US procurement head urges acquisition leaders to take risks

13 Dec 2010

Source: Federal Computer Week
The Obama administration’s top procurement policy official encouraged government acquisition leaders to be pioneers in their buying and not be stopped by the fear of being “bashed on the head” for it.

Dan Gordon, administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, said he’s on a mission to change the thinking of a generation of acquisition officials who are shy about trying new things. He’s telling agencies that he wants them to be innovative in their approach to purchasing. He urged them to try new avenues for making their purchases, such as reverse auctions, and change how they interact with industry by bringing contractors closer into the procurement process.
“We need to get our people to know that we in the White House will not be punishing them for taking a little bit of a risk,” Gordon said during a panel discussion on procurement in Washington, D.C.

Gordon's comments come a day after he announced a new campaign to counter long-held misconceptions and concerns in the acquisition community. Next year, Gordon and his office intend to launch a large, multimedia crusade to help employees understand what they can do.

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