Center for Government Contracting News

What happens when the government lets AI decide—and industry pushes back? The Baroni Center is tackling a question that isn’t if—but when.

Federal acquisition leaders are under growing pressure to move faster. Agencies are being asked to modernize procurement operations, reduce procurement administrative lead time, and process increasingly complex acquisitions with a workforce that is often stretched thin. At the same time, proposal volumes continue to increase, technical submissions are becoming more sophisticated, and evaluators are expected to absorb massive amounts of information under compressed timelines. Against that backdrop, it is not surprising that agencies are beginning to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could assist the source selection process.

Weapon system operational readiness has been on a steady decline over the last two decades. This decline in readiness rates has been highlighted by the General Accountability Office, the DOW Inspector General, and DOW officials at various levels. Many of the issues affecting readiness are systemic. They are also fixable.

So much to share. The excitement continues. Whether it's new to you or you just want another chance to look back over the past three months, here's the Update for you.

Overall, industry and government need to be educated on the flexibilities of OTAs and how they can operate if used correctly. Education should not be singularly directed to industry or government but to all on an acquisition team, which includes both buyers and sellers.

For decades, federal acquisition policy has been clear that fixed-price contracts are generally preferred when requirements are well-defined, consistent with long-standing guidance in FAR Part 16. That principle has remained largely stable across administrations and acquisition reform efforts. The Executive Order on Promoting Efficiency, Accountability, and Performance in Federal Contracting, published April 30, 2026, does not change that principle but, instead, drives how consistently it is applied across the enterprise. By increasing approval requirements and justification expectations for non-fixed-price contracts and directing agencies to reassess existing portfolios, the Executive Order signals a shift toward more deliberate and structured use of contract types. The practical implication is a move toward closer alignment between policy intent and acquisition behavior.

This webinar will focus on the top issues coming from the RFO rewrite that affect government buyers with perspective from OMB/OFPP and FAR Council leadership to offer clarity about intent behind some of the most impactful changes and how agencies should be interpreting them.

The rulebook that governs how federal agencies buy is changing and the implications for the government contracting industry will be historic and systemic.

The United States possesses extraordinary military firepower and the finest service members in the world. Yet history and current events remind us that American success in war has always depended on the strength of our industrial base. Similarly, the reliability and creativity of our industry hinge on information systems and supply chain security.

“In an era of constant change, America’s government and industry must collaborate like never before,” said Mike Derrios, executive director of the center. “The Baroni Center exists to make that collaboration possible.”