This message plays out in the constantly evolving relationship between program managers and contracting officers. Program managers define requirements based upon missions they are tasked to achieve. Government buyers should have every motive to please their customers. Accordingly, it seems natural that government buyers might disregard the policies to achieve greater customer satisfaction. As a general rule, this makes sense.
Customer service comes first, Congressionally mandated procurement policies finish second.
But it is not enough for our procurement professionals to focus on satisfying the program manager or the end user. Procurement involves the expenditure of public funds. I do not mean to suggest that the federal procurement system must be slow, ponderous, or inefficient. In fact, DLA demonstrated that it has the ability to move quickly to meet the Army's stated needs. Nor do I suggest that the procurement process should be less than responsive to program managers.