The House has joined the Senate in passing a bill to modernize federal agency acquisition practices by building on lessons learned in the DHS Procurement Innovation Lab. The measure, S-583, “encourages reform by identifying and promoting best practices to modernize how the federal government operates, including with regard to small business participation in the federal marketplace,” a congressional summary says.
It calls on DHS to develop guidance and training to improve procurement methods based on the innovation lab’s work, which it said focuses on “lowering barriers to entry for small businesses and non-traditional vendors, encouraging competition, shortening time to award, and increasing the likelihood of successful outcomes under contract performance.”
The measure would require the lab to issue an annual report on its business projects while requiring OMB’s Office of Federal Procurement Policy to identify and disseminate best practices in modernizing federal contracting. The summary said the lab already supports all DHS components and has been invited to conduct training events for OFPP and other agencies.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight and Reform Committee has approved:
* HR-6497, to update the Federal Information Security Management Act to emphasize next generation security principles like a risk-based paradigm, zero trust principles, endpoint detection and response, cloud migration, automation, penetration testing, and vulnerability disclosure programs.
* HR-5962, to require training in risk management and security threats to supply chains for federal officials involved with acquisition.
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