An uncertain future for Middle-Tier of Acquisition
Here’s a couple slices from an interesting Breaking Defense article on Middle-Tier of Acquisition (MTA) pathway for rapid prototyping and rapid fielding. First, what’s going […]
appropriations
DoD reprogrammed nearly $5 billion to increase munitions procurement in FY 22 in response to the Ukraine conflict
DoD’s Comptroller puts out budget execution data every quarter in a form called the DD1416s, which basically hasn’t changed since the early 1960s. It details […]
FY 2023 shipbuilding plans-reality mismatch, analysis from CBO
Eric Labs at the Congressional Budget Office provided an interesting presentation at the 2023 Surface Navy Association’s national symposium. He finds that in every year […]
How were projects selected for the APFIT fund to field innovative tech?
The Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) fund was one of the bright spots from FY 2022. It provided $100 million to […]
Problem areas in software and facilities modernization
Here are a couple interesting excerpts from former deputy Comptroller Don Shycoff’s book, The Business of Defense: Historically, procurement appropriations funded equipment for DOD support […]
Event: Funding flexibility & bridging the valley of death
If a company brings a new technology or solution to the Department of Defense, officials have few sources of funding that allow them to capitalize […]
Rep. Mike Gallagher on multiyear procurement, budget, and oversight
Here’s a slice from a great episode of Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula’s Building the Base podcast with Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI). The Pentagon doesn’t […]
Middle-Tier of Acquisition is under serious threat unless oversight can think differently
Here’s an update on Middle-Tier of Acquisition (MTA) authorities and how they are facing serious backlash from oversight. MTAs, of course, provide DoD rapid prototyping […]
Podcast: Getting more for our defense dollars with Fred Bartels and Philip Candreva
I was pleased to be invited for a discussion with Philip Candreva and Frederico Bartels hosted by the Heritage Foundation. Philip is a senior lecturer […]
How DoD’s innovation fund can avoid becoming a slush fund
Back in March, Matt MacGregor and I wrote an article with the provocative title, A bridge fund won’t solve the Pentagon’s emerging tech problem. While […]
Should R&D and Procurement be separated or paired together?
Basically research and procurement are incompatible. New developments are upsetting to procurement standards and procurement schedules. A procurement group is under the constant urge to […]
Is Congress ready to rethink DoD oversight?
Dan Patt: Yeah. Speaking of a fresh look, we found it fascinating that in your report, you recommend changes to the budget and appropriations process to […]
DoD oversight is intimately linked with appropriations structure
… it is time to modernize the way the DoD is resourced with simpler, responsive and flexible appropriations that meet congressional oversight requirements. The DoD […]
Congressional view of oversight and transparency needs an overhaul
I think this provides some color as to why the Air Force’s top priority programs are being cut by congressional appropriators from $302 to $158 […]
The state of blockchain in defense tech
The Committee is aware that distributed ledger technologies, such as blockchain, may have potentially useful applications for the Department of Defense, which include but are […]