Notice2024-11864
Acquisition Data Management
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 30, 2024
Issuing agencies
Management and Budget OfficeFederal Procurement Policy Office
Abstract
The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is issuing a Circular entitled "Strategic Management of Acquisition Data and Information." This Circular will improve agency access to reliable data and information at the point of need throughout the acquisition lifecycle to ensure successful contracting outcomes without duplicating data, tools, or effort. The Circular establishes a centralized data management strategy to allow for the creation of more comprehensive knowledge and data banks, the development of standard data sharing processes, and improved access to tools and resources for acquisition-related decision-making in a Hi-Definition Intelligent Acquisition Data Environment.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 105 (Thursday, May 30, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 105 (Thursday, May 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46913-46923]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11864]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
Office of Federal Procurement Policy
Acquisition Data Management
AGENCY: Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and
Budget.
ACTION: Notice of final Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-
137, ``Strategic Management of Acquisition Data and Information''.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) in the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) is issuing a Circular entitled
``Strategic Management of Acquisition Data and Information.'' This
Circular will improve agency access to reliable data and information at
the point of need throughout the acquisition lifecycle to ensure
successful contracting outcomes without duplicating data, tools, or
effort. The Circular establishes a centralized data management strategy
to allow for the creation of more comprehensive knowledge and data
banks, the development of standard data sharing processes, and improved
access to tools and resources for acquisition-related decision-making
in a Hi-Definition Intelligent Acquisition Data Environment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cf84bda6bcbbaaa1e187e198a6a3bca0a18fa0a2ade1aaa0bfe1a8a0b9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fab18893898e9f94d4b2d4ad9396899594ba959798d49f958ad49d958c">[email protected]</span></a>, Office
of Federal Procurement Policy, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC
20006, at 202-881-9246.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Overview
Across the Federal enterprise, there are tens of billions of
acquisition data points residing in over 170 contract writing systems
(including legacy systems) and over 15 payment processing platforms.
Historically, much of this data has been collected and managed at the
agency level. Agencies have used their resources to build tools within
their agency, harnessing internal data and databases, but this has
often led to duplicative tools and efforts and a lack of coordination
across agencies. This approach has limited central capacity for
analytics, insights, and efficiency gains outside of the System for
Award Management and the Federal Procurement Data System, which
generally provide aggregate data but very little pricing and best
practices information.
To address these challenges, OMB's new Circular establishes a
centralized data management policy framework for the creation of a
High-Definition Environment (HDE). Through the HDE, which is the
technical architecture for the data, users will have access to the
right data at the point of need through a single, central access point,
better enabling them to buy as an organized entity. Creating the HDE is
a critical component of the acquisition community's work to make
purchases as an organized enterprise. The HDE will provide agencies
with access to the breadth and depth of information needed to support
the acquisition needs of the Federal Government--the largest and most
sophisticated buyer in the world.
Achieving the HDE will require greater transparency and
collaboration in agency data systems planning and investment decisions.
This is particularly true with respect to activities that would affect
the Government's ability to achieve data interoperability for
information that is critical or can otherwise significantly improve
acquisition decision-making at
[[Page 46914]]
both the Government-wide and agency-wide level.
To this end, the Circular: (1) establishes the principle that
agencies should no longer view acquisition data as a singular agency
asset, but rather an asset critical to supporting the missions of the
Government at large, and should be prepared to collect and share the
data accordingly; (2) defines agency roles and responsibilities; and
(3) supports the design and development of solutions to drive data
interoperability, allowing systems to connect and share acquisition
data wherever they reside within the Federal Government without
duplication.
B. Summary
The Circular
Establishes a centralized data management policy framework,
including a comprehensive data governance process. Outcome oriented
data policy and governance serves as both a safeguard and an
accelerator for data initiatives. OMB will facilitate the development
of policies and practices to support the collection, sharing, and use
of the data and a governance process to ensure appropriate
representation and accountability for how datasets and data products
are prioritized, managed, consumed, and secured in the HDE.
Directs the establishment of the HDE. Agency data will be shared
and accessed by Federal users through a coordinated, Government-wide
solution for accessing and using acquisition data and developing and
deploying innovative tools that better support the acquisition
lifecycle. The HDE leverages a scalable technical architecture to
store, access, utilize, share, and archive acquisition data without
duplicating data, tools, or effort. The HDE will use existing agency
investments in systems and data infrastructure to the maximum extent
practicable.
Requires agencies to prepare annual strategic plans. In accordance
with guidance issued by OMB, agencies will report on steps to address
general data management stewardship, government-wide priority
initiatives and individualized acquisition data hurdles or
responsibilities that may affect other agencies.
