Challenging Industry to Innovate! How the Government Can Apply Transparency, Collaboration, Unencumbered Communication, and Dynamic Engagement Through Challenge-Based Acquisition
Abstract
The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Telecommunications Advanced Research and Dynamic Spectrum Sharing Systems (TARDyS3) program demanded new ideas and novel approaches for sharing electromagnetic spectrum between the Department of Defense and commercial industry. To solve this problem, DISA created an acquisition structure that focused on building transparency, collaborating, and actively communicating with industry across the entire acquisition. This focus on dynamically engaging vendors and encouraging innovation allowed DISA to rapidly deploy high-quality and user-approved capabilities. Dynamic engagement involves a two-way exchange of ideas, listening to industry by seeking input and conveying the governments ideas and motivations to potential vendors while innovation centricity consists of encouraging vendors to solve problems with unique solutions provide a framework for future acquisitions. Dynamic engagement, coupled with innovation centricity, powerfully engages the vendor community to solve hard problems. Combining innovation with communication creates a vendor community that is motivated to meet the governments needs, and it accelerates risk mitigation. Furthermore, it can improve product quality and shortens delivery timelines at a reasonable price. For these reasons, future programs should consider incorporating dynamic engagement and innovation-centric approaches at the core of their acquisition strategies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 06, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1173414
Entities
People
- Adam Bouffard
- Craig Carlton
- Justin Raines
- Kasey Pugh
- Ryan Novak
- Vanessa Mccollum
Organizations
- MITRE Corporation