The Pentagon is seeking ideas for how it can incentivize better performance from defense contractors after a controversial proposal to reduce customary progress payments was quashed last year. Defense Department officials hosted the first of three public meetings on "contract finance policy" yesterday at the Mark Center in Alexandria, VA. Kim Herrington, acting director of pricing and contracting initiatives, told attendees the Pentagon wants to change the "status quo" in contracting and acquisition. "If we can do things faster, if...