Articles | National Defense Magazine

Problems Persist with Commercial Item Rule

On Jan. 31, the Defense Department published a final rule regarding commercial item purchasing. Among other amendments, the rule modifies the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement by: formalizing a presumption of commerciality for items that the department previously treated as commercial; providing commercial treatment to items offered by nontraditional defense contractors; and prioritizing the types of information that the contracting officer can consider when determining price reasonableness in the absence of adequate competition.

Congress Pushes Stronger ‘Buy American’ Rules

Back in November, this column reported on several developments related to President Donald Trump’s “Buy American” executive order, which set forth a policy to “maximize … use of goods, products and materials produced in the United States” through federal procurements.

HASC Chairman Urges Compromise to Reach Budget Deal

With a budget deadline quickly approaching, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee urged politicians on both sides of the aisle to compromise on controversial issues in order to pave the way for an increase in defense spending.

As Budget Deadline Looms, Top Lawmaker Sees Congress Heading Toward a 'Brick Wall'

The ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee expressed doubt that Congress will reach an agreement on fiscal year 2018 appropriations before the latest continuing resolution expires.