Modernizing the defense healthcare system has never been more front and center for Defense Health Agency (DHA), the Department of Defense's (DOD) primary arm that manages all things healthcare for military service members and their beneficiaries. With acts of war and terrorism arising from overseas and the possibility of having our troops involved in future conflicts, patient healthcare and service preparedness are top priorities for the agency. So, the DHA is looking to work across federal agencies and industry to strengthen its healthcare systems.

Numerous reports by various organizations, including the Government Accountability Office, have consistently found insufficiencies in state unemployment insurance programs. These insufficiencies were laid bare during the COVID-19 pandemic when increased need for such services, combined with an increase in fraudulent activity targeting unemployment insurance programs, overtaxed states’ unemployment insurance systems.

The annual EDUCAUSE conference highlighted higher education technology trends, goals, challenges, and how to identify a way ahead for higher education institutions to be successful in today’s modern world.

Over the last few months, there have been several recent cybersecurity initiatives at the federal level, aimed at bridging gaps in K-12 cybersecurity policy and strategy.

TD SYNNEX Public Sector Receives a $342 Million U.S. Department of the Navy Enterprise Agreement
for Oracle Software and Services

Doing business with federal agencies has unique opportunities and challenges, particularly when it comes to procuring IT solutions.

On one hand, the U.S. federal government is the world’s largest buyer of IT products and services, so there’s a tremendous need. But acquiring those solutions can be arduous, and managing the intricacies of licensing and pricing can be an ongoing burden.

Government agencies strive to lower the cost of products and services to save taxpayers money. They also aim to shorten “procurement administrative lead time,” or PALT—the time from identification of need to delivery of value—to expedite their missions without delay. 

This is part of a podcast series where the TD SYNNEX Public Sector Market Insights team provides insights and analysis on IT opportunities across the public sector. This episode features Kevin Shaker, Senior Manager of Lead Gen & Market Intelligence where he discusses the opportunities around, and how to navigate, the federal government’s fiscal year-end. Listen to the full podcast here.

In successful federal government acquisitions, an agency’s needs are met in the most effective, economical, and timely manner. The key to meeting your acquisition objectives? Proper acquisition planning—which begins well before you write your plan document. In other words, plan first, document later.

Whether deploying a ship or a software application, a new acquisition is only as good as its requirements.

Clearly defining your requirements in the RFP results in a less risky contract opportunity, leading to more competition and lower pricing from vendors. All the nuts and bolts of the opportunity—the many small requirements that make up the larger project—need to be captured in a deliberate, methodical fashion. And for transparency into the scope of the acquisition, the complete set of requirements should be shared with all stakeholders.