Builds appropriate centralization. The Circular will support
centralized standards, knowledge banks, and data-sharing tools using
established and strengthened governance. Existing standards and
processes will be updated, modernized, and enforced through greater
transparency and interoperability. Data sharing tools will allow
agencies to maintain existing systems but create the ability to pull
data from the source where it resides for improved analytics and
insights. Shared solutions will increase efficiency across all
agencies, rather than within a single agency, when internal tools are
developed.
Promotes data-sharing technologies. The Circular prepares agencies
for an interoperable future where all acquisition data can be accessed
on-demand. Current data sharing efforts are being conducted through
pilots on a voluntary basis to address challenges in interoperability.
This Circular anticipates that agencies will begin exploring, planning
for, and building application programming interfaces, Extract-Transfer-
Load processes, and other access points while working within the HDE
governance structure to develop appropriate standards. It provides a
mechanism to enable agencies to ask for further direction and resources
in these endeavors from OMB and through the budget process. Increased
collaboration among agencies will facilitate sharing knowledge and best
practices.
Requires data-sharing. Contract cost efficiencies increase, and
wasteful cost variances between agencies decrease, when buyers are able
to improve their negotiating posture with access to standardized
transactional data that can give them insight into prices paid and
favorable contract terms and conditions. Accordingly, with limited
exceptions, agencies will be required to share their acquisition data--
such as prices paid and terms and conditions--on a phased basis as
directed by OMB. This is to ensure an enterprise approach to the
Federal acquisition function. Part of the challenge to increasing
interoperability is the protection of data within each agency. Agencies
must use appropriate protocols to prevent the unauthorized disclosure
of data. Accordingly, templates for data-sharing agreements and
memoranda of understanding (MOUs) will be developed to help facilitate
acquisition data sharing. Standardized processes for data-sharing that
explicitly emphasize data protection and security will decrease
barriers to interoperability and greatly increase the speed of
transfer, all while maintaining critical data protections.
Facilitates other collaborative actions and workforce development
with data management. Agencies will be expected to actively contribute
to existing knowledge portals on innovative techniques and emerging
technology and support expansion, implementation, and promotion of
acquisition data management training and certification efforts for the
acquisition workforce.
C. Public Comments
In response to its November 17, 2023 notice inviting public comment
on the proposed Circular, 88 FR 80339, OFPP received public comments
from seven respondents, including from several coalitions representing
industry interests. Copies of the public comments received are
available for review at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document/OFPP-2023-0001-0001">https://www.regulations.gov/document/OFPP-2023-0001-0001</a>. A summary of the comments and OFPP's responses and changes
adopted in the final Circular are described below.
Data Protection
Respondents representing industry interests commented on the
potential misuse of pre- and post-award pricing data about the scope of
the user base. Specifically, concerns were raised about the potential
accessibility of proprietary information by the public or by
competitors, as well as the management of the data chain of command and
the management of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
To address these concerns, OFPP added language to section 2 of the
Circular to clarify agency responsibilities for securing data shared
within the Government and to make clear that any requests for release
of information, such as through FOIA, will be handled in accordance
with statutes, regulations, and protocols that address the release of
contractor information to non-governmental sources. The Circular makes
no changes to policies or practices governing the release of contractor
data to the public.
Furthermore, OFPP added additional language to define roles and
responsibilities that address data security and data sharing.
Specifically, OMB will work with the Hi-Def Managing Agency, which is
identified as the General Services Administration (GSA), to support the
creation of standard data sharing MOU templates that can be tailored on
an agency-by-agency basis to document comprehensive data management and
security protocols.
The Circular now clearly defines that the role of the Hi-Def
Managing Agency (GSA) includes comprehensive data security. GSA is
tasked with coordinating with agencies to define an acceptable set of
data security standards for the transfer, storage, and use of Hi-Def
data through data sharing agreements and properly securing all agency
data, based on established data security standards, once transmitted
into the HDE.
[[Page 46915]]
Finally, the Circular establishes that any Government-wide data
products ``powered by'' data originating from the HDE are subject to an
interagency governance process to ensure that the use of the data is
aligned with law and policy.
Data Context
OFPP received comments highlighting the complexity of pricing data,
expressing concerns that if prices paid data are used without the
relevant context to adjust for contract terms and conditions, supply
chain fluctuations, and other time-bound factors, the usefulness of the
data is jeopardized for forward decision making and market research.
OFPP agrees. While the final Circular reflects the importance of
context surrounding data, it is important to recognize that key
elements of the contextualizing data, such as contract terms and
conditions, are often stored separately in an unstructured,
decentralized manner across the enterprise. The collection of this data
is on the Hi-Def roadmap but full implementation will take time and
coordination with the agencies.
