Center for Government Contracting Commentaries

From the Federal News Network Commentary written by Emily Murphy, Senior Fellow of the Baroni Center: Congress should act quickly to fix Section 876 so that multiple award contracts focus on meaningful competition, getting the best solution for the government at the best price and reducing administrative burdens on small contractors and contracting officers.

Combat in Ukraine and the results of Asia-Pacific theater wargames have exposed the existential need for greater capacity in our defense-industrial base. Increasing U.S. production is a critical part of the solution, but it is not the only part. As illustrated by ongoing U.S. and allied efforts to scour the world for 155mm ammunition to support Ukrainian forces, engaging the industrial capacity of American partners and allies is an essential, mutually beneficial and cost-effective way to increase industrial capacity and resilience. That’s why we need to adopt a “Build Allied” approach for current and future contingencies.

A Commentary by Richard Beutel, senior fellow at the Baroni Center, suggests policy makers should at least contemplate the potential loss of product innovation and diversity available to the federal government under this new [Biden Administration] cybersecurity proposal.

One thing the nation has learned in helping Ukraine fight Russia, is how fragile our defense industrial supply base really is. From javelin missiles to major platforms, in a conflict the U.S. would run out in days or weeks. And then what?

Jerry McGinn joins this Air Power Podcast, sponsored by GE Aerospace, and examines the United States’ ability to surge aircraft production in the wake of Boeing’s announcement that the F-18 production line is ending.

Former Pentagon official Jerry McGinn has a prescription for America's production problems.

Based on initial use cases and reactions to the tool, ChatGPT is already creating benefits as well as risks for defense professionals.

From a Defense News Commentary: It seems like every year there is another commission, task force or board that studies the defense acquisition system. Fiscal 2022 continues the pattern with the rather bureaucratic-sounding Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution reform. This time, however, there is good reason to sit up and take notice.

The U.S. government’s research and development efforts should promote small experiments because if they fail, we learn something; and when they succeed, we can build on that success. Likewise, Congress needs to act now to keep one of the smallest and most successful R&D programs from disappearing Sept. 30 to ensure continued progress and access to critical industries and technologies.

Emily Murphy, former administrator of the General Services Administration and current senior fellow at the George Mason University Business School’s Center for Government Contracting, has published her latest article as a part of Executive Mosaic’s GovCon Expert program.