Industry Seeks IT Acquisitions Reform

A major tech industry group is fighting back against the administration's threats to cancel information technology projects by forming a task force to suggest other options.

"In the wake of the Obama administration's decision to halt or review billions of dollars worth of information technology programs, TechAmerica Foundation today announced it will convene a group of experts from industry and academia to provide recommendations for improving the way the federal government purchases and implements IT systems," TechAmerica said in a statement on Wednesday.

At a time when all agencies are trying to do more with less money, the White House increasingly is trying to boost productivity with innovative technologies, but also is curtailing IT projects that are over budget and behind schedule. Office of Management and Budget officials are holding so-called Tech Stat sessions with key agency officials to determine whether major projects should be halted, scaled back or terminated.

The administration already has frozen development of about 30 financial systems -- and the Veterans Affairs Department has yanked nearly 15 projects.

TechAmerica Chairman Phil Bond stated, "Our goal is to develop a road map for transforming IT acquisitions and management, and to produce that road map in time for the administration to consider our findings as they craft a fiscal 2012 budget."

Several prominent management experts and executives will head TechAmerica's new commission, according to a TechAmerica press release:

• Linda Gooden, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin's Information Systems & Global Services
• Steve Kelman, a professor at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.
• Renato (Renny) A. DiPentima, former CEO of SRA International Inc. and presently a senior adviser to Providence Equity Partners
• Christopher R. Yukins, co-director of George Washington University's government procurement law program