/
Navy Completes ERP System Migration
Published on
The Department of the Navy seal. DON completed its migration to the Navy Enterprise Resource Planning system.

The Department of the Navy has completed its migration to the Navy Enterprise Resource Planning system, marking a reportedly major milestone in modernizing the service’s financial and business operations.

Navy Completes ERP System Migration

As the Navy completes its ERP system migration, senior leaders continue to focus on strengthening readiness and decision-making across the force. Those priorities will take center stage at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Navy Summit on Aug. 27, where officials and industry leaders will discuss the future of naval operations and innovation. Save your spot to join the conversation.

DON said Friday Navy ERP now supports nearly 100,000 users and helps the service manage billions of dollars in resources.

The final phase of the migration included U.S. Fleet Forces Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet and the commander of the Navy Reserve Forces Command. With the transition complete, the Navy has unified finance, logistics, supply chain and other core business functions under one enterprise system.

According to the department, the migration could help the service improve fleet readiness and strengthen its strategic advantage.

What Did Senior Leadership Comment About the Navy ERP Migration?

Alaleh Jenkins, currently performing the duties of assistant secretary of the Navy, financial management and comptroller, highlighted the importance of the achievement and the collaboration behind it.

“Having an agile systems environment and a unified resource planning system allows the Navy to act quickly on investments, make the best use of taxpayers’ dollars, deliver unmatched capabilities to our warfighters, and make decisions necessary to equip and sustain the fleet,” Jenkins said.

What Is Navy ERP?

Navy ERP is the Navy’s cornerstone financial and business management system. It integrates finance, supply chain and logistics functions into a single enterprise platform, consolidating legacy systems and automating processes. The system is designed to allow personnel to focus on higher-value work while providing leaders with real-time information to accelerate decision-making.

The system comprises nine end-to-end business scenarios, including acquire to dispose; plan to perform; plan to pay; budget to authorize; repair to replenish; plan to maintain; and personnel check in to check out.

/
Former U.S. Attorney Scott Brady Named Special Counsel at HHS
Published on
HHS Special Counsel Scott Brady. The Department of Health and Human Services has appointed Scott Brady a special counsel.

Former U.S. Attorney Scott Brady has been appointed special counsel in the Department of Health and Human Services Office of General Counsel.

Former U.S. Attorney Scott Brady Named Special Counsel at HHSJothi Dugar will represent the Department of Health and Human Services at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Healthcare Summit on Feb. 12, joining government and industry leaders to discuss healthcare IT, user experience and partnership opportunities across federal health agencies. Register now!

Who Is Scott Brady?

Brady is a seasoned legal executive and will focus on advancing the agency’s anti-fraud initiative, HHS said Thursday. He previously served as chief compliance officer at Wabtec and as a partner at Jones Day. Before that, he served at the Department of Justice as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania for four years, leading major healthcare fraud prosecutions and launching the nation’s first joint federal-state COVID-19 Fraud Task Force.

His career includes six years as an assistant U.S. attorney, a clerkship with U.S. District Judge Thomas Hardiman and work as an associate at Reed Smith, following earlier international humanitarian roles with World Vision International and Shelter Now International.

What Did Mike Stuart Say About Brady’s Appointment?

HHS General Counsel Mike Stuart praised Brady’s appointment as special counsel, saying, “This marks a decisive escalation in our mission to protect American taxpayers. We are launching the most formidable anti-fraud initiative in the history of HHS to dismantle criminal networks and ensure that those who steal from the public face the full weight of federal law.”

//
Pentagon Selects Stratolaunch, Varda for Hypersonic Test Bed Task Area 3
Published on
Pentagon. TRMC and NSWC Crane selected Stratolaunch and Varda to support Task Area 3 under the MACH-TB 2.0 program.

The Department of War’s Test Resource Management Center, or TRMC, and Naval Surface Warfare Center, or NSWC, Crane Division have selected Stratolaunch and Varda Space Industries to support Task Area 3 under the second iteration of the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed, or MACH-TB 2.0, program.

Pentagon Selects Stratolaunch, Varda for Hypersonic Test Bed Task Area 3

As the Pentagon continues to expand hypersonic testing and development efforts through programs like MACH-TB 2.0, defense leaders are gathering to discuss what comes next for research, development and innovation. The Potomac Officers Club will host the 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29, bringing together government and industry experts to examine emerging technologies and acquisition priorities shaping the future force. Sign up now!

