Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s Post

What does right sizing (or right timing) acquisition speed look like? industry and DoD have two very different definitions for what is "fast".

Speeding Up #Digital Acquisition Dramatically in the US Navy Procurements since 2015 took at least 5 years to complete; some stretched out to 15 years. This is at a time when new #AI capabilities happen daily. PEO Digital has created a surge of partnerships with new and #innovative companies that may have found it too burdensome and time-consuming to sell to the #military in the past. "We are simplifying and expediting how we identify the best internal and external #innovations and getting them to the field faster and at better value." https://lnkd.in/e3waBJAn ⬇️ Our insights in the comments below ⬇️ #DoD #DefenseTech #SpeedOfOperationalRelevance

📣 Potential for some good changes in Army procurement. [Industry Article] Young Bang Details Army Efforts to Modernize Acquisition Processes To take advantage of the capabilities industry has to offer, the Army is embracing more flexible acquisition methods and moving away from strict adherence to traditional approaches. The Army recently released a directive calling for the adoption of a hybrid model, which he said “encourages all different types of things, encourages creativity, but doesn’t want us to default to firm-fixed-price.” https://lnkd.in/e_HQDZy6 #GovCon #SmallBusiness #Accounting #GovernmentContracting #GovernmentContractor #FederalContracting #FederalGovernment #DoD #Army #Procurement #Acquisition

📣 Potential for some good changes in Army procurement. [Industry Article] Young Bang Details Army Efforts to Modernize Acquisition Processes To take advantage of the capabilities industry has to offer, the Army is embracing more flexible acquisition methods and moving away from strict adherence to traditional approaches. The Army recently released a directive calling for the adoption of a hybrid model, which he said “encourages all different types of things, encourages creativity, but doesn’t want us to default to firm-fixed-price.” https://lnkd.in/ehWzfUj6 #GovCon #SmallBusiness #Accounting #GovernmentContracting #GovernmentContractor #FederalContracting #FederalGovernment #DoD #Army #Procurement #Acquisition

The US Army is modernizing its capabilities, focusing on technology, acquisition, and production. Young Bang, the Army's principal deputy assistant secretary, highlights the challenges of migrating to digital systems and the shift to agile acquisition at speed. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ezn-PWtQ _____ #digitalsystems #agileacquisition #governmentcontracting

The United States Department of Defense and the Minority Business Development Agency - U.S. Department of Commerce recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to increase the participation of minority business enterprises within the defense industrial base: https://lnkd.in/ey8E-Jr8   “This MOU represents a significant step in expanding access to defense contracts for minority business enterprises, ensuring that our supply chain is diverse, resilient, and capable of addressing the demands of our national defense,” said Dr. William LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

The United States Department of Defense and the Minority Business Development Agency - U.S. Department of Commerce (MBDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last month aimed at increasing participation of minority business enterprises (MBEs) within the defense industrial base. "This MOU represents a significant step in expanding access to defense contracts for minority business enterprises, ensuring that our supply chain is diverse, resilient, and capable of addressing the demands of our national defense," said Dr. William LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. "By working with MBDA, we can tap into a broader talent base of underrepresented businesses that bring unique perspectives and solutions, ultimately contributing to a more robust and innovative industrial base." Read the MOU here: https://buff.ly/4ireWDO #DOD #MBDA #MinorityOwnedBusiness #APEXAccelerators #NAPEX

Dr. William LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, describes efforts to align the "iron triangle" of requirements, funding, and acquisition in defense modernization efforts. "There are now agile acquisition pathways and contracting authorities like Other Transactions that allow promising new capabilities... for funding and approvals. But getting to program-of-record status -- fully funded within a service budget plan -- and into production remains a long and drawn-out process -- too long, in many cases, for smaller new companies." In 2022, DoD created a new effort called Competitive Advantage Pathfinders, or CAPs. "The CAPs effort is run from the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment in a newly created Acquisition Integration and Interoperability Office. The goal is to flip the equation on process improvement: identify technology potentially useful to multiple military services stuck somewhere in or among the stool/triangle's three legs." In early use cases, "CAPs enabled the Air Force to go from identifying operational need to developing a capability solution available for procurement within 18 months -- a process usually taking several years for a new program." Our defense innovation & modernization efforts need more concrete actions like these to gain speed in our outdated processes. #defenseindustry #defenseinnovation https://lnkd.in/eRhxacc2 

On Defense Acquisition... I came across an insightful article that challenges conventional wisdom within the defense acquisition sector, so I wanted to share it. The focus is on breaking the longstanding 'Iron Triangle' of cost, time, and performance, which has often stifled innovation and efficiency in military procurement. This transformative approach, as detailed in National Defense Magazine, emphasizes flexibility and strategic innovation to enhance the capabilities of our defense systems while delivering on time and under budget. It's a must-read for professionals committed to pioneering change and driving efficiency in complex environments, particularly the defense landscape. Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eUEJNMCH) As we continue to evolve and adapt, it's crucial that we stay informed and ready to embrace new methodologies that promise to advance our operational effectiveness. #Defense #Innovation #DefenseInnovation #AcquisitionStrategy #Procurement #MilitaryProcurement #Innovation #ChangeManagement #DefenseIndustry

The United States Department of Defense and the Minority Business Development Agency - U.S. Department of Commerce recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to increase the participation of minority business enterprises within the defense industrial base: https://lnkd.in/ey8E-Jr8   “This MOU represents a significant step in expanding access to defense contracts for minority business enterprises, ensuring that our supply chain is diverse, resilient, and capable of addressing the demands of our national defense,” said Dr. William LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.   The partnership will leverage DoD and MBDA resources to create pathways for minority business enterprises to integrate into the defense supply chain, focusing on fostering collaboration, business development, and increasing awareness of defense-related procurement opportunities.    #ExpandTheBase #MinorityBusiness #MBDA | U.S. Department of Commerce