Thornberry Reform Bill Directs Pentagon to Just Buy Commercial Products Online

[nitpicker]

http://breakingdefense.com/2017/05/thornberry-reform-bill-directs-pentagon-to-just-buy-commercial-products-online/

Thornberry Reform Bill Directs Pentagon to Just Buy Commercial Products Online
By Sandra Erwin
on May 18, 2017 at 12:02 AM

CAPITOL HILL: House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry’s third attempt to improve how the Pentagon buys weapons aims to simplify defense procurement and cut down on waste by using commercial buying methods. It directs the Pentagon to use online marketplaces such as Grainger, OfficeMax or Staples to buy items that currently are acquired through the GSA schedule or through the federal contracting process.
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The first two rounds of procurement reforms in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 focused on big picture organizational issues such as shifting authorities from the secretary of defense to the individual services, and the breakup of the office of the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and technology. This latest proposal digs deeper. Notably, it takes a big shot at the GSA schedule, which has been regarded as a simplified approach to buying commercial items. The HASC concluded that GSA schedule prices are inflated due to red tape. It has become increasingly complex and expensive for vendors to get on the GSA schedule, which drives many potential bidders away from the government market, the aides noted.

Commercial online marketplaces would offer better and cheaper alternatives, the draft legislation argues, and would allow the Defense Department to get more competitive pricing. Defense officials often complain that vendors overcharge for commercial items, so shifting to online marketplaces would provide more transparency and more accurate pricing data, one of the committee aides said: “In this regard, DOD would operate like any other business.”
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