Through the annual planning process, agency stakeholders will have
the opportunity to assess agency data sharing readiness and identify
critical acquisition data needs. Agency responses will enable
prioritized and orderly data collection efforts to fulfill these needs
through small, scalable pilot efforts complete with assessments of the
required data context. Data quality issues within existing datasets
(for example, low quality data in the Unit of Measure field) will be
addressed through both the governance and training processes.
Training and Workforce Development
OFPP received a comment asserting that training of the acquisition
workforce must be part of the implementation of the Circular and is
critical to its success. A second, related comment noted that
successfully implementing these initiatives will require significant
``human-focused'' cultural and process changes within the Government's
acquisition and related workforces.
OFPP agrees. The final Circular establishes that OMB, in
coordination with the Federal Acquisition Institute, agency working
groups, and data experts, will launch a role-based Federal Acquisition
Data Training Curriculum that addresses best practices and policies
related to data sharing, data use, and the current landscape of
Government-wide acquisition tools and resources. The Circular also
notes that through the new curriculum and other applicable training
paths, agencies are responsible for building data analysis and related
skills as a core acquisition workforce capability.
Scope of the Circular
OFPP received comments requesting that the Circular express a
position on the impacts to procurement administrative lead time,
challenges associated with sub-tier contractor and vendor data, the
role of GSA in negotiating prices for GSA Schedules, and the data
differences that will arise between best value and lowest price,
technically acceptable contracts.
The intention of the Circular is to establish the framework for
data sharing to improve enterprise-wide contracting outcomes. Specific
use cases may be defined and addressed through the Hi-Def planning
process for government-wide, agency-wide, or targeted use, as needed.
Christine J. Harada,
Senior Advisor, Office of Federal Procurement Policy.
Circular No. A-137
To the Heads of Executive Departments and Establishments
Subject: Strategic Management of Acquisition Data and Information
1. Introduction
The United States Government is the largest buyer of goods and
services in the world. However, due to the decentralized nature of
Federal acquisition processes and systems, the acquisition workforce is
not able to fully utilize the volume of data collected across the
Federal enterprise for more informed procurements, resulting in time
and cost burdens on both the workforce and industry.
To address this issue, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
seeks to promote Hi-Definition (Hi-Def) acquisitions where agencies are
able to acquire supplies or services using relevant acquisition data
that is easily accessed and available when it is needed. Government-
wide acquisition initiatives such as Category Management have
established that there is significant commonality in the goods and
services procured across the enterprise. It follows that the strategy
to collect, share, and use procurement data should also extend beyond
agency-specific strategies and systems.
Agencies should no longer view acquisition data as a singular
agency asset, but rather as an asset that is critical to support the
mission of the Government. As such, agencies should be prepared to
collect and share the data accordingly.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For purposes of this Circular, ``agency'' is defined as in
41 U.S.C. 133.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Important work is already underway in this area through key data
modernization efforts resulting from OMB Circular A-130,\2\ The
Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018,\3\ and the
Open, Public, Electronic and Necessary Government Data Act.\4\ However,
these efforts address agency-specific data requirements and do not
speak to making data available centrally across the entire Government.
This Circular aims to address that gap by establishing a centralized
data management policy framework to promote acquisition data
interoperability, data sharing between agencies, and enterprise-wide
data analytics; and a Hi-Def Environment (HDE) for Federal users to
enable access to critical data, tools, and resources for acquisition-
related decision-making.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Office of Mgmt. & Budget, Executive Office of the President,
Circular No. A-130, Managing Information as a Strategic Resource
(July 28, 2016), <a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/OMB/circulars/a130/a130revised.pdf">https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/OMB/circulars/a130/a130revised.pdf</a>.
\3\ Public Law 115-435, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4174/text">https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4174/text</a>.
\4\ Public Law 115-435, title II, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4174/text">https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4174/text</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Purpose
Using relevant acquisition data as a strategic asset throughout the
acquisition lifecycle facilitates successful contracting outcomes. The
Federal Government has taken significant steps to improve the
collection and use of data related to contracting transactions,
including amounts obligated, information about how contracts are
awarded, and the identity of the awardees.
