January 28, 2025

Jonathan Mostowski, President of Agile Acquisitions and former US Digital Service Strategist, outlines transformative strategies to modernize federal acquisitions and overcome entrenched challenges. He introduces a bold approach to turning expiring funds into innovation opportunities by establishing a pool of non-expiring funds dedicated to advancing projects caught in the "valley of death"—the gap between prototyping and operational deployment. This fund would give agencies the flexibility to invest in mid-cycle ideas and innovations without the constraints of traditional fiscal cycles.

Jonathan also highlights the potential of expanding Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) to all federal agencies, moving beyond their current limited scope. By granting agencies the flexibility that OTAs provide, he argues, the federal government can significantly accelerate the pace of acquisitions while fostering innovation. Drawing on the Department of Defense’s success with OTAs, Jonathan suggests that broader access to these authorities could streamline acquisition processes across government.

Another critical area he addresses is the federal protest process, proposing a pre-trial-style review system to filter out frivolous protests, reduce delays, and foster better collaboration between vendors and agencies. He emphasizes that improving transparency during debriefs is essential to help contractors understand why their proposals were unsuccessful and to enhance the quality of future bids. Jonathan recounts a personal experience of guiding a struggling contractor to improve its proposals, demonstrating the value of open communication in federal contracting.

Drawing from his book, Leading Agile Acquisitions, Jonathan provides actionable insights for driving cultural and procedural reforms in government procurement. He also reflects on the recent rebranding of the US Digital Service to the US "Doge" Service, seeing it as an opportunity to refocus the agency’s efforts on addressing longstanding blockers to progress while aligning with its original mission. With practical recommendations and a focus on collaboration, Jonathan’s insights offer a roadmap for transforming federal acquisitions into a more innovative and efficient system.

Key Takeaways:

1. Jonathan proposes a groundbreaking approach to addressing the "valley of death" in federal funding by creating a pool of non-expiring funds. This controlled resource would allow agencies to invest in mid-cycle ideas and innovations without the constraints of expiring fiscal-year budgets, enabling greater agility and supporting long-term project success.

2. He advocates for making OTAs available to all federal agencies, not just a select few. With OTAs’ proven success in fostering flexibility and efficiency at the Department of Defense, broader access could empower agencies to implement innovative solutions, streamline acquisitions, and adapt more effectively to evolving needs.

3. To reduce delays and encourage collaboration, Jonathan suggests a pre-trial-style review process for filtering out frivolous protests while improving the debrief process. By providing contractors with detailed feedback on why they were unsuccessful, agencies can foster healthier competition and improve the quality of future proposals, benefiting both vendors and government operations.

Read Jonathan's LinkedIn post here!