Ernst offers bipartisan bill to bolster federal government’s purchase of advanced tech

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) recently introduced a bipartisan bill to improve how the federal government attracts and retains qualified procurement professionals needed to purchase advanced technologies.

“The federal government should be focused on recruiting and retaining skilled procurement specialists within our government agencies, not wasting federal dollars on outsourcing work to costly government contractors,” Sen. Ernst said. 

Sen. Ernst signed on as the lead original cosponsor of the AGILE (Advancing Government Innovation with Leading-Edge) Procurement Act of 2022, S. 4623, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI). The legislation aims to strengthen innovation in the procurement process and increase opportunities for small businesses that want to contract with the federal government, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers. 

If enacted, S. 4623 would require the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Federal Procurement Policy and the General Services Administration to streamline how the federal government purchases commercial technology and would provide specific training for information and communications technology acquisition, the summary says.

“By redirecting efforts to acquire the properly equipped professionals and removing red tape on high-tech small businesses,” said Sen. Ernst, “we will see a more effective and less costly implementation of our advanced technology goals.”

Additionally, S. 4623 would authorize a pilot program that would bring more junior and mid-career professionals into federal procurement; create a working group to decrease government contracting barriers for small businesses; and allow the U.S. Department of Defense pilot contracting program to incentivize employee stock ownership plans, among other provisions, the summary says.

The legislation has garnered support from the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, the Information Technology Industry Council, GovEvolve, the HUBZone Contractors National Council, the Women’s Procurement Circle, and the Women Veterans Business Coalition.