However, other important acquisition-related data and information
are not being shared Government-wide. For example, contract line item
(CLIN) pricing information \5\ may be kept in agency-specific contract
writing systems, in one or more payment platforms, or in internal or
external databases that are not easily accessible. All stakeholders
from across the Federal Government may not have access to key
information for contract planning, negotiations, and other critical
contract management functions. Most commonly, the information resides
in
[[Page 46916]]
disparate agency systems or includes non-standardized data elements and
definitions that impedes interoperability across agencies. In many
cases, agencies have agreed to terms and conditions with their
contractors or shared service providers that prohibit the sharing of
their acquisition data with other Government agencies, even though the
data or information is not classified or proprietary and sharing would
not otherwise be prohibited by law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ The term ``line item pricing'' as used in this Circular
broadly covers the price the Government pays for a commodity or
service. Under the current systems landscape, pricing at this level
can be complex (e.g., pricing conditions that roll up to a line item
price, line item discounts, and premiums).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
To address these issues and the broader landscape of acquisition
data management, OMB is creating a Hi-Def centralized data management
policy framework to promote data interoperability, the sharing of
acquisition data between agencies, and enterprise-wide data analysis.
This framework will be supported and enabled by the HDE, the technical
architecture used to consume and make acquisition data collected across
the Federal enterprise accessible in a secure and scalable solution.
The HDE will:
<bullet> serve as a centralized access point and aggregator of
acquisition data;
<bullet> provide Federal users with a secure entry point to access
acquisition data collected by disparate systems and processes across
the enterprise; and
<bullet> leverage existing architectures, agency offerings, and
established governance bodies and processes to the greatest extent
possible to avoid duplicative efforts.
Data ingested into the HDE will be phased based on agency data
sharing readiness, Hi-Def targeted outcomes, and Government-wide data
use cases prioritized through the data governance process.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The Comprehensive Hi-Def Data Governance Plan will be
established within one year of this Circular and is further detailed
in Sec. 7.b.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The data collected and used through the HDE will allow stakeholders
\7\ to understand acquisition community needs, opportunities for data
and process improvement, and future program and policy requirements
through interagency governance structures including existing
committees, such as the Procurement Committee for E-Government and
other working groups. The data collected through the HDE is intended
for internal Federal use only and will be secured and used in
accordance with law. Any requests for release of information to non-
governmental sources will be managed in accordance with applicable laws
and regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ Hi-Def Stakeholders are further described in Appendix G.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Policy
Agencies should regard acquisition data as a Government asset, and
should utilize acquisition data management practices that promote
collection, interoperability, scalability, sharing, and usability
across the Government.\8\ These practices should make acquisition data
easily accessible when it is needed to inform decision-making
throughout the acquisition lifecycle. Agencies should begin to
establish the infrastructure and relevant policies needed to collect
and share data into the HDE, and identify appropriate security and
privacy controls to ensure agency data is protected from misuse in a
common environment.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ Acquisition Data Management best practices will be posted
and updated on the Hi-Def website at The Hi-Def Initiative, <a href="https://acquisitiongateway.gov/Hi-Def">https://acquisitiongateway.gov/Hi-Def</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Data Collection--agencies shall identify opportunities to
improve the collection and sharing of both structured and unstructured
acquisition data, including but not limited to prices paid data,
contract files, CLIN data, terms and conditions, sub-contracting plans,
survey data, purchase card data, and other relevant data sources as
identified by OMB.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ Further guidance on targeted datasets and the required
context will be issued by OMB on a phased basis, based on responses
to the Agency Baseline Assessment outlined in Sec. 7.a and the Hi-
Def annual planning process outlined in Sec. 4a.i and Sec. 4.b.i.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
b. Data Sharing--agencies shall:
i. Continually facilitate adoption of new and emerging technologies
to support the ability for cross-agency data sharing, including but not
limited to the use of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), data
exchange platforms, and Extract-Transfer-Load tools;
ii. Identify and take steps to update agency-specific policies or
operational practices, as necessary, to remove any prohibitions or
limitations on the collection and sharing of acquisition data within
and among agencies in the Federal Government, consistent with
applicable law;
iii. Include clauses, as appropriate and consistent with applicable
law, in new contracts to inform contractors that acquisition data
included or generated in connection with the contract by either the
Government or the contractor may be shared within and among agencies of
the Federal Government;
iv. Review and maintain protocols to protect against the
unauthorized release of data; and
v. Identify and mitigate data sharing risks as outlined in Sec.
3.c.
c. Data Risk Management--agencies shall:
i. Consistent with OMB Circular A-130,\10\ identify and mitigate,
either internally or in coordination with OMB, information security,
privacy, records management, and supply chain security issues for data
sharing activities throughout the acquisition data lifecycles so that
risks are appropriately identified and mitigated;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ Office of Mgmt. & Budget, Executive Office of the
President, Circular No. A-130, Managing Information as a Strategic
Resource, Appendix I Sec. Sec. 3, 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ii. To the maximum extent possible, align acquisition data sets
with data security standards, which shall be determined by the Hi-Def
Managing Agency \11\ and the Hi-Def Governance Plan; \12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ As defined in Sec. 4.c.
