What Happened
Defense Acquisition Policy Shifts Away From Industry Partnership
A recent Pentagon memo on supplier cost and pricing transparency has been criticized for undermining Trump executive orders and creating barriers to industry cooperation. The memo, issued by Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, directs the acquisition workforce to reset expectations regarding supplier cost and pricing information. However, critics argue that the memo sends the wrong message to the defense industry and may lead to delays in contract awards and repel opportunities for innovation. According to David Berteau, a former DoD executive and procurement expert, the memo is problematic and unnecessary, as existing laws and regulations already provide robust cost information. This was first reported by Federal News Network.