Spare Thoughts

Cleaning out the idea refrigerator

1. Last week I wrote about how embracing other transactions might lead to less competition. I stand by that. But I do think the Federal government should maintain multiple pathways to award such that everyone with a good idea can participate. The overuse of targeted solicitations or sole source OT awards will lock out new entrants. So agency leaders need to find ways to offer onramps to new ideas.

2. The lack of real collaboration inside OT consortia has long been a criticism of OT consortia. The Government and Consortium Management Firms need to do a better job. A full embrace of contemporary communication and collaboration spaces is warranted: A Discord Server for every consortium? (I’m serious.)

3. This Dan Davies review of Abundance and Breakneck is really sitting with me, and not entirely comfortably. To what extent are contracting officers performing rent extraction?

4. This closes out my first month writing at Substack. 32 people subscribed and some of my posts got nearly 100 readers. Thank you all who read and subscribed! I’m not a writer by trade, but I do want to my best to get my ideas out. They might not all be good ideas, but I’ll endeavor to keep the hit rate high.