\12\ As defined in Sec. 7.b.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
iii. Regularly review and address risk regarding acquisition
processes, people, and technology; and
iv. Practice and share data management best practices relevant to
acquisition data.
d. Leadership and Workforce--agencies shall:
i. Ensure that the acquisition workforce has appropriate knowledge
and skills to facilitate the data lifecycle, including best practices
for acquisition data entry and maintenance;
ii. As aligned with OMB Circular A-130,\13\ implement innovative
approaches and track workforce development training, including cross-
functional training, rotational development and assignments, and other
Federal and private sector training opportunities to maintain and
enhance data literacy and data skills; and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ Office of Mgmt. & Budget, Executive Office of the
President, OMB Circular A-130, Managing Information as a Strategic
Resource Sec. 5(c)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
iii. Promote the use of the HDE and associated tools to meet agency
data requirements, as they become operational.
4. Responsibilities: This policy will be implemented in accordance
with the following responsibilities.
a. OMB: With the support of the Government-wide governance
structures identified in Appendix B, OMB will:
i. Provide direction to agencies for an annual strategic plan to
prioritize acquisition data management activities. OMB will provide
direction to agencies for the creation of an Annual Acquisition Data
Strategic Hi-Def Plan (Hi-Def Plan) that addresses the agency's
acquisition data resources and infrastructure and the status of the
agency's activities to implement Government-wide and agency-specific
priorities.
ii. Facilitate the development of a comprehensive Hi-Def data
governance
[[Page 46917]]
plan. OMB will work with agency stakeholders to develop a governance
process to ensure appropriate representation and accountability for how
datasets and data products are prioritized, managed, consumed, and
secured in the HDE.
iii. Facilitate the development of standards, in coordination with
appropriate data governance structures, to support transactional
pricing data or any other acquisition activity requiring
standardization. OMB will identify minimum transactional pricing data
elements (e.g., CLIN standards) for collection and transmission that
would minimize agency burden while providing insight at a Government-
wide level. OMB will consider the commonalities identified from the
initial data assessment, outlined in Section 7, performed by agencies
as a basis for standardization.
iv. Require appropriate information sharing and collaboration. OMB
will collaborate with the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council on any
appropriate regulatory amendments to support sharing of acquisition
data within and among agencies with proper data security. OMB will also
work with individual governance groups identified in Appendix B and
agencies to prioritize information sharing needs and capabilities and
to develop appropriate templates, and guidance to support scalability.
v. Prioritize data collection efforts and targeted data sets based
on targeted outcomes. Given the wide range of data required to support
the acquisition process, OMB will leverage the Hi-Def data governance
process to collaborate with agency stakeholders, Hi-Def data domain
stewards, the Hi-Def Managing Agency, and the government-wide Category
Managers to establish prioritized outcomes and the agency datasets
required to support outcome implementation.
vi. Establish a Federal acquisition data training curriculum. OMB,
in coordination with the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI), agency
working groups and data experts, will establish a role-based Federal
acquisition data training curriculum that addresses best practices and
policies related to data sharing, data use, and the current landscape
of Government-wide acquisition tools and resources.
vii. Support the development of standard data-sharing agreements
for Hi-Def purposes. OMB will facilitate the development of memorandum-
of-understanding (MOU) templates that agencies can use to expedite data
sharing into the HDE in coordination with the Hi-Def Managing Agency,
the Hi-Def Executive Steering Committee and, on an as needed basis, the
Senior Agency Officials for Privacy,\14\ and agency general counsels.
MOUs can be customized on an as-needed basis; standard data elements
can be found in Appendix F.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ As defined in Office of Mgmt. & Budget, Executive Office of
the President, Circular No. A-130, Managing Information as a
Strategic Resource Sec. 5(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
b. Agencies: Agencies are responsible for taking the following
actions in furtherance of the acquisition data management policies
established by this Circular:
i. Develop an annual strategic Hi-Def plan to prioritize and
resource their acquisition data management activities, consistent with
direction from OMB. Starting one year after the initial baseline
assessment \15\ agencies shall annually evaluate and document results
of assessments along with any new agency policies, processes, and tools
in an annual Hi-Def Plan, as outlined in Appendix E, using the template
provided \16\ to support agency budget planning and investment
discussions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ As defined in Sec. 7.a.