The National Security Technology Accelerator said Thursday the Task Area 3 contract was awarded through the NSWC Crane-sponsored Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems other transaction authority agreement.

According to NSTXL, the selection advances the MACH-TB 2.0 initiative by expanding hypersonic flight testing beyond traditional missile-based approaches.

What Is the Scope of MACH-TB 2.0 Task Area 3?

Task Area 3 focuses on reusable, recoverable and innovative, or RRI, hypersonic flight test solutions. Under the award, Stratolaunch and Varda will provide reusable or recoverable test and launch vehicles, as well as perform RRI launch services.

Task Area 3 is designed to work in coordination with Task Area 2, which will focus on providing additional hypersonic test capabilities once awarded.

TRMC and NSWC Crane view RRI test platforms as a key enabler for meeting the Pentagon’s goal of conducting 50 hypersonic flight tests per year.

“This award marks an important milestone in advancing the nation’s hypersonics testing ecosystem. By expanding into reusable and recoverable flight test solutions, MACH-TB 2.0 is enabling faster, more affordable, and data-rich testing that will accelerate innovation across the hypersonics community,” said Tony Kestranek, vice president of S2MARTS at NSTXL.

What Is MACH TB?

The Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed is a Pentagon program designed to accelerate the testing of hypersonic technologies.

TRMC launched the MACH-TB program to build an affordable hypersonic flight test bed designed to rapidly boost hypersonic flight test capacity. The program leverages commercial launch service providers to support scalable testing.

In late 2024, MACH-TB 2.0 kicked off with the award of Task Area 1 to Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, which is leading engineering, integration and testing efforts for the program. Kratos announced that it secured a five-year, $1.45 billion contract for Task Area 1 under the MACH-TB 2.0 program.

In May 2025, TRMC and NSWC Crane completed two flight tests for a reusable hypersonic vehicle.

//
CISA Identifies Technologies Ready for PQC Transition in Product Categories List
Published on
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency logo. CISA posted a new resource to guide PQC adoption

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has released a new resource to guide the development of post-quantum cryptography, or PQC, adoption strategies across government and industry.

The Product Categories for Technologies That Use Post-Quantum Cryptography Standards list identifies hardware and software categories that currently support or are likely to support PQC standards, CISA said Friday.

CISA developed the product categories list with the National Security Agency in compliance with the executive order President Donald Trump signed in June 2025 directing the Department of Homeland Security to publish guidance on PQC-ready technologies. 

“The advent of quantum computing poses a real and urgent threat to the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of sensitive data — especially systems that rely on public-key cryptography,” acting CISA Director Madhu Gottumukkala stated. “To stay ahead of these emerging risks, organizations must prioritize the procurement of PQC-capable technologies. This product categories list will support organizations making that critical transition.”

CISA Identifies Technologies Ready for PQC Transition in Product Categories List

Find out how to address rising cyberthreats from quantum computing and other emerging technologies at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21. The critical GovCon conference will feature leaders from government and industry to discuss ongoing and future cyber initiatives across defense and civilian agencies. Get your tickets here.

Which Technologies Are Included in the PQC Categories?

The initial list focuses on cloud services, web software, networking hardware and software, and endpoint security products. Each of the technology mentioned apply PQC standards to foundational cryptographic functions, including key establishment for secure communications and digital signatures to verify authenticity and data integrity.

CISA said the list will be updated regularly to reflect the evolving cybersecurity landscape and emerging technologies.

How Is the US Government Advancing Post-Quantum Cryptography?

Beyond CISA’s guidance, the federal government is taking concrete steps to accelerate PQC adoption across national security systems. In December, the Department of War directed all Pentagon components to transition rapidly to PQC in response to advances in quantum information science.

In a memo issued by Katie Arrington—who was then performing the duties of the Pentagon chief information officer and is a past Wash100 winner—senior leaders were instructed to inventory all cryptography currently in use and designate component-level PQC migration leads.

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill that would reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative, extending funding for federal quantum research and development programs.

