Implementation of Major System Acquisition Process--A-109--Is Inconsistent Among Civil Agencies

The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Circular A-109, the major federal acquisition process, has been implemented slowly by four major agencies and sometimes inconsistently with the concepts set out by the Commission on Government Procurement. Of the agencies reviewed, only National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) officials have seemed to support the concepts and have given high priority to revising their acquisitions policies. The new policy specifies systematic determination of budgeting, contracting, and managing problems, and mission needs; direction of agency-related research and development; top-level management involvement in setting needs and goals; communication with Congress early in the procurement process; and correlation of agency needs and goals with acquisitions. The policy also requires improvement of opportunities for innovation in new systems design by the private sector; fostering contractual competition as long as possible in the procurement process; and avoiding premature commitments to full-scale development and production. In addition to an unenthusiastic reception, there have also been acquisition directives by the agencies which have conflicted with Circular A-109.