April 24, 2025
Subscribe and listen anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.
The federal acquisition system is facing a rare moment of genuine opportunity. According to Stan Soloway, President and CEO of
Celero Strategies and former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Reform, a new White House executive order (EO) signals a chance to rethink and modernize the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)—a set of rules that has swelled to more than 2,000 pages over the decades.
Soloway urges stakeholders to look beyond the political soundbites accompanying the EO and instead focus on its real potential. He emphasizes that the EO’s core ambition is to streamline how the government buys goods and services, particularly commercial software. The FAR, he notes, was largely written for an era when the government was the primary buyer in the market. That’s no longer the case, and the rules need to reflect the new reality.
Soloway points out that FAR Part 12—originally crafted to allow commercial item purchases—is a strong foundation that has unfortunately become diluted over time. More than 150 clauses have been layered onto it, many without statutory basis, which undercuts its original intent. These changes deter commercial vendors and non-traditional contractors from participating in federal procurement. “If you want to maintain access to the marketplace,” Soloway says, “you’ve got to maintain the business model that got you access originally.”
He highlights other transaction authorities (OTAs) as a telling example. OTAs were designed as flexible, non-FAR procurement tools but now increasingly resemble FAR Part 12 contracts because of added clauses. As OTAs shift from experimentation to production, they begin to accumulate FAR-based requirements, driving away the very companies they were meant to attract. Soloway argues that this pattern must end if the government hopes to modernize its buying strategies.
Another example he cites is the Federal Aviation Administration’s past blue ribbon commission, which produced a model similar to Part 12. These efforts, he explains, all share a common thread: they offer a path to competitive, transparent, and efficient acquisition—if implemented correctly and preserved in their original spirit.
Soloway also stresses the importance of aligning this policy push with real investment. Automation and artificial intelligence offer enormous potential for routine procurement tasks, but without upgraded equipment and proper workforce training, these tools fall flat. “The opportunity is very real,” he says, “but it must be supported by resource commitments—both human and financial.”
As for the idea of trimming the FAR from 2,000 pages down to just 100, Soloway is skeptical. Still, he believes a reduction to even 500 pages would be a significant win. The key, he says, is not just eliminating what isn’t statutory, but understanding the original intent behind each clause and evaluating its relevance in today’s environment. Buy-in from oversight bodies and the broader acquisition community is critical.
This EO, Soloway concludes, represents one of the best chances in decades to make meaningful acquisition reform a reality. But success depends on thoughtful execution, rigorous analysis, and unwavering commitment.
Please fill out the requested information below