Proposal Package

Inside the Pentagon reports this morning that the Defense Department wants to make permanent an authority to use simplified acquisition procedures for certain commercial items, claiming in a recent legislative proposal that this authority has been "extremely beneficial" especially in light of the tight fiscal environment:

"This authority, which provides flexibility to streamline acquisition processes for certain commercial items, allows contracting activities to better use their limited resources and provides an essential tool for acquisitions in support of continental United States operations as well as contingency contracting operations outside the continental United States," according to the May 5 legislative proposal.

Under this authority, the Pentagon can use simplified acquisition procedures for commercial items costing less than $5 million.

"The test program provides benefits in terms of reducing lead time and administrative workload and enables faster delivery of much needed supplies and equipment to the warfighter," the proposal continues.

Without this authority, the amount of time it took to execute contract requirements in U.S. Central Command could have doubled, the proposal states, which could have "led to mission failure." In addition, this authority has been useful domestically in response to events like Hurricane Katrina, the proposal states.

Other provisions in the 255-page document include:

* The "redesignation of assistant secretary of defense for operational energy plans and programs to reflect merger with deputy under secretary of defense for installations and environment";

* Language on the DOD deputy chief management officer as well as the DOD chief information officer; and

* Eliminating the deputy under secretary of defense title, among other provisions.