and unused purchases. This could result in huge savings. For example, a report found that NASA spent about $15 million on unused software licenses over a period of five years.
Re-defining GSA's Role
Moving from legislative activity to the executive branch, The General Services Administration (GSA) is looking to reaffirm its intended role of delivering a centralized acquisition option for agencies, as well as develop policies to make agency-specific acquisition more fair and effective. Shortly after the inauguration, GSA's acting deputy administrator issued an email that outlined the go-forward plan for the agency. He stated that GSA is, "recommitting itself to its founding purpose: ensuring government-wide efficiency and maximizing value for the American taxpayer." His message laid out several principles for GSA activity that include a culture of performance and accountability; a focus on eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse; and using "best in class technologies" for IT modernization and digital transformation.
Make Way for AI
A big need for acquisition change is to enable the government to buy and use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. Just as procurement has worked to adapt to the pricing model for cloud and software-as-a-service technology, it also must adapt to the pace of change when it comes to AI. Acquisition requirements for AI need to be less prescriptive, given how quickly the technology is evolving.
More than just procuring AI, government must also determine how AI is used in the actual acquisition process. Companies can now use generative AI to develop RFP responses, necessitating a new level of accuracy review to determine if what was submitted was actually what the company intended to say, rather than a conclusion drawn by AI. Government procurement shops are also weighing how to integrate AI into their evaluations processes.
To keep up with government acquisition policies and practices, check out these resources:
- 2025: DFARS Part 207, Acquisition Planning (March 14, 2025; webcast) - This series features guest speakers who will uncover the important details and nuances of the DFARS. Get educated about the rules and regulations in the game of federal contracting.
- Government Contracting Conference (April 22, 2025; Reston, VA) - This event will help procurement professionals understand the changes made over the past year to the contracting rules and regulations. Learn how to gauge risks as you lead your organization forward and provide best practices to help overcome those risks.
- AI Acquisition Forum 2025 (July 23, 2025; McLean, VA) - This event will provide an update on guidance and regulations to date; demonstrate the efficiencies that can be achieved and how data can be used more effectively; and detail the steps acquisition staff are taking to accommodate and address the new technology.
- Acquisition Modernization Technology Research (data sheet) - The Acquisition Modernization Technology Research (AMTR) program drives innovation to enhance military readiness and streamline defense logistics. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI, machine learning, and blockchain, AMTR modernizes acquisition processes and improves market intelligence.
- Software Acquisition Guide Fact Sheet (data sheet) - This guide offers a clear pathway for navigating the complexities of technology acquisitions. With its alignment to CISA's "Secure by Demand" principles, it empowers acquisition staff to make more informed cybersecurity decisions.
- Enhancing Government Acquisition with AI: Balancing Innovation and Security (white paper) - The emergence of generative AI in commercial use has dramatically altered the dynamics of government acquisition. This paper summarizes the conversation of a roundtable of government leaders as they delved into the complexities and opportunities presented by AI in the procurement process.
For more on the future of government acquisition, search for additional events and resources on GovEvents and GovWhitePapers.
