Summary

In response to a congressional request, GAO reported on the progress of federal procurement reform under Executive Order 12352 which was designed to establish a system in each agency to manage procurement, simplify the procurement process, develop a professional work force, and increase the use of competition.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has developed a plan and established interagency task groups for guidance design of the system reforms. Further, a procurement executive has been appointed in each agency to manage its procurement system. However, agencies have not given these officials the complete system responsibilities or authority necessary to carry out the procurement reforms.