//
DOE to Combine AI, HPC Capabilities to Accelerate Fusion Energy Research
Published on
The Department of Energy's logo. DOE is utilizing AI and HPC to accelerate fusion energy research

The Department of Energy has launched a new project that will pair artificial intelligence with high-performance computing to accelerate the development of a commercially viable fusion energy system.

How Will STELLAR AI Support Fusion Energy Research?

Called the Simulation, Technology, and Experiment Leveraging Learning-Accelerated Research enabled by AI, or STELLAR AI, the platform will connect high-fidelity computer simulation with experimental technologies, allowing researchers to analyze data in real time, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory said Thursday.

DOE to Combine AI, HPC Capabilities to Accelerate Fusion Energy Research

Explore new AI use cases and future implementation strategies at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18. The sixth annual AI Summit will feature speakers from the Department of War, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, other agencies, and industry. Sign up today.  

PPPL, a DOE national laboratory, will lead the initiative.

“Fusion is a complex system of systems,” stated Jonathan Menard, deputy director for research at PPPL. “We need AI and high performance computing to really optimize the design for economic construction and operation.”

PPPL’s National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade, or NSTX-U, is one of the experimental technologies included in STELLAR AI. NSTX-U is a large spherical tokamak designed to identify the ideal fuel conditions, measurement techniques, artificial control tools and system shape for producing commercial fusion power.

STELLAR-AI will create a digital twin of NSTX-U to advance the development of a fusion pilot plant.

What Is the Genesis Mission?

STELLAR-AI aligns with the Genesis Mission, a national effort launched by President Donald Trump under a November executive order to promote AI use to accelerate scientific discovery.

Shantenu Jha, head of PPPL’s Computational Sciences Department, added that Genesis provides an “integrated, ambitious system that will bring together the various unique DOE assets: experimental and user facilities, the supercomputers, data archives and, importantly, the AI models.”

While Genesis provides that broad infrastructure, STELLAR-AI contributes fusion-specific computer codes, data and scientific models back into the national system,” she added.

/
DOW Unveils 2026 National Defense Strategy, Outlining Homeland Defense, China Deterrence Priorities
Published on
DOW seal. The Department of War has released its 2026 National Defense Strategy.

The Department of War has released its 2026 National Defense Strategy, outlining a reoriented military posture that prioritizes homeland defense and regional deterrence while calling on allies to share a greater security burden.

DOW Unveils 2026 National Defense Strategy, Outlining Homeland Defense, China Deterrence Priorities

Join Department of War leaders Michael Duffey, Emil Michael and Thomas Rondeau at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit this Thursday, Jan. 29, to learn about technologies and strategies shaping the future of warfare and U.S. national security. Save your seat now!

What Is the 2026 National Defense Strategy?

According to the document released Jan. 23, the 2026 National Defense Strategy is a 34-page mission statement outlining the DOW’s defense priorities, threats and strategic approaches for the coming years. It presents a “peace through strength” approach that reflects the current administration’s emphasis on practical realism and prioritizing American interests in a complex global security environment.

What Are the DOW’s Top Priorities?

The DOW’s National Defense Strategy focuses on four key priorities, including:

Defend the US Homeland

The Department’s top mission focuses on defending the U.S. homeland and American interests across the Western Hemisphere by strengthening and modernizing border, airspace, cyber and nuclear defenses while countering terrorism and emerging threats. Framed as a modern extension of the Monroe Doctrine, it emphasizes readiness to take swift, decisive military action when U.S. interests are threatened.

Deter China in the Indo-Pacific Through Strength, Not Confrontation

The second priority is to deter China in the Indo-Pacific by negotiating from a position of military strength while avoiding unnecessary confrontation. This approach supports stable relations and open military-to-military communication to reduce risks, while remaining realistic about China’s rapid military buildup. The goal is to reinforce deterrence along the First Island Chain and encourage regional partners to share responsibility for collective security to prevent any nation from dominating the U.S. or its allies.

Increase Burden-Sharing With US Allies & Partners

The third component emphasizes stronger burden-sharing with allies and partners, expecting them to contribute more to their own defense, especially in deterring China and addressing regional threats, while the U.S. provides more limited support. This approach prioritizes higher defense spending, shared responsibility and collective strength to sustain long-term peace.

