The Defense Department’s Defense Innovation Unit Experimental has published a guidebook in efforts to help agencies create contracting vehicles that could optimize time and costs required to acquire technology, DoD News reported Friday.
Rick Docksai writes DIUx’s website offers free access to the 99-page guidebook titled “Fast, Flexible, and Collaborative: The Commercial Solutions Opening and DIUx’s Approach to Other Transactions for Prototype Projects.”
Lauren Schmidt, DIUx pathways director, said the organization published the guidebook to encourage other agencies to build on DIUx’ CSO process, Docksai reported.
DIUx established the CSO mechanism as part of efforts to deliver new technologies to warfighters amid defense budget constraints.
DIUx uses CSOs to solicit proposals, award contracts and acquire prototypes of emerging technologies within 59 days.
The organization looks to expand the use of CSOs across DoD since defense organizations currently need an Other Transaction Authority to acquire prototypes via CSOs, the report stated.
The 2017 National Defense Authorization Act may authorize agencies with Federal Acquisition Regulations-based contracts to procure prototypes through CSOs, Docksai wrote.
