Modernizing Federal Procurement
- Mark Beninger
- Apr 23
- 2 min read
As the U.S. government seeks greater agility, efficiency, and transparency in defense and federal procurement, legacy contract writing systems are increasingly viewed as barriers to progress. The emergence of nGAP Inc.’s Open Acquisition System (OAS) offers a transformative alternative—one that aligns with the evolving mission and operational realities of agencies like the Department of Defense.
Legacy Contract Writing Systems: Inefficient by Design
Traditional contract writing systems were built for compliance—not speed. They are:
Monolithic: These systems are often large, inflexible, and difficult to adapt or scale.
Manual and Redundant: Requiring repetitive data entry, document uploads, and offline coordination.
Slow to Adapt: Integrating new policy requirements or technology standards often requires long development cycles.
Siloed: Contract data is often trapped in disconnected systems, making it hard to share insights across teams or agencies.
These limitations delay acquisitions, inflate costs, and inhibit responsiveness, particularly problematic in mission-critical sectors like defense.
The Open Acquisition System (OAS)
Built for Speed, Transparency, and Accountability
nGAP’s Open Acquisition System reimagines government procurement for the digital age.
Modular and Cloud-Native: OAS uses a plug-and-play architecture that allows rapid integration of new tools and data sources.
Automation-First: It automates repetitive tasks like clause generation, validation, and compliance checks—reducing workload and human error.
Real-Time and Transparent: All users see the same real-time data. Financial flows, contract status, and decision trails are visible across the chain.
Policy-Embedded: Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and agency-specific rules are built into the platform, helping users stay compliant automatically.
User-Centered: Designed with contracting officers, program managers, and financial analysts in mind, OAS provides intuitive dashboards and workflows.
Key Differences at a Glance
Feature | Traditional CWS | Open Acquisition System (OAS) |
Architecture | Monolithic, legacy | Modular, modern, cloud-based |
User Interface | Complex, outdated | Streamlined, role-based UX |
Data Sharing | Siloed | Real-time, multi-party visibility |
Update Frequency | Infrequent, costly | Continuous delivery model |
Automation | Minimal | Extensive (clauses, compliance, etc.) |
Policy Adaptability | Manual integration | Embedded regulatory logic |
Integration with ERPs & APIs | Difficult | Designed for easy API integration |
Audit Readiness | Fragmented documentation | Full audit trail built in |
