Wesley Hallman, senior vice president for strategy and policy at the National Defense Industrial Association, has said that the recently signed 2019 Bipartisan Budget Act may lead to better government-industry collaboration.
Hallman wrote in a guest piece published Thursday in National Defense Magazine that the legislation, which raises defense and nondefense spending caps, enables government and industry entities to identify key investments, develop future requirments and create innovative contract vehicles. He noted that lowering spendng caps would impact large and small contractors due to issues like self-financing and trickle-down economics.
“The specter of flattening budgets requires all who believe in a strong national defense to endeavor for the maximum effect out of each dollar,†said Hallman. “Understanding that as a common goal and striving for it day after day necessitates an exemplary level of collaboration between the government buyer and the industry producer.â€Â
He added that recent govenrment efforts like contract financing, which is focused on funding 80 percent of the total project cost, allows companies to invest in research and dveelpment, workforce and tooling efforts.
