Advocacy Policy Priorities

Priority 1. Advocate for increased and unrestricted funds for innovation and technology purchases and contracts

a. Increase funding for IT modernization, technology transition, and innovation funds

b. Increase R&D investments in commercial and dual-use technologies

CURRENT LINES OF EFFORT: TECH FUNDING

  • Increase funding for the Technology Modernization Fund and streamline restrictions on use

  • Establish and fund the Scaling Innovation for the Warfighter Fund

Priority 2. Incentivize and enforce requirements for commercial off-the-shelf acquisition

a. Streamline and expand existing commercial item procurement regulations

b. Expand use of non-traditional procurement methods and incentives across government for tech

c. Ensure acquisition workforce prioritizes commercial tech procurements

CURRENT LINES OF EFFORT: PROCUREMENT POLICY

  • Increase government purchase card limits for commercial software

  • Mandate independent market research and statements of nonavailability for large procurements

  • Increase workforce development resources for acquisition professionals on COTS tech procurement

Priority 3. Modernize SBIR program to maximize commercial transition

a. Expand usage of SBIR to pilot and commercialize dual use technologies

b. Establish funding and incentives to help ensure the best SBIR concepts can transition to program of record and commercial viability

CURRENT LINES OF EFFORT: SBIR

  • Expand SBIR/STTR Open Topic concept to all agencies

  • Expand strategic match programs such as TACFI and STRATFI

  • Prioritize commercialization and venture backing as SBIR criteria

Priority 4. Security clearance and compliance reform to shorten timelines, reduce cost, and improve access

a. Simplify clearance and facility clearance process and requirements for commercial vendors

b. Streamlined and transparent cybersecurity compliance guidelines

c. Enable sponsor organizations for non-traditional company compliance

CURRENT LINES OF EFFORT: SECURITY & COMPLIANCE

  • Ensure that CMMC requirements are not prohibitive for commercial vendors