The fiscal 2018 defense spending bill introduced by a joint House-Senate conference committee includes an amendment that would potentially shift approximately $53 billion in annual purchases of commercial products by the Defense Department to e-commerce portals, Nextgov reported Monday.The Defense Acquisition Streamlining and Transparency Act, also known as the Amazon amendment, in the fiscal 2018 National Defense Authorization Act would authorize the federal government to release several contracts to providers of online market portals through a phased method.
Agencies could use such portals to find and procure mobile devices, technology tools, pens and other commercial items, the report noted.
The proposed amendment would require the General Services Administration to create an implementation plan within 90 days of the law’s passage and work with the Office of Management and Budget to identify goods and services that could be offered through online marketplaces.
