The Office of the Director of National Intelligence wants to reform the way the U.S. intelligence community procures capabilities and streamline the contracting processes for unclassified open-source intelligence.
At a recent event, Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, shared that her office wants to implement acquisition reforms across the IC to save money and make sure that the government is “getting the most bang for the buck.”
Gabbard’s Contracting Modernization Efforts
During the annual GEOINT Symposium in St. Louis, Missouri, Gabbard explained that archaic procurement laws are preventing the IC from meeting its objectives.
“OSINT is an area of relatively new focus from Congress, but I’ve heard from many of you here today and those who are operating in different parts of the world, how we are, in this example, limiting our capabilities because of our own authorities that don’t allow for that access to integrate OSINT with the other intelligence capabilities that we have,” she told the audience.
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The official pointed to procurement reforms from Elbridge Colby, under secretary of defense, that open up government contracting to small companies and startups. Gabbard revealed that her office is also looking into bringing startup-made technologies that can be used across all elements of the IC without multiple layers of contractors and supervisors overseeing the program.
Growing Demand for Intelligence
The intelligence leader also discussed new demands for GEOINT at U.S. borders as the government increases its focus on foreign cartels, which President Donald Trump recently labeled terrorist organizations. Gabbard added that there has not been intelligence collection for border protection.
She said her office will work with other agencies and law enforcement to create a common operating picture.
“We have local law enforcement, we have Customs and Border Patrol,” she noted. “They all have to be operating from that same picture in order for us to be effective, and we can’t have these silos [of] both information and intelligence, otherwise, we will not only waste a lot of time and money, but we will we will be creating more risk.”
