Bill Overview
Title: AGILE Procurement Act of 2022
Description: This bill addresses federal procurement policy and barriers to entry in federal contracting. Specifically, the bill requires the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) to pilot a program for entry of junior and mid-career professionals to the General Schedule Contracting series workforce, including by (1) considering the inclusion of program participants from other job series and fields, and (2) providing alternatives to education and training requirements for entry into the General Schedule Contracting series workforce. The Federal Acquisition Institute must (1) incorporate experiential learning into the training framework for the General Schedule Contracting series, and (2) provide a cross-functional information and communications technology acquisition training program to acquisition workforce members involved in acquiring information and communications technology. The OFPP shall issue guidance (1) to inform executive agencies on the availability of streamlined and alternative procurement methods for procurement of information and communications technology; and (2) on when a wider range of projects, as well as government projects, should be accepted as relevant past performance. The OFPP must (1) convene a working group or an appropriate existing body to make recommendations to reduce barriers to entry for entities seeking to do business with the federal government, and (2) expand a pilot program to use noncompetitive procedures for certain follow-on contracts to qualified businesses wholly owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
Sponsors: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Target Audience
Population: people involved in federal procurement and contracting
Estimated Size: 700000
- The bill aims to streamline federal procurement processes, potentially affecting all companies that contract with the federal government.
- Efforts to reduce barriers for entry into federal contracting can increase opportunities for small to medium-sized enterprises.
- The bill provides alternative entry paths into government contracting jobs, potentially affecting job seekers and current federal employees.
- There is a focus on information and communications technology, which will affect companies and professionals working in or with this sector.
Reasoning
- The policy's main target group includes federal employees involved in procurement and contracting, and companies looking to either maintain or gain federal contracts.
- Individuals from both small to medium-sized enterprises and large corporations could experience the impact through the proposed measures to reduce entry barriers.
- Current federal employees in procurement could see changes in workload and job expectations.
- Job seekers might find new opportunities through alternative pathways into government roles.
- The focus on ICT (Information and Communication Technology) is likely to particularly affect contracting opportunities and training in that sector.
- Given the budget, the number of individuals directly affected in the first year might be in tens of thousands.
Simulated Interviews
Federal Contracting Officer (Arlington, VA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could streamline some of our processes, which are currently bogged down by bureaucracy.
- I'm hopeful that the inclusion of diverse professionals will bring fresh perspectives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Software Developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This might open up new business opportunities for startups like ours.
- It's always been difficult to break into federal contracts, so this change is welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Government Procurement Consultant (Austin, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- These updates keep the federal government adaptable and innovative.
- Reduced entry barriers are crucial for staying competitive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
IT Manager (Chicago, IL)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hopefully, this brings additional skilled experts into technology procurement.
- It might integrate more ICT advancements into our operations sooner.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
CEO of a Medium-sized Technology Company (Seattle, WA)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Streamlining procurement can make federal contracts more accessible for companies like ours.
- Reduces tedious paperwork and could increase our competitive advantage.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Senior Federal Employee in Procurement (Washington, DC)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Encouraging entry of mid-career professionals can infuse new talent.
- I'm concerned about how alternative pathways might impact procurement quality.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Entrepreneur (Denver, CO)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is excellent for new businesses like mine that struggle with initial contracts.
- Simplifying processes can help us navigate federal requirements more easily.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Policy Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could level the playing field for non-profits entering the federal space.
- Ensure these adaptations don't compromise the strict standards needed in federal procurements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Software Engineer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Engaging more talents via alternative paths could boost innovation in federal projects.
- It could lead to a more diverse workforce, benefiting our contracts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Graduate Student in Public Administration (Boston, MA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could open doors for my career in federal contracting.
- I see potential for personal growth within government roles it's designed to support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $31000000, High: $73000000)
Year 3: $54000000 (Low: $32000000, High: $76000000)
Year 5: $58000000 (Low: $35000000, High: $81000000)
Year 10: $66000000 (Low: $39000000, High: $92000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $140000000)
Key Considerations
- Initial implementation costs could be high compared to anticipated savings, requiring proper management.
- ICT-specific training might lead to uneven benefits across federal contracting sectors.