Army plans review of what and how it buys

Army officials have tasked an independent panel with an in-depth review of how it buys goods and services and who makes the purchases.

Army officials have tasked an independent panel with an in-depth review of how it buys goods and services, as well as who makes the purchases, according to a May 26 announcement.

Army Secretary John McHugh commissioned a study to examine a full range of acquisition practices. The review will look at the service’s acquisition organizations and its workforce, as well as its policies and processes. It also will analyze important practices from drawing up a contract’s requirements to managing acquisition programs.


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Army officials said the primary goal is to provide a plan for near-term actions that will improve the service's acquisition process. The analysis will build on reforms from the Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act, which became law in 2009, officials said.

The independent panel that conducts the review will be lead by Gil Decker, former Army acquisition executive, and retired Army Gen. Lou Wagner, who once served as the Army deputy chief of staff for research, development and acquisition and later as commander of the Army Materiel Command.