Supercharge the US Defense Industrial Base

The final focus is rebuilding and modernizing the U.S. defense industrial base by reshoring production, expanding capacity and adopting new technologies like artificial intelligence. By removing outdated regulations and leveraging allied production, the U.S. aims to boost its ability to produce at scale for itself and partners, reinforcing collective strength and deterrence.

//
The Pentagon’s Next AI Race Isn’t for Chips—It’s for Power
Published on
Power lines. The DOW wants AI to be foundational in future warfare, but it must ensure it is energy efficient.
  • The DOW wants AI to be a foundational component of U.S. power projection, but generating sufficient power is a big hurdle
  • Experts are evaluating energy-efficient options such as portable nuclear power generators
  • Hear directly from top government officials and industry experts on this topic at the 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29!

The Trump administration wants artificial intelligence to be a foundational capability for the U.S. in warfare. The Pentagon seeks to use AI for missions including intelligence analysis, data collection, logistics and more.

But ensuring AI is effective in combat requires these systems to be energy efficient, a retired Army chief warrant officer told National Defense Magazine in a recent interview. Bill Thompson, Spartan Forge CEO, said the U.S. needs to develop “field-deployable edge device systems” that could do much of the light work being done in large data facilities.

Why Are Centralized AI Data Centers a National Security Issue?

This, he said, is because large data centers are centralized and centralization is a national security vulnerability.

The Pentagon’s Next AI Race Isn’t for Chips—It’s for Power

“So, as you concentrate [computing], you concentrate data, you concentrate intellectual property, you create single points of failure,” Thompson said. “Believe me, that will be what the Chinese will be focusing on, because if they can’t steal it, they will destroy it.”

Discover business opportunities in AI and energy at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29. Dig into energy generation and power systems built for AI-era demands at the Powering AI at Mission Scale: Energy, Compute, and Infrastructure for Defense Innovation panel discussion. Learn more about data center design enabling secure, high-performance workloads and infrastructure innovations driving AI-powered defense readiness. Tickets are running out—get yours now!

How Is the Pentagon Dealing With Energy Use in AI?

These power generation concerns have inspired creative ideas from top Pentagon officials. Dr. Jeff Waksman, as program manager in the DOW’s Strategic Capabilities Office and a panelist at the 2026 Defense R&D Summit, said in January 2025 at last year’s Defense R&D Summit that a mobile nuclear reactor could address this AI energy issue, Defense News reported at the time.

Waksman’s portable nuclear reactor effort, called Project Pele, is being developed by BWXT Advanced Technologies. A prototype reactor building is being constructed to be transported within four 20-foot shipping boxes and tested at Idaho National Laboratory. Project Pele has a goal of placing the reactor in 2026.

Interested in exploring more innovative ways to develop energy-efficient infrastructure for military AI use? Check out our top federal officials and industry experts for the Powering AI at Mission Scale: Energy, Compute, and Infrastructure for Defense Innovation panel at the 2026 Defense R&D Summit this Thursday.

The Pentagon’s Next AI Race Isn’t for Chips—It’s for Power

JC Gordon (moderator)

Vice President for Maritime and Logistics, Kpler

JC Gordon helps U.S. and international agencies, and commercial customers in improving maritime transparency, regulatory compliance and logistical resilience in complex and contested operational environments. With more than 10 years experience in capabilities ranging from satellite technology, maritime intelligence and government operations, Gordon provides data-driven solutions that bolster sanctions enforcement, force readiness and supply chain security, and worldwide trade.
 

The Pentagon’s Next AI Race Isn’t for Chips—It’s for Power

Tim Kocher

Deputy Director in the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response, Department of Energy

Tim Kocher directs DOE’s mission to boost the resilience and security of U.S. energy infrastructure against rapidly-changing physical and cyber threats. He brings extensive experience to his position as he previously helmed Sen. Ted Cruz’s emergency and energy response policy.

This is Kocher’s second stint at the DOE. He previously served as a special advisor from 2017 to 2021 and served in the Office of Cyber Security, Energy Security and Emergency Response from 2018 to 2021.
 

The Pentagon’s Next AI Race Isn’t for Chips—It’s for Power

Dr. Jeff Waksman

Principal Deputy, Assistant Secretary for Installations, Energy and Environment, U.S. Army

Jeff Waksman is the principal deputy advisor to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George. He provides expertise on all matters related to policy and oversight for military construction and housing, real estate, energy dominance sustainability, installation modernization, safety and occupational health, and all environmental matters.

