Tag Archives: McLean

Next Generation Procurement Reform

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The White House recently released a pair of Executive Orders (EOs) that aim to streamline the way the government acquires products and services. The complexity and inefficiency of government procurement has long been decried by industry and government officials alike. Numerous steps have been taken to simplify processes and open access to businesses that can provide the innovative solutions the government needs. These latest EOs focus on reforming the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA), the two guiding principles of federal procurement.

Common Sense FAR

The "Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement" EO highlights the fact that the federal government is the world's largest buyer, spending nearly $1 trillion on procurement contracts each year. However, the provisions that guide that buying are cumbersome and, in many cases, outdated. The FAR is 2,000-plus pages containing 3,000-plus directives. The EO seeks to overhaul the FAR with plain English and eliminate nearly all non-statutory and duplicative regulations. Continue reading →

New AI Guidance, Similar Goals

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In early April, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a pair of memos to provide agencies with guardrails for how they use and purchase artificial intelligence (AI). These memos replaced guidance issued by the previous administration but maintain many of the same structures.

The first memorandum, M-25-21, gives agencies three priorities when accelerating the federal use of AI: innovation, governance, and public trust. It states, "...agencies are directed to provide improved services to the public, while maintaining strong safeguards for civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy." The memo maintains items that were established under the Biden administration, including:

  • The creation of chief AI officer roles and AI councils "to serve as change agents and AI advocates, rather than overseeing layers of bureaucracy."
  • Implement minimum risk management practices for "high-impact" AI use--those applications of AI that could have significant impacts when deployed.

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Evolving Acquisition

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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. Continue reading →

AI and National Security

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) can greatly improve human efficiency and deliver insights that drive decision-making. However, for all of its benefits, AI also introduces security risks both for the organizations that are using it and for the nation at large. The National Security Memorandum (NSM) on Artificial Intelligence, released in the fall of 2024, details national security strategy and policy toward AI. While this particular guidance is aimed at agencies directly involved in national security, its three high-level policy objectives should be part of every agency's AI strategy.

  1. Maintain U.S. leadership in the development of advanced AI systems

A key focus is on not just using AI but driving responsible AI development. To do so, the U.S. needs an AI-capable workforce. This means having the experts that develop the technology as well as training the operational and tactical workforce in how to best use it. Continue reading →

Securing the Machines that Drive our Democracy

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The devices used in voting are relatively low-tech. In order to avoid cyber threats, even those that use a touch screen to capture votes are intentionally not connected to the internet. However, even this unconnected approach has security risks that need to be addressed so that these devices and the data they hold aren't tampered with. The states and localities that administer elections are continually focused on the full spectrum of security risks, putting processes and systems in place in advance of election day to ensure that voting is safe and secure.

Diversity is a Strength

The diversity of voting machines being used across the country reduces threat impacts. If there is an issue with a piece of software, it won't impact the entire national voting system, just particular machines. While software vulnerabilities are still huge problems, standardizing on one type of machine nationwide would mean one software bug could wipe out all electoral results. Continue reading →