Competitive Guidelines

Yesterday we brought you word of a memo from Frank Kendall, the Pentagon's top acquisition official, on new plans to increase competition:

The Defense Department has announced a series of steps designed to bolster competition for contracts, a top acquisition official says in a new memorandum.

The memo, signed by Frank Kendall, the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, notes that the Pentagon has not been meeting its competition goals for four years. "In fact, we have experienced a declining competition rate, and we must take action to reverse this trend," it states.

The memo announces the creation of guidelines that address best practices for developmental programs, weapon system production, commodities contracts and service acquisitions.

"These guidelines are intended to provoke thought about the various approaches that may be used to competitively fulfill DOD requirements," the memo states. "The techniques and examples should be considered in developing acquisition strategies."

Turns out Kendall's office also released this yesterday, which goes along with the memo:

Pentagon Guidelines On Maintaining A 'Competitive Environment'

The August 2014 document, issued by the Pentagon acquisition directorate, outline new steps for "creating and maintaining a competitive environment for supplies and services in the Department of Defense."