February 09, 2023Â RELEASE 23-017 NASA Launches New Framework for Procurement Ideas, Solutions
NASA is now seeking procurement ideas and solutions to encourage innovation from diverse perspectives, improve reach, reduce barriers, and ultimately meet and exceed agency goals. The NASA Acquisition Innovation Launchpad (NAIL), managed by the agencyâs Office of Procurement, is now online, and submissions of inquiries and ideas will be accepted on a rolling basis. âThis new framework is an exciting step forward as NASA streamlines its procurement activities, and weâre looking for responses from our workforce, as well as industry,â said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. âThe launchpad is a safe space for anyone, including, but not limited to, contractors, engineers, and program managers of any level, to field and test ideas in a collaborative and managed risk-taking environment to help us improve life for everyone on the planet.â Whether individuals want to point out bottlenecks in the agencyâs processes that slow down or block procurements, recommend tools that increase quality or speed, provide ideas to reduce the burden on industry or barriers to entry, or want to offer outside-the-box thinking to optimize activities within procurement work, NASA wants to hear about it. âThe NASA Acquisition Innovation Launchpad will serve as a dynamic catalyst for innovation in both procurement and program management processes, tools, and techniques,â said Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer and Assistant Administrator for the Office of Procurement at NASA Karla Smith Jackson. âThe NAIL will apply NASAâs culture of exploration and innovation to the acquisition life cycle and empower our acquisition workforce to meet objectives and challenges such as NASAâs Moon to Mars exploration approach.â The NAIL framework is designed to facilitate innovative acquisition techniques and smart program management tools. It provides avenues for managed risk-taking through the submission, review, prioritization, approval, and measurement of agency testbed efforts submitted by innovation champions across the agency. NASA spends approximately $21 billion or 85% of its budget on acquiring goods and services. The agency aims to use NAIL to further establish a bridge for industry input through public focus groups and industry feedback. NASA seeks to provide open and transparent communication through integrated groups and councils across the enterprise with voices from each of its centers and industry partners. If you are interested in being a part of future NAIL focus groups, please submit your contact information to: https://www.nasa.gov/office/procurement/nail-industry-interest -end- |