PSC Details Industry Priorities as NDAA Conferees Conduct Negotiations

Oct. 31, 2017

Arlington, V.A. (Oct. 31, 2017) – In an Oct. 19 letter to the leaders of the Congressional Armed Services Committees, PSC commended the sponsors of the House and Senate National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs) for creating strong bills that support the men and women in uniform, provide funding for national security, and recognize the important roles and contributions contractors bring to mission success in the Department of Defense. 

“The NDAA is critical to ensuring the Department uses commonsense policies for how it solicits, acquires, and manages services and technology from contractors in the most effective and efficient manner,” said David J. Berteau, PSC president and CEO.  

PSC detailed several recommendations on provisions impacting the contractor community, including those seeking to increase competition and better leverage private sector expertise, prepare the total workforce to meet future mission needs, and help achieve mission results by increasing access to technology and innovation.

“PSC applauds the inclusion of provisions in the House and Senate bills that will improve acquisition outcomes,” Berteau continued, referencing the bill sections that will increase the use of competitions, third-party auditors and enhanced debriefings, enact the Modernizing Government Technology Act, and place requirements on the Department of Defense to measure procurement administrative lead times. 

The letter also raised concerns that some provisions would have a negative impact on contractors and the government, including implementing a “loser-pay” fee for Government Accountability Office protests and imposing new requirements on contractors that are substantially similar to the Congressional Review Act disapproved Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces executive order.     

“PSC hopes the conferees will take these comments into full consideration as they produce a final conference report and we look forward to continuing to work with them as the process continues,” Berteau said.