The Key Challenges for Federal Procurement

As reported on Federal News Radio, a new cybersecurity bill introduced in the Senate includes a focus on federal procurement deficiencies. The bill would "order agencies to make sure they buy genuine products from vendors with a secure supply chain." The sources calling for stricter federal procurement measures are numerous: the Obama administration's Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative, the Federal CIO's 25-Point Plan for federal IT reform, even the "green" movement, just to name a few.

As Appian's VP of Sales Chris O'Connell writes on AOL Government, "Nowhere is the need for improvement and reform greater than in the federal procurement process." Chris is well-versed on the this topic, as he has been instrumental in the deployment of Appian's Acquisition Business Management solution for customers including DISA, the U.S. Marines, the GSA and more.

The problem today, Chris continues, is that federal procurement teams "are hamstrung from being able to answer even the most basic Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) audit questions, in terms of the procurement and delivery of services."

The article goes on to outline the five most crucial challenges that face federal procurement pros. Transparency and speed in the procurement process are both on the list, of course, but so are issues like ensuring that procurement processes and systems spur competition in contract bids, and using modern systems as a lure for the next generation of dedicated federal contracting employees.

The article closes with some real-world success stories of how Appian federal customers are transforming their procurement systems with BPM software.

Check out Chris' full article.

Ben Farrell