Garfield Sicard

Looks like OMB just gave procurement reform real teeth. Memo M‑25‑31 lays out two clear workstreams: make GSA the default buyer for common goods using Best-in-Class contracts, and transfer procurement functions agency by agency to GSA's oversight. Agencies must now justify any deviation. This changes the playing field. For GovCon teams, this highlights one thing: GSA vehicles will dominate more spend and tighter oversight. If you're offering common commercial products or services, your success depends on mastering schedules like Multiple Award Schedules, OASIS, and the evolving GSA-led contracts. Now is the time to get sharp on contractual vehicles and position accordingly. #GovCon #FederalProcurement #GSA #AcquisitionReform

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One thing I’ve learned over the course of my career in supply chain and logistics management is this: the professionals who remain flexible and continuously expand their knowledge are the ones who create the greatest impact for their organizations. Industries evolve, systems change, and challenges shift daily. The professionals who stay adaptable and keep expanding their knowledge are the ones who help organizations move faster, reduce risk, and stay ahead. When you stay curious and open to change, you’re not just improving yourself, you’re strengthening the entire team. Stay flexible ✅ Keep learning ✅ Stay valuable ✅

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If you are trying to bring veteran-owned businesses into your supply chain, the challenge is rarely intent. It is execution. Most buyers support veteran outcomes in principle. The friction appears when that intent has to move through a real procurement process. Questions emerge quickly. Where do verified veteran businesses come from? How do you engage them fairly? How do you do it without adding risk, delay, or unnecessary administration? The Veteran Industry Portal exists to remove that friction. Launched by the Veteran Business Community (VBC) and Powered by BenchOn, the portal gives buyers a practical way to run expressions of interest, tenders, and workforce requests that are matched directly to verified veteran businesses. It replaces informal networks and manual introductions with a repeatable sourcing process that stands up to scrutiny. The outcome is simple. More work reaches veteran businesses, and buyers spend less time translating good intent into workable procurement. Have a read of the blog link in the comment below to deep dive into how the portal works, the sourcing benefits it provides and why its needed so urgently. #defence #defenceindustry #veteranowned #sourcing #procurement Sam O'Connor MP

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Why Risk Management in Defense Procurement Can’t Be an Afterthought In defense procurement, risk doesn’t just show up on balance sheets—it can impact operations, security, and readiness. Every contract, supplier, and timeline carries a level of uncertainty. And the stakes are high. Here are a few principles shaping how modern defense organizations are approaching risk in procurement: Proactive, not reactive. Risk mitigation starts before the contract is signed—with smarter vetting, scenario planning, and flexibility built into the process. Supplier relationships are strategic. It’s not just about specs and pricing—it’s about trust, reliability, and alignment on mission-critical priorities. Timeliness is a key performance metric. In many cases, an “on time” delivery of a dependable product is more valuable than a perfect one delivered late. Procurement today isn’t just transactional—it’s strategic. And the ability to manage risk well is what separates average supply chains from resilient ones. How are you seeing defense procurement teams evolve in this area?

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The Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution & Delivery (SPEED) Act would bring much needed acquisition reform to the Defense Industrial Base, but the effectiveness will be in the execution. Quite frankly, this bill doesn’t go far enough in establishing the appropriate authorities (link to bill summary is below). A few overall thoughts: 1. Expanding authorities to the PEOs will help, but instead of the JRC (renamed from JROC), OSD would be more effective if they were to establish a small set of domain level requirements and oversight organizations which combines the JRC and RAPID functions with cognizant authority over a specific domain (space, ISR, ships, etc.). 2. These domain specific organizations should provide full oversight from requirements identification through delivery, with the authority to eliminate the program if “gating” criteria are not met. 3. The “valley of death” will never be solved by throwing more money or creating new organization within DIU, AFWERX or similar organizations because the issue is the lack of authority over the Services to transition into a program of record. The authority and domain expertise to bridge the “valley of death” must occur within the same organization or the result is just a shift in bureaucracy, not an elimination of bureaucracy. https://lnkd.in/eFZrjcV7 #DoD #defense #innovation #acquisition

