Springfield Standard

Representatives Eric Burlison and Suhas Subramanyam have introduced the Federal Improvement in Technology (FIT) Procurement Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at modernizing federal technology procurement. The proposed legislation seeks to streamline the acquisition process, potentially saving taxpayers millions of dollars annually while enhancing government efficiency.

Current purchasing rules are considered outdated, causing delays and additional costs that burden taxpayers with inefficient processes and obsolete equipment. The FIT Procurement Act proposes raising purchasing thresholds, reducing administrative burdens, and improving training for federal acquisition professionals.

Key provisions of the bill include increasing the micro-purchase threshold from $10,000 to $25,000 to facilitate quicker purchases with less bureaucracy. It also suggests raising the simplified acquisition threshold from $250,000 to $500,000 to allow for faster contracting that benefits small businesses. Additionally, it calls for advanced training for procurement staff to ensure informed purchasing decisions.

Rep. Burlison stated, “The government’s procurement system is slow, outdated, and frustrating,” adding that the act aims to cut through red tape and save taxpayer money by aligning procurement practices with efficient business standards.

Rep. Subramanyam emphasized that the act would help federal agencies access new technologies more easily while cutting costs and minimizing waste. He noted that this bipartisan bill would create more opportunities for small businesses in government contracts while saving tens of millions annually.

The bill previously passed the House with strong bipartisan support during the last Congress session and was unanimously approved by the Oversight Committee. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Senators Ted Cruz and Gary Peters.

Cosponsors of this initiative include Reps. Luna and Lynch. The Alliance for Digital Innovation supports this effort along with several industry groups such as Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), American Consumer Institute (ACI), Professional Services Council, Small Business Roundtable, and Taxpayers Protection Alliance.

Chris Mohr from SIIA commented on how passing the FIT Act would encourage innovation by creating a competitive procurement environment that reduces delays and opens new business opportunities within federal contracting spaces.

The American Consumer Institute praised these reforms as essential for enabling agile procurement practices that could improve service delivery through cloud-based services and AI tools while supporting startups and small tech providers.

The Professional Services Council highlighted Representative Burlison's dedication to saving taxpayer money through expedited outcomes as commendable progress towards modernization in federal acquisitions.