Prospective US procurement chief outlines proposals

Barack Obama's chosen candidate to lead government procurement has unveiled plans to increase the workforce and improve their skills.

The US president last month nominated Dan Gordon as the administrator for federal procurement policy at the Office of Management and Budget.

Growth in the purchasing workforce "has not kept pace" with the budget, which has steadily increased over the past decade, Gordon told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) at his confirmation hearing this week.

He said: "We need to focus our attention on developing an acquisition workforce... that allows us to meet our mission goals and deliver value to the public. If confirmed, I will strengthen our commitment to their development and training and ensure they have the knowledge and tools necessary to excel."

Other priorities outlined by Gordon include helping deliver $40 billion of procurement savings every year and reducing the number of high-risk deals. These include 'cost-reimbursement' contracts, where the final cost is decided once the job is done. Reliance on this method could be reduced, he said, by improving procurement planning, contract management, defining products and services required and monitoring suppliers.

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