GSA official says 'Get It Right' procurement effort set to succeed
New program is designed to encourage compliance with acquisition rules and regulations.
A senior General Services Administration official said Tuesday that the new Get It Right program, designed to encourage compliance with acquisition laws and regulations, will stand apart from other efforts because it is being implemented throughout the agency and is backed by top GSA officials.
"What is different about Get It Right is that it is a consolidated effort across GSA," said Donna Bennett, GSA's Federal Supply Service administrator, during the Excellence in Government conference in Washington. "It is directed from the highest levels of our organization."
The annual conference is sponsored by Government Executive and the Council for Excellence in Government.
The campaign was launched earlier this month as a joint effort between Defense Department and GSA officials. Deidre Lee, the Pentagon's top procurement official, and GSA Administrator Stephen Perry said the program would tackle government contracting problems and curb the use of shortcuts in the procurement system. A number of contracting deficiencies have been uncovered in technology, military and Iraqi reconstruction contracts.
"We're striving here to achieve a zero-deficiency environment," Perry said. "No exceptions, no excuses."
Bennett said the federal government has made strong advances in the procurement field, and "a lot of wonderful" options are available to federal officials. But with that expanded procurement ability, she said, comes the responsibility to carefully follow regulations.
GSA experts who appeared on a panel at the conference agreed with Bennett and said the new program represents a fundamental change in the way acquisition is handled. Officials touted the transparency and education the new campaign will provide. One GSA official said it is not designed to "play gotcha" with procurement officials but is, instead, an attempt to educate and make the regulations more clear.
Bennett said the goals of Get It Right also include improved monitoring, enhanced communication with the acquisition community, and a better focus on obtaining the 'best value' in government contracts.