Waksman has a diverse range of government and technical expertise. In addition to his service as program manager in the DOW’s SCO, he served as the policy advisor to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in the first Trump administration. He also served as a science and technology fellow in the office of Rep. David Schweikert.

Prior to his federal career, Waksman was on the research team at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center where he focused on quantum computing and heterogeneous chip integration. He is a member of the American Nuclear Society.

 

The Pentagon’s Next AI Race Isn’t for Chips—It’s for Power

Capt. Charles “Newt” McKissick

Military Deputy and Navy Service Lead, Defense Innovation Unit

McKissick has extensive experience in financial management, budget development and legislative affairs with an impressive track record of aligning DOW priorities with innovation from the private sector. As the military deputy and Navy service lead at the DIU, he leads a 120-plus member joint team rapidly driving the adoption of cutting-edge technology across the DOW.

McKissick is also the senior military advisor supporting joint matters, congressional affairs, maritime, aviation and energy as the lead military liaison. Here he works with the defense industrial base to speed up emerging technology for the Pentagon.

Some of McKissick’s other DOW positions include executive officer of Naval Base Coronado in California, director of the Navy’s Office of Appropriations Matters and commanding officer of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 77 in Atsugi, Japan.

Are you a GovCon technology professional? Then you cannot miss the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit this Thursday, Jan. 29—it’s specifically designed for you! Get the latest AI requirements and actional business intelligence during keynotes from leading DOW officials like Emil Michael, acting director of the DIU and under secretary for research and engineering. Gain an edge on your competitors to start 2026. Sign up today!

The Pentagon’s Next AI Race Isn’t for Chips—It’s for Power
/
Pentagon Launches Patent Holiday to Accelerate Defense Tech Delivery
Published on
Emil Michael. The under secretary of war for research and engineering commented on the Defense Patent Holiday program.

The Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering has introduced a pilot program designed to accelerate the transition of defense technologies from the laboratory to warfighters.

Pentagon Launches Patent Holiday to Accelerate Defense Tech Delivery

Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael will participate in a fireside chat at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit. Reserve your spot at this Jan. 29 event, which will feature senior defense and industry leaders discussing strategies to advance defense innovation. 

The office said Thursday the Defense Patent Holiday program aims to provide qualified companies with access to a select group of patents from defense labs through no-fee commercial evaluation licenses, or CEL.

The initiative aims to simplify the patent licensing process tied to the Department of War’s $3.5 billion annual research investment to help industry partners speed up the commercialization of defense capabilities.

What Did Emil Michael Say About the Defense Patent Holiday Program? 

Emil Michael, under secretary of war for research and engineering, said DOW’s intellectual property represents a significant asset. He also highlighted the need to apply industry practices to speed up tech delivery.

“We want to provide the innovators in industry a clear path to move technology from the lab into the hands of the American warfighter and the American consumer,” said Michael. “This ‘Patent Holiday’ program is the start of a new era of collaboration.”

What Is a Commercial Evaluation License?

A CEL is a special agreement that allows a company to evaluate a patented technology’s technical performance, market potential and business viability. Under the Defense Patent Holiday, CELs are offered at no cost for a two-year period.

During the evaluation period, companies can test and integrate technologies into research and development efforts and assess scale-up challenges without incurring upfront licensing costs.

How Does the Two-Part Defense Patent Holiday Program Work?

According to Breaking Defense, the Defense Patent Holiday is being implemented in two phases.

Step one makes approximately 400 selected patents available online for a free trial period of two years. Any company interested in evaluating one of these technologies for use in its products or research and development efforts can apply for a no-fee CEL.

Currently underway, the second step focuses on consolidating the department’s broader patent portfolio. The effort aims to place thousands of patents from all 216 defense labs into a single, searchable database. This database will be built using the public-private partnership TechLink and the interagency iEdison system.

/
Maj. Gens. Brian Gibson, Mark Pye Nominated for LTG Promotion, Key Pentagon Roles
Published on
Department of War seal. Maj. Gens. Brian Gibson and Mark Pye have been nominated for promotion and key Pentagon roles.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Brian Gibson and Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark Pye have been nominated for promotion to lieutenant general and tapped for key Pentagon assignments overseeing major defense programs, Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced.