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The Executive Order (EO) on federal procurement is a big deal, and I couldn’t resist breaking it down into bite-sized pieces to make sense of it! 😊 Here’s a quick overview of the key points and direction of the Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement EO, signed April 15, 2025: 👉The U.S. government, the world’s largest buyer of goods and services, relies on the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), a 2,000+ page rulebook. The FAR’s vision, per section 1.102, is to “deliver on a timely basis the best value product or service to the customer, while maintaining the public’s trust and fulfilling public policy objectives.” Yet, federal procurement faces persistent efficiency challenges. The 2024 Senate report “Restoring Freedom’s Forge” and the 2019 Advisory Panel on Streamlining Acquisition Regulations note delays, high costs, and complex processes that hinder effective acquisition. The EO’s policy mandates that the FAR include only provisions required by statute or essential to sound procurement, with all other provisions removed. Key actions include: 📅The Office of Federal Procurement Policy and FAR Council must revise the FAR within 180 days, by October 12, 2025, to eliminate non-essential rules. 📝The Office of Management and Budget will issue guidance by May 5, 2025, to streamline agency acquisition processes. 👉A “ten-for-one” rule requires ten regulations be removed for each new one, aligning with deregulation efforts under EO 14192. ⏩The path forward directs agencies to simplify procurement for cost-effective, timely acquisitions, guided by the 2024 Senate report and 2019 panel findings. The EO aims to reduce bureaucracy and align federal purchasing with the FAR’s vision. This EO sets a clear direction for streamlined procurement. 🌟 #FederalProcurement #Acquisition

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Hot take: Most procurement training is a total waste of time. Why? Because it’s stuck in theory, checklists, and one-off workshops that don’t change behavior. Teams leave with notes, not skills. Here’s the reality 👇 Training without metrics = no impact. Tool demos ≠ strategy. Soft skills like negotiation and influence are ignored. Knowledge fades if there’s no reinforcement. The fix: Make training hands-on, role-specific, and tied directly to procurement KPIs. Blend hard skills with soft skills. Reinforce continuously. 👉 Be honest: What’s the WORST procurement training you’ve ever sat through?

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I was reflecting on past programs and realized something: Behind every successful delivery is a strong procurement and contract strategy. It’s more than a function, it’s a quiet engine that powers operational excellence. By anticipating risks, negotiating key agreements and thinking ahead, procurement protects the organization’s interests while turning challenges into opportunities before most even notice. Procurement and contracts aren’t just processes, they’re the levers that drive timely delivery, supplier innovation, and sustainable value all while contributing to the organization’s bottom line. The strategic force that quietly shapes success. #StrategicSourcing #ContractManagement #RiskGovernance #OperationalExcellence

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The best acquisition leaders don’t just understand contracts. 🧠 They understand people. ♥️ In 15 years, I’ve seen that technical knowledge gets you in the room, but emotional intelligence is what drives outcomes: ✅ Stronger supplier trust ✅ Smoother negotiations ✅ Better team morale ✅ Clearer communication under pressure EQ isn’t soft. It’s strategic❗ And in complex, high-stakes environments, it’s your biggest advantage. 👉 If you want to lead, not just manage — build your EQ. What’s an EQ skill that’s helped you succeed in acquisition or leadership❓ #AcquisitionLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #EQinAction #GovCon #StrategicProcurement #ModernLeadership

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🔍 The difference between procurement and acquisition isn’t just a matter of terminology. It shapes who owns decisions, how fast your teams move, and how much risk you take on. 🔹Businesses use procurement to buy what they need and keep daily operations running. 🔹Governments use acquisition to manage the full life cycle of programs, projects, or services. 🔹Finance teams use acquisitions when they buy companies or major assets. Different goals. Different rules. Different speed. Mix them up, and you get confusion, missed steps, and endless approval ping-pong. Nail the terminology, and your processes run cleaner and faster. 🔗 Here’s the full article to dispel all the confusion: https://hubs.la/Q03YC1Ml0 #Procurement #Acquisition

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Stop guessing, start strategizing! Master Your Procurement Budget with This 7-Phase Framework Phase 1-2: Foundation & Planning - Analyze historical spending, set clear goals, and categorize expenses strategically Phase 3-4: Market Intelligence & Risk Management - Evaluate vendors, understand market conditions, and build contingency plans Phase 5-6: Execution & Performance - Plan negotiations, invest in technology, develop your team, and ensure compliance Phase 7: Communication & Review - Foster collaboration, monitor progress, and document everything Perfect for procurement professionals looking to create more strategic, data-driven budgets that align with business objectives and drive real value. #Procurement #Budgeting #SupplyChain #Finance #BusinessStrategy

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