\16\ A template will be provided on a yearly basis and found on
the Hi-Def website at The Hi-Def Initiative, <a href="https://acquisitiongateway.gov/Hi-Def">https://acquisitiongateway.gov/Hi-Def</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ii. Integrate best business practices into agency data strategy for
the generation, collection, use, sharing, and improvement of data.
Agencies should utilize the Federal Integrated Business Framework \17\
in developing their annual Hi-Def Plan and share best business
practices with the General Services Administration (GSA), which will
make the information publicly available and easily accessible.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\17\ Mission Support Business Standards, <a href="https://ussm.gsa.gov/fibf/">https://ussm.gsa.gov/fibf/</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
iii. Collect data centrally and be prepared, upon OMB's request, to
share their acquisition data into the HDE, including the relevant
context and security protocols required, on an agreed upon cadence.\18\
Centralized data collection within the agency is critical to the
agency's ability to readily share their acquisition data Government-
wide, as well as the terms and conditions that provide critical context
to making use of data. Agencies that are responsible for collecting
agency data must use appropriate protocols to prevent the unauthorized
disclosure of data. Agencies shall not agree to terms and conditions
with their contractors or shared service providers that prohibit the
sharing of their acquisition data with other Federal agencies, except
where sharing is prohibited by law, where the contract identifies the
data or information is classified, or where the agency makes a
determination approved by the agency senior procurement executive
(without delegation) after consultation with the Administrator for
Federal Procurement Policy of a compelling business interest to
restrict sharing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ Office of Mgmt. & Budget, Executive Office of the
President, Memorandum M-19-13, Category Management: Making Smarter
Use of Common Contract Solutions and Practices (Mar. 20, 2019),
<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/M-19-13.pdf">https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/M-19-13.pdf</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
iv. Actively contribute to existing knowledge portals on innovative
techniques and emerging technology. Agencies shall actively collect and
share information and data about their innovative activities through
organized means, including but not limited to the Inventory of Emerging
Technologies, the Periodic Table of Acquisition Innovations, and future
knowledge management tools in the HDE, that contribute to the
collective advancement of a more effective acquisition system.
v. Appoint an accountable official responsible for Hi-Def
activities. This individual will be the primary point of contact for
coordinating with OMB and the Hi-Def Managing Agency on functions that
include (but are not limited to): use case identification, dataset
prioritization, submission of the baseline assessment and annual Hi-Def
plans, and sharing Hi-Def updates with agency stakeholders.
vi. Support expansion, implementation, and promotion of acquisition
data management training and certification efforts for the acquisition
workforce. Agencies shall work with OMB and FAI to build data analysis
and related skills as a core acquisition workforce capability. Agencies
shall promote and monitor workforce participation in the OMB Federal
Acquisition Data Literacy training curriculum, once available. Agencies
shall take steps to ensure members of the workforce with
responsibilities for managing common spending are trained in using
relevant Government-wide data and tools, as they become available
through the Hi-Def initiative.
vii. Generate quality data consistent with procurement policy,
standards for business processes, data, and interoperability. This
includes using independent verification and validation (V&V) processes
and acquisition data dictionaries maintained through the Integrated
Award Environment (IAE), as well as the other agency responsibilities
outlined in Appendix D.
c. Hi-Def Environment Managing Agency: As aligned with GSA's
mission
[[Page 46918]]
to deliver comprehensive products and services to the Government at the
best value possible, GSA will serve as the Managing Agency for the HDE.
With oversight from the multi-agency HDE Executive Steering Committee
and other governing bodies as identified in Appendix B, GSA is
responsible for:
i. Managing the technical architecture and planned capabilities for
the HDE;
ii. Maintaining a sustainable support function to address the
program management elements described in this Circular;
iii. Coordinating with agencies to define an acceptable set of data
security standards for the transfer, storage, and use of Hi-Def data
through data sharing agreements;
iv. Properly securing all agency data, based on established data
security standards, once transmitted into the HDE; and
v. Monitoring use and adoption for the HDE.
d. Electronic Invoicing Providers: Electronic Invoicing Providers
are responsible for providing electronic interfaces. Agencies shall
ensure compliance with OMB Memorandum M-15-19 \19\ and successor
policies, directing all Federal Shared Service Providers and other
electronic invoice solution providers to integrate with the Integrated
Award Environment and develop electronic interfaces.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\19\ Office of Mgmt. & Budget, Executive Office of the
President, Memorandum M-15-19, Improving Government Efficiency and
Saving Taxpayer Dollars Through Electronic Invoicing (July 17,
2015), <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/legacy_drupal_files/omb/memoranda/2015/m-15-19.pdf">https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/legacy_drupal_files/omb/memoranda/2015/m-15-19.pdf</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Authorities: OMB issues this Circular pursuant to the Office of
Federal Procurement Policy Act (as amended, codified at 41 U.S.C. 101-
4714); the Clinger-Cohen Act, also known as ``Information Technology
Management Reform Act of 1996'' (as amended, codified at 40 U.S.C.