Maj. Gens. Brian Gibson, Mark Pye Nominated for LTG Promotion, Key Pentagon Roles

Department of War officials Michael Duffey, Emil Michael and Thomas Rondeau will speak alongside other government and GovCon leaders at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29. Register now to join the discussion on advanced technologies shaping the future of warfare.

Gibson will be assigned as military deputy to the direct reporting program manager for Golden Dome for America while Pye will serve as military deputy to the direct reporting portfolio manager for critical major weapons systems, DOW said Thursday.

Table of Contents

Who Is Brian Gibson?

If confirmed, Gibson will report to Gen. Michael Guetlein, who was confirmed as Golden Dome program manager in July 2025, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. Guetlein, a 2025 Wash100 Award winner like Hegseth, was formerly vice chief of space operations at the Space Force.

Gibson is the director of plans and policy for J-5 Directorate at the Space Command, based at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado. His previous assignments include serving as commanding general of the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, director of the Air and Missile Defense Cross-Functional Team, and commandant of the Army Air Defense Artillery School at the Army Fires Center of Excellence.

Who Is Mark Pye?

Pye, who will serve under Air Force Gen. Dale White if confirmed, is currently the director of programs in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs. Previously, he served as director of global power programs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. His three-decade Air Force career also includes leadership roles as commandant of the Air Force Inspection Agency and the 13th Bomb Squadron within the 509th Bomb Wing.

//
GSA Seeks Industry Input on IT Reseller Market Practices
Published on
Josh Gruenbaum. The GSA FAS commissioner commented on a request for information on the practices of IT value added resellers.

The General Services Administration has issued a request for information seeking industry feedback on the role, value and pricing practices of IT value added resellers, or VARs, in the federal procurement marketplace.

GSA said Thursday responses to the RFI are due Feb. 9.

GSA Seeks Industry Input on IT Reseller Market Practices

GSA’s request for industry input highlights the ongoing evolution of federal acquisition and technology management. Broader issues shaping government modernization will be part of the conversation at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22. Sign up now to connect with government and industry leaders at this must-attend event.

According to the agency, insights gathered through the process will help inform potential updates to acquisition practices under the Multiple Award Schedule. GSA said the RFI aligns with the goals of the agency’s OneGov initiative, which seeks to promote direct engagement with original equipment manufacturers to streamline acquisition, improve cybersecurity protection and ensure more transparent pricing.

“By working collaboratively with GSA on this request they’ll directly contribute to achieving our goals: enhancing the procurement process, maximizing efficiency, and ultimately, saving taxpayer dollars,” said GSA Administrator Ed Forst.

What Did FAS Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum Say About the RFI? 

Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum highlighted the role of industry participation in the procurement process.

“We value the knowledge of our industry partners as we seek opportunities to streamline the federal procurement lifecycle/ecosystem, eliminating duplication and achieving cost efficiencies,” said Gruenbaum, a previous Wash100 awardee. “We want to learn directly from Value Added Resellers about the value they add to the government within the supply chain.”

What Insights Is GSA Seeking Through the RFI?

GSA is seeking industry feedback to identify cost-reduction strategies for IT items resold to the federal government that were not initially procured directly from OEMs.

Through the RFI, the agency aims to gain a clearer understanding of the value and services offered by resellers and how those services affect pricing and the government’s ability to meet mission requirements. 

GSA intends to use this information to improve its understanding of the reseller marketplace; better align contracting operations with commercial practices and standards; and enable industry partners to clearly propose the value of their offerings. 

The agency also aims to provide contracting officers with information and tools to better assess proposed pricing.

How Is GSA Transforming Federal Procurement?

GSA has been pursuing a series of initiatives to improve the federal procurement process. In early January, the agency announced the full implementation of Transactional Data Reporting to expand the use of detailed pricing data in procurement.

GSA has also expanded its OneGov strategy, establishing enterprise agreements with major technology providers to standardize pricing and streamline access to IT, cloud and artificial intelligence tools for federal agencies.

Additionally, the agency issued a separate RFI seeking industry input on an AI-driven procurement system to further modernize and consolidate the federal acquisition process.

1 … 31 32 33 34 35 … 2,703