Senate bill seeks revision to services instruction

The defense policy bill approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee calls on the defense secretary to revise the Pentagon's new instruction on services acquisition.

Early this year, the Pentagon unveiled the instruction, creating a new oversight and review structure for procuring services.

According to the legislation, within six months, the defense secretary would need to revise the instruction to offer guidance on how the acquisition community "should consider the changing nature of the technology and professional services markets, particularly the convergence of hardware and services, in its application of the Services Acquisition Categories Instruction."

Additionally, the revision should reflect a review of the categories of services acquisition as well as a review of existing Pentagon services contracts.

The defense secretary would also be required to issue new guidance on the training and development of the acquisition workforce, particularly those involved in buying services, according to the legislation.

The full Senate is expected to consider the bill this week.