18 to 24 months—that’s how long it typically takes to move Army contracts from requirements to award. But today’s Army is working to reduce the time to fewer than six months. Discover ways acquisition leaders are accelerating software innovation and how shifts in accountability can unlock new possibilities for government-industry partnerships.
It’s clear that rapid change is needed; taking up to two years to award contracts is inefficient and hampers the effectiveness of the final product. In that span of time, conflicts flare and resolve. Basic requirements change. Technologies that shape global society come and go. And all that time, contracts between government and industry are often still moving through the paperwork process. And then what? A multiyear delivery cycle begins with a focus on technical requirements based on long-expired conditions.
Today, the Army is reimagining the culture of buying and delivering modern software. The service has created the Digital Capabilities Contracting Center of Excellence (DC3oE) and is updating Army contracting playbooks in near-real time with tight industry collaboration.
For the Army, it’s clear that acquisition agility involves far more than increased speed from requirements to award; it’s an end-to-end commitment to accelerated, flexible delivery with a sharp focus on mission outcomes. Here, we explore next-generation mission agility and key principles that can speed the journey to an outcomes-based approach.