The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is proposing a new circular to improve agency access to reliable acquisition data and information.
The OMB Circular, dubbed Strategic Management of Acquisition Data and Information, would establish a new acquisition data management policy of promoting hi-definition acquisitions under the Better Contracting Initiative (BCI) kicked off earlier this month by the Biden administration.
“The purpose of this Circular is to improve agency access to reliable data and information. Using relevant acquisition data throughout the acquisition lifecycle facilitates successful contracting outcomes,” OFPP wrote in a Federal Register notice on Nov. 17. “This Circular establishes a centralized data management strategy to create robust knowledge and data banks, develop standard data sharing processes, and improve agency access to tools and resources for acquisition-related decision-making.”
The draft circular would establish a new acquisition data management policy of promoting hi-definition acquisitions where agencies are able to acquire supplies or services using acquisition data that is easily accessed and available at the time of need, OMB wrote.
According to the document, the hi-definition acquisition framework aims to promote data interoperability, sharing of acquisition data between agencies, and enterprise-wide data analysis.
Specifically, the circular outlines six focus areas:
- Require agencies to prepare annual strategic plans;
- Build appropriate centralization;
- Promote data-sharing technologies;
- Establish policies for agency collection and sharing of their acquisition data;
- Establish an interagency working group; and
- Facilitate other collaborative actions and workforce development with data management.
The draft document notes that that Federal government has taken significant steps to improve the collection and use of data related to contracting transactions, but that much of important acquisition-related data and information are not being shared governmentwide – or are underutilized, OMB wrote.
“This is often because such information resides in disparate agency systems, include non-standardized data elements and definitions, across public and commercial domains, and therefore are not generally interoperable across agencies,” the draft circular reads.
“For example, line item pricing information may be kept in agency-specific contract writing systems, in one or more payment platforms, or in internal or external databases that are not easily accessible,” it continues. “As a result, acquisition professionals across the Federal government may not have access to key information for contract negotiations or for critical contract management functions.”
OMB is seeking to bridge this gap by establishing a centralized data management strategy to create robust knowledge and data banks that will develop standard data sharing processes and improve agency access to tools and resources for acquisition-related decision-making.
The public has until Jan. 16, 2024, to submit comments on OMB’s new draft circular.
The document came one week after the Biden administration unveiled the BCI – a new plan that aims to generate contract savings while improving the performance of Federal contracts, including those for common enterprise-wide software licenses.
“Under the BCI, the Office of Management Budget is launching a new centralized data management strategy, which will create a Hi-definition framework for sharing and analyzing acquisition data across the Federal enterprise,” the White House announced on Nov. 8. “Improved data-sharing will strengthen acquisition in many ways from enhanced market and supply chain intelligence, to more realistic cost estimates and better solicitations.”
