The bill seeks to enhance federal acquisition workforce training and update procurement methods to align with current technologies and practices. It proposes a pilot program for experiential learning, cross-functional acquisition training, and adjustments to acquisition thresholds. Additionally, it aims to improve competition in federal contracting by providing guidance on past performance, validating non-government references, and identifying barriers for small businesses. The bill focuses on cost-efficiency and quality in contract awards, small business participation, and conflict of interest procedures, emphasizing the importance of existing funds for effective implementation.
Federal Improvement in Technology Procurement Act or the FIT Procurement Act
This bill addresses various issues related to federal procurement policy and the federal acquisition workforce.
For example, the bill requires
- the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) to establish a pilot program to consider incorporating experiential learning into the Federal Credentials Program, the Federal Acquisition Certification-Contracting Officer’s Representative Program, and the Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers Program;
- FAI to provide information and communications technology acquisition training for certain acquisition workforce members;
- the General Services Administration to assume responsibility from the Office of Management and Budget for developing and implementing an artificial intelligence training program for certain acquisition workforce members;
- the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) to issue guidance on when a wider range of projects, including commercial or non-government projects, should be accepted as relevant past performance so as to increase competition among eligible firms; and
- the OFPP to implement regulatory and other non-legislative actions, based on input from the Chief Acquisition Officers Council and the public, to remove barriers to entry for small businesses seeking to participate in federal government procurement.
The bill also increases the simplified acquisition threshold from $250,000 to $500,000 and the micro purchase threshold from $10,000 to $25,000. (The federal government uses less complex procedures for the purchase of property and services valued below the simplified acquisition threshold. Purchases below the micro purchase threshold generally do not require soliciting competitive quotations if the contracting officer considers the price to be reasonable.)