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The end of 1102s


formerfed

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JAIC now is into contract writing systems.  With these capabilities, agencies won’t need a lot of 1102s.  This is from a recent announcement 

https://tradewindai.com/wp-content/uploads/TW-21-0008-AI-Powered-Contract-Writing-System.pdf

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The JAIC is seeking an AI-powered and automated contract management solution that will perform end-to-end contracting functions, to include activities prior to and after executing contracts with commercial and/or non-commercial entities, and includes AI abilities in order to transform and accelerate contracting and associated acquisition business processes.

This is one of the user stories from the project

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As a Contract Officer and Contract Specialist, I will have access to automatically generated FAR based contracts and agreements award documents and associated obligation of funds.
- As a Contract Officer and Contract Specialist, I will have access to automatically generated non- FAR based contracts and agreements award documents and associated obligation of funds.
- As a Contract Officer and Contract Specialist, I will have access to automatically generated solicitation/request for information (RFI) documents with automated posting capability to third party platforms, such as betaSAM, GSA E-Buy, TradeWind portal, etc.
- As a Contract Officer and Contract Specialist, I will have access automatically generated CARs/FPDS upon award with minimal input.
- As a Contract Officer, Contract Specialist, and Procurement Analyst, I will manage and track award lead times/milestones.
- As a Contract Officer and Contract Specialist, I will receive and align funding packages (i.e. MIPRs, Purchase Requests) to contract actions.

If this happens, which I assume it will whether it’s from this effort or another, program offices will question why 1102s are even needed

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Just now, ji20874 said:

I hope my value in my career has been more than document assembly.

I'm sure it has been!

Every solicitation and contract includes involves unique provisions and terms that someone must develop and write. I don't think we're close to automating the preparation of such material. I have long believed that contract specialists can provide value added by writing or helping to write statements of work. Someone must assist program offices in the development and description  of evaluation factors, and write proposal preparation instructions.

And there is much more to contracting than document preparation.

But there are many micro-purchases and simplified acquisitions, tens of thousands, that could and should be automated.

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I know all this is really a long way off.  But this project is taking a big first step in applying AI to contract writing.  I can see at some point a program manager using AI to write statement of work, evaluation criteria, and solicitation instructions.  Think about a database of governmentwide contracting documents.  The program manager asks questions about their planned contract and gets responses.  They refine questions based on what the AI process gives them.  They continue until they are satisfied.  Then the completed documents are combined with the contract writing portion for a complete solicitation/contract. 

It certainly won’t be capable of dealing with the most complex procurements, at least in the next decade or two.  But it probably could accommodate much of the workload for services.  For example, how much thought goes into writing a SOW for so many of the professional services contracts like studies and analysis, advisory and assistance support, or just staff argumentation?  A means to quickly select from what has already been done across the government can greatly speed up preparation as well as provide a wealth of ideas and best examples.
 

 

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 Vern,

Right now there are lots of guides, instructions, templates, and samples in writing a SOW.  DAU and others have videos.  There are several online courses.  GSA and others post libraries of examples.  

I’m guess a big piece of this or similar projects is taking the logic behind these guides and instructions and use as a basis for “thinking through” the process.  The system also picks and chooses the most pertinent samples and tailors all or parts to the particular need. 

To a person preparing a SOW, the system provides more knowledge and documents to see than from just about any 1102 can produce.  The system produces the SOW based on minimal inputs from the program manager.  In short, it uses artificial intelligence to think and work.

Something that won’t happen tomorrow but in the future
 

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I suspect DoD just wants better contracting writing software, and felt obligated to add a buzz word.  I don't think this document would be much different if AI were swapped out with another trendy tech

"Machine Learning CWS"

"Blockchain CWS"

"Robotic Process Automation CWS"

 

 

Mark my words, some of us will still be 1102s when we see RFIs for

"Open Source CWS" -  My opinion is that this should have happened 20 years ago.  

"Augmented Reality CWS"

"Quantum Computing CWS"

 

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22 hours ago, formerfed said:

But I do see how AI can make everyone’s job easier and more efficient.

My concern will be with regard to the analytics that are the basis for AI.  Maybe my view is too elementary yet when I think about AI I think about the past and current endeavors into contract writing programs (especially those that were controlled CFO's rather than HCA's), then there is SAM.gov and its evolution, and FPDS NG.  And then there was the initial ideas regarding GPE that never materialized.   All said I wonder if the Federal Government has the where with all to actually develop AI into a useful tool.   The FAR is a standardized guiding principle with 30 iterations created by departments and/or agencies not to mention the additional policies that probably number beyond 100.  That is a lot of big data for such a monumental endeavor.

Tongue in check it will be interesting to follow the use of AI as it creates a modification for a commercial item acquisition, whether bi-lateral or unilateral!  Or in reference to another thread in Forum I wonder what AI will view as PALT?

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I'd encourage anyone interested in AI's capabilities and its limitations to read "The Myth of Artificial Intelligence: Why Computers Can't Think the Way We Do." I found it well argued and well written (which makes it an enjoyable read). I've loaned my copy out at the moment, but once I get it back I'll post some relevant excerpts for the community's consideration.

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On 9/24/2021 at 10:13 AM, formerfed said:

I know all this is really a long way off.  But this project is taking a big first step in applying AI to contract writing.

I don't see how this project is different than anything we have already. Sure it has the "AI" wording attached to it but the ability to generate something, based on user's input, is something already in use and have for a long time. We could use something updated for sure, but I don't see anything "intelligent" about the CS/CO "user stories" you posted. 

On 9/24/2021 at 9:48 AM, Vern Edwards said:

But there are many micro-purchases and simplified acquisitions, tens of thousands, that could and should be automated.

Vern is right, but we don't need "AI" for this. Government wide contract's with "ordering officers" or increasing the government purchase card limit to the SAT would suffice. 

On the flip side, if it does replace a lot of CS/CO positions, then great. The ability to copy, paste and hit a button does not make a capable CS/CO. The ability to logically think, taking all available information into account, and making a sound decision does.

Sadly, I have yet to see a program in the government that shrinks the government's workforce, just leaves employees with less to do for the same paycheck.

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34 minutes ago, Constricting Officer said:

Sadly, I have yet to see a program in the government that shrinks the government's workforce, just leaves employees with less to do for the same paycheck.

I’m doubtful of both points, specifically related to contracting and acquisition workforce.

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If it's designed correctly to take over the dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks (ok, maybe 1102s only deal with the dull, not the other two) and then to feed the right information to the 1102 at each decision point for their decision it could be great. AIs have a relative advantage in some areas and humans have a relative advantage in others (and those areas are likely to change as AIs get more advanced).

But imagining giving the AI a big database of existing government contracts to learn from reminds me of this: Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal - Rise of the Machines (smbc-comics.com)

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