Senate panel holds hearing on procurement policy nominee

Paul Denett, nominated to lead the Office of Management and Budget's procurement policy shop, on Tuesday laid out his likely priorities if confirmed for members of a Senate oversight committee.

In an unfortunate twist of timing, Denett's confirmation hearing took place about the same time as a federal jury convicted David Safavian, the last official to be confirmed in that post, on four felony counts relating to his dealings with former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Denett, whose resume includes acquisition policy positions at the Interior Department and operational contracting experience through positions with the Treasury and Agriculture departments, the Navy and the Army, as well as several years of private-sector work, testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that his extensive experience would allow him to address the challenges facing the federal acquisition community.

Denett said if confirmed as administrator of OMB's Office of Federal Procurement Policy, he would emphasize training for the acquisition workforce and work to improve emergency contracting and the management and transparency of contracts once they are secured.

On competitive sourcing, the administration's often controversial program to consider shifting government work to the private sector through public-private job competitions, Denett said he supported fair and transparent contests and stressed that agencies must track the results of completed competitions.

In opening remarks, Sen. Susan Collins, R.-Maine, chairwoman of the committee, highlighted similar issues and cited additional concerns with the need for greater participation by small businesses in federal contracting, the ethical use of government purchase cards, the Government Accountability Office's assessment of interagency contracting as an area at high risk for fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement, and the need for full and open competition in contract awards.

Jen Burita, a spokeswoman for Collins, said a committee vote on the nomination has yet to be scheduled but will take place "as quickly as possible," and ideally before the Senate breaks for Independence Day recess. She said she was unaware of any significant opposition to the nominee.