11101-11704); and 31 U.S.C. ch. 5.
6. Effective Date, Applicability, and Scope: The Circular is
effective upon publication. The policies in this Circular apply to all
Federal agencies and shall only be used for unclassified data.
7. Transition: The following phase-in actions shall be taken to
help agencies prepare for the responsibilities enumerated in Section 3.
a. Within one year of the effective date of this Circular, agencies
shall perform an initial one-time baseline assessment of their
acquisition data management capabilities based on a template provided
by OMB. The assessment shall focus, at a minimum, on acquisition data
principles, reduction of duplicative efforts, data sharing
capabilities, and actions to exchange innovative practices and
solutions. Agencies shall complete and submit an assessment of and a
roadmap for acquisition data systems, structures, and elements
involving invoicing, contract writing systems, and transactional
pricing data. The results of this initial assessment may be used to
inform future Hi-Def plans and will cover:
i. Identification of the agency's accountable official responsible
for Hi-Def activities;
ii. Analysis of the current collection of transactional pricing
data (i.e., contract line-item data) including existing systems,
analytical capabilities, reporting requirements, and, if not currently
being collected by a vendor, agency level of effort and required
resources if changes are needed to collect that data;
iii. Acquisition data domains that are defined and managed within
the agency enterprise;
iv. Adherence to the existing Federal G-Invoicing Standards; \20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\20\ Bureau of the Fiscal Service, G-Invoicing, Resources,
<a href="https://fiscal.treasury.gov/g-invoice/resources.html#standards">https://fiscal.treasury.gov/g-invoice/resources.html#standards</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
v. The extent of unstructured acquisition data in contract writing
systems that are not in a machine-readable format and would be unable
to be transmitted via API (e.g., ``flat'' file PDFs, contract clauses,
or additional scanned items that are not machine readable), with a
focus on data that cannot easily be transformed to be machine readable.
For example, line item pricing information may be kept in agency-
specific contract writing systems, in one or more payment platforms, or
in internal or external databases that are not easily accessible; and
vi. Existing and planned capabilities to share data centrally
within the agency and to share data with other agencies.
b. Within one year of this Circular, OMB shall establish a
comprehensive, outcome-driven Hi-Def Data Governance Plan to ensure
that data stored and shared through the HDE is responsibly and securely
managed and consumed. The Hi-Def Data Governance Plan shall be updated
at regular intervals and posted to the Hi-Def website.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ The Hi-Def Initiative, <a href="https://acquisitiongateway.gov/Hi-Def">https://acquisitiongateway.gov/Hi-Def</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
c. Within two years of the effective date of this Circular, the
Department of Defense and FAI, in coordination with OMB and GSA, will
create an outline for the Federal Acquisition Data Literacy training
curriculum.
8. Attachments
a. Appendix A--Definitions
b. Appendix B--Governance
c. Appendix C--Examples of Hi-Def Applications
d. Appendix D--Assuring Uniform Implementation and Data Integrity
e. Appendix E--Agency Planning
f. Appendix F--Sample Elements for Data Sharing Agreements
g. Appendix G--Hi-Def Stakeholders
Appendix A. Definitions
Acquisition--as defined in FAR 2.101,\22\ acquisition is the
acquiring by contract with appropriated funds of supplies or
services (including construction) by and for the use of the Federal
Government through purchase or lease, whether the supplies or
services are already in existence or must be created, developed,
demonstrated, and evaluated. Acquisition begins at the point when
agency needs are established and includes the description of
requirements to satisfy agency needs, solicitation and selection of
sources, award of contracts, contract financing, contract
performance, contract administration, and those technical and
management functions directly related to the process of fulfilling
agency needs by contract. For the purposes of this Circular,
acquisition and procurement are used interchangeably.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\22\ 48 CFR 2.101.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acquisition data--data or information that a contracting
official, program official, or other member of the integrated
product team would use during the acquisition lifecycle as part of
their stewardship responsibility to obtain the best value for the
Federal Government, such as, but not limited to, market research,
contract documents such as statements of work, performance work
statements, and statements of objective, terms, conditions, rates,
and prices paid for commodities or services.
Acquisition data sharing agreement--a document that creates an
understanding between two or more agencies on how acquisition data
will be accessed, used, and shared, including an understanding of
the overall requirements, permissions, procedures, and limitations
on sharing to ensure compliance with applicable law.
