President Donald Trump signed on Tuesday an executive order directing his administration to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation, or FAR, as part of efforts to streamline the federal procurement process and remove barriers to doing business with the government.
Within 180 days, the EO directs the administrator of the Office of Federal Public Procurement Policy, or OFPP, to work with the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council, heads of agencies and procurement officials to amend FAR to ensure that the regulation contains only provisions required by statute or essential to sound procurement while protecting national security or economic interests.
OMB Guidance on Executive Order Implementation
The director of the Office of Management and Budget should release a memorandum within 20 days that provides guidance to agencies regarding the EO’s implementation and ensures consistency of policy objectives, the White House said.
The OMB memo should propose agency supplemental regulations and internal guidance that foster streamlined and accelerated acquisition processes.
Ensuring Agency Alignment With FAR Reform
Within 15 days, each agency with procurement authority should assign a senior acquisition official to work with the FAR Council and head of OFPP to ensure alignment with FAR reform. The designated procurement official should offer recommendations regarding any agency-specific supplemental regulations to FAR.
Under the new policy, a regulatory sunset provision will be considered that would result in non-statutory FAR provisions expiring after four years unless renewed by the FAR Council.
