Executive Order on Equity and Inclusion

OMB issued an RFI seeking ways to implement.  The third section is on procurement.  I included the link below as well as copied the part of procurement.  My initial thought this is all commendable but how much further than the government push the practice of buying to other areas?  At some point supporting all these policy areas like trade, labor, socioeconomic, competition, employment, etc. as well as extensive performance reporting before agency programs/missions suffer?

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/05/05/2021-09109/methods-and-leading-practices-for-advancing-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through

For Area 3, on procurement and contracting:

The Federal Government is the world's largest purchaser of goods and services, with acquisitions totaling over $650 billion per year. As the Federal Government's purchasing power is used to fight COVID-19, increase domestic productivity, combat climate change, and address other Administration priorities, agencies will need to assess opportunities to invest in underserved individuals and communities by promoting business diversity (including, but not limited to, professional services, financial services, and technology) and resiliency. Agencies will need to assess opportunities to direct more procurement and contracting dollars to underserved individuals and communities so that a broad cross-section of American businesses can share in the jobs and opportunities created by Federal buying activities. Economic research shows that investing in underserved communities and closing racial wealth gaps yields economic growth and job creation that benefits all Americans.

OMB welcomes submissions that address questions such as:

·    How do we achieve equity in a procurement system that must balance competing economic and social goals, including the need to conduct procurements in a streamlined and rapid manner?

·    What kinds of equity assessment tools might agencies use to identify inequity in their standard practices throughout the acquisition lifecycle, including, but not limited to, the development of requirements, market research (including outreach to businesses), selection of contract type, availability of financing, incentive structure, negotiation and evaluation of interested sources, debriefings of unsuccessful offerors, management of contracts, evaluation of contractor performance, and use of past performance in selection of sources?

·    What kinds of tools might agencies use to determine when there is inequity in the award of subcontracts under prime contracts and the cause of such?

·    How might agencies identify opportunities to engage with business owners and entrepreneurs who are members of underserved communities to promote doing business with the Federal Government? What kinds of training and capacity building within agency teams would support equitable procurement and contracting efforts?

·    What kinds of benchmarks and assessment techniques might support equitable procurement and contracting efforts?

·    What kinds of data should agencies collect and use to assess equity in their procurement practices?