Unisys’ Mark Forman: Government IT Acquisition Oversight Needs Different Approach

Mark Forman, global head of Unisys‘ public sector business, told Government Matters in an interview published Sunday that agency chief information officers should adopt a new approach to monitor federal information technology investments.

He cited a Government Accountability Office report indicating that CIOs oversaw nearly 78K IT procurement transactions that accounted for only $14B out of more than $90B in total recorded contracts.

“We need a different approach here,” said Forman.

“You can’t as a CIO oversee that many transactions. It’s not doable. I’d like to see more focus on a viable acquisition model.”

The former federal CIO made his remarks after the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee unveiled the seventh iteration of its Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act scorecard.

Thirteen federal agencies maintained their ratings while 11 agencies showed progress in the latest FITARA report.