A February 27 article by the Federal News Network discusses how pentagon officials are asking congress for greater flexibility in contracting in next year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The article, written by Anastasia Obis, reports that Pentagon officials are asking lawmakers to add language to the NDAA to provide for greater contracting flexibility, such as undefinitized contract actions, which allow contractors to begin work before the contract is finalized, and the contracting flexibility extended for Ukraine.
Another request of lawmakers is to add language that will authorize rapid Authority to Operate (ATO). That language already exists in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT). However, in the case of APFIT, the immediate need is for additional funding to help more small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors bring their innovations to the Department of Defense.
The full article is available here.