New Executive Orders on Improving Acquisitions, Permitting, and Technology

On the procurement side of things, it is surprising that any business gets done when dealing with the behemoth that is Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Broken down into 53 unique parts across 2034 pages, the problem to be solved becomes clear. The EO on "Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement" requires that GSA amend FAR within 180 days to "contain only provisions required by statute or that are otherwise necessary to support simplicity and usability, strengthen the efficacy of the procurement system, or protect economic or national security interests." This will reduce the amount of red tape that has become all too common in federal procurement activities.

These planned changes to FAR are looking to be an improvement for those looking to do business with the Federal government. With the numerous requirements that need to be considered in bids, proposals, contract performance, pricing, and reporting, we should expect to see progress on the accessibility front. The federal acquisition landscape is often dominated by larger players that have the means to navigate these complexities – as the changes start rolling out it will be nice to see an environment that lends itself to less overhead and more competition.

Here are the dates and milestones to track (from 4/15/2025):

• Within 15 days, identify officials from each agency to support GSA on this effort.
• Within 20 days, have an OMB memo with implementation guidance that ensures consistency and alignment of policy objectives. Additionally, the OMB memo will include supplemental regulations and internal guidance that promote expedited and streamlined acquisitions.
• Within 180 days, FAR amendments completed.

GSA and the FAR Council will operate in a support role until the final rules reforming the FAR are published. Their mission is to provide deviation and interim guidance during this transition state.

Another area to highlight in this memo is adherence to the ten-for-one requirement that comes out of EO 14192. Now I'm sure you're asking, "what is the ten-for-one requirement?" Well, here it is:

(a) Unless prohibited by law, whenever an executive department or agency (agency) publicly proposes for notice and comment or otherwise promulgates a new regulation, it shall identify at least 10 existing regulations to be repealed.

This is another example of a continued push to tear down the layers of government red tape that have built up over the years.

So what is happening with the EO "Updating Permitting Technology for the 21st Century?" In summary, it is another push to bring efficiency into government environmental review and permitting activities. This will be driven by the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) with the Permitting Technology Action Plan being the primary goal. 

Organizations that build tools supporting review activities and project management should be prepared to demo and sell into the federal government space. Understanding any regulatory, certification, or authorization-based requirements will be key in becoming a primary consideration in tool selection. The tools selected will drive the technology modernization efforts described in the EO. With the fast-moving timelines, a prepared vendor will show a distinct market advantage when being considered as part of the Action Plan.

There are a few important dates and milestones here as well (from 4/15/2025):

• Within 15 days, the Chairman of CEQ will begin the design and prototype tool testing that will support the development of the Action Plan.
• Within 45 days, issue the Action Plan.
• Within 90 days of the plan being issued, the implementation of the data and technology standards begins, as well as minimum functional requirements identified in the Action Plan.

Through these actions the expected outcome is to see a more effective evaluation process come into play when dealing with environmental permits. By integrating modern technologies into government, the goal is to reduce the delays in key infrastructure projects and remove existing bottlenecks. The days of paper-based applications and legacy technology slowing the speed of government action is being pushed aside.

Industry should continue tracking these developments as the government continues to look at private sector solutions to solve public sector problems. There is always going to be an expectation of red tape when dealing with government, but the shift in mindset of the current administration continues to push us in the direction of cost-savings, efficiency, and streamlining how government operates.