Can the Gov Finally Hack the FAR? Stan Soloway on Real Acquisition Reform

Today we dive into the transformative potential of a new executive order that could finally shake up the federal acquisition system. Francis is joined by Stan Soloway, President and CEO of Celero Strategies and former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Reform, for an insightful conversation on what the executive order really means—and why it could be a rare turning point after decades of inertia.

Soloway peels back the rhetoric surrounding the EO and homes in on its substantive goals: modernizing the bloated and outdated 2,000-page Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and re-centering government procurement around commercially available software. He explains how this could revive FAR Part 12—the original commercial buying framework—and outlines why past reform attempts fizzled. Stan also highlights the critical role of investment in human capital and tech infrastructure, noting that meaningful change won’t happen without it.

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