Current contracting procedures at the Department of Defense hinder companies, particularly nontraditional contractors and small- and medium-sized businesses, from participating in the defense acquisition process, according to MITRE’s Defense Acquisition Survey.
More than half of the 1,004 respondents from the defense acquisition ecosystem, including government and military officials and private sector executives, pointed to the inflexibility and complexity of DOD acquisition processes as the most significant challenge to participation, with cost-type contracts and supply chain reliability identified as other critical barriers, MITRE said Wednesday.
Acquisition Workforce Development
All respondents see the need for reform to improve the speed, responsiveness or efficiency of defense acquisition. Survey results showed that reducing bureaucracy and adopting modern digital technologies, including artificial intelligence and data analytics, are key to achieving an agile and effective defense acquisition ecosystem that attracts startups and small businesses, said Keoki Jackson, senior vice president and general manager of MITRE National Security. The DOD has taken steps to engage with such companies; however, their participation is hindered by negative perceptions and outcomes of the acquisition process, he added.
The survey identified other areas for improvement, including contracting flexibility, acquisition workforce development, and enhanced collaboration between government and industry.
According to Jackson, addressing systemic challenges is essential for a strong national defense, noting that modern technology adoption and strategic reforms could accelerate the delivery of critical capabilities to U.S. warfighters.
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