Return to Article: Homeland bureau tests new acquisition strategy

By Kimberly Palmer kpalmer@govexec.com June 13, 2005
  • 10456

    I echo the comments of the previous posters. With one addition: Does Mr. Ely really think most workers have their own printers on their desks? Hello, Mr. Ely, we're in the G-O-V-E-R-N-M-E-N-T!

    Where does this man come from, anyway?

    Alfredo Posted June 21, 2005 12:27 AM
  • 10405

    Well, they might be buying us body armor under this new and "improved" system. It sure would be nice if they would actually deliver it. Is 3 months late on top of a promised 12 week delivery an improvement? Glad to hear the procurement people are happy.

    GovExec.com reader Posted June 16, 2005 5:50 PM
  • 10400

    "You don't want to fall on your face in the first sourcing pilot. If you hit the wrong thing, [or] anything contentious in the workforce--cell phones, copiers, things that mean a lot to the masses--you don't want to start there," said Ely.

    Right, better to start with something like body armor. Hey, buy the wrong thing and only the dead, the maimed and their families are upset. It's not like it has a BIG impact.

    GovExec.com reader Posted June 16, 2005 3:05 PM
  • 10351

    Why does Mr. Ely believe that buying Body Armor is relatively simple? Just because its not electronic doesn't mean it's not complex. A life saving critical item would require extensive special testing and qualification, not to mention strickly monitored and enforced product quality inspections.

    One body armor failure could bring the entire aquisition process into question.

    Seems like a copy machine might have been a better choice for this aquisition pilot.

    Concerned Citizen Posted June 14, 2005 1:30 PM
  • 10346

    Perhaps your editor left out this part, but when someone is purchasing body armor that is the difference between life or death for the men and women in his agency, I would expect him to say that his first priority was to find the best quality, most effective armor--not that he is looking for a simple product and making a political decision concerning small vs large suppliers.

    GovExec.com reader Posted June 14, 2005 10:10 AM

Post a Comment

To post a comment, you must provide a name and a valid e-mail address. Messages must be limited to 400 words. By using this Service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although Government Executive does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.

Homeland bureau tests new acquisition strategy
*
*
*
Vendors Solutions Center