Acquisition lifecycle--end-to-end management and execution of
programs/contracts and projects. The lifecycle begins with the
identification of a business need and ends with program or contract
closeout.
Data integrity--the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of
data both in its physical location and during transmission and
throughout the stages of generation, collection, use, sharing, and
improvement, which summarize the Federal Data Lifecycle.
Hi-Definition Environment (HDE)--a technical environment that
uses a scalable architecture to store, access, utilize, share, and
archive acquisition data without having to duplicate data, tools, or
effort. The HDE is supported by a centralized data management policy
framework (see definition of Hi-Definition framework). The HDE and
the Hi-Def framework will provide a coordinated,
[[Page 46919]]
Government-wide solution for accessing and utilizing acquisition
data and for developing and deploying innovative tools that use this
data to better support the acquisition lifecycle. As the functional
arm of the Hi-Def framework, the HDE will improve the accessibility
and usability of Government-wide data through the following four
general capabilities:
1. Data Management Layer: Aggregating siloed Government-wide
acquisition data from agencies and other sources so that it is
accessible centrally through a single data management layer.
2. Data Product Development and Publication: Developing and
publishing interoperable data products to power various analysis
capabilities within the HDE and across customer agencies, including
scalable and secure transmission across agency security boundaries.
3. Customer Agency Access to Data Management Functionality:
Hosting a workspace through which agency data analysts can access
the HDE data management layer, allowing them to leverage HDE data
sources to perform advanced analyses and develop custom data
products for their agency, as aligned with data governance processes
and procedures.
Dashboard and Report Management: Hosting a data visualization
application, usable by both agency stakeholders and the Hi-Def Team,
to develop custom Federal user-facing dashboards and reports that
provide immediate value to Hi-Def stakeholders.
Hi-Definition Framework--policies, data standards, and
governance addressing the acquisition of supplies or services using
relevant acquisition data that is easily accessed and consumed at
the time of need. The framework promotes data interoperability,
secure sharing of acquisition data between agencies, and enterprise-
wide data analysis to inform Government-wide and individual agency
procurements.
Integrated Award Environment (IAE)--a Government-wide initiative
administered by the General Services Administration that consists of
a suite of systems and processes supporting parts of the Federal
acquisition and financial assistance awards lifecycle. The IAE
facilitates the awards processes in multiple online systems,
including the System for Award Management (SAM), that each play a
role in the awards lifecycle. Those systems are used for registering
to do business with the Federal Government, listing contract
opportunities, reporting performance, analyzing contract data, and
more.
Appendix B. Governance
The acquisition ecosystem requires a strong governance structure
covering Hi-Def data and the HDE, as well as Government-wide
acquisition systems and processes.
Governing bodies and structures may periodically be updated and
are subject to change; current charters and other updates will be
posted to the Governance and Policies page on the Acquisition
Gateway.\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\23\ The Hi-Def Initiative, <a href="https://acquisitiongateway.gov/Hi-Def">https://acquisitiongateway.gov/Hi-Def</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Hi-Def Governance: The Hi-Def framework will be supported and
operationalized by the HDE. The HDE uses a scalable technical
architecture to store, access, utilize, share, and archive
acquisition data without having to duplicate data, tools, or effort.
Together, the Hi-Def framework and HDE will provide a coordinated,
Government-wide solution for accessing and utilizing acquisition
data and for developing and deploying innovative tools that use this
data to better support the acquisition lifecycle.
a. Hi-Def Data Governance Plan, as referenced in Section 7.b:
This plan will be established within one year of this Circular and
updated on a regular basis. The plan will, at a minimum, cover the
following:
i. Accountability and decision rights;
ii. Transparency and ethics considerations;
iii. Data risk management;
iv. Data security;
v. Business outcomes prioritization;
vi. Product development and dissemination; and
vii. Data domain definition and management.
b. Hi-Def Environment Executive Steering Committee: Technical
oversight of the HDE will reside initially with the HDE Executive
Steering Committee. This interagency committee will be responsible
for establishing the strategic, technical, and change management
approaches for building and maintaining the HDE. Oversight of the
HDE is subject to change once the comprehensive Hi-Def Data
Governance Plan is established.
c. Hi-Def Implementation Groups: On an as-needed basis, OMB may
convene working groups composed of agency policy, workforce, or
acquisition system experts who are knowledgeable on key topics to
support Hi-Def outcomes, including but not limited to: improving
machine-readable data; interoperability and system integration
(i.e., exposing data through application programming interfaces);
the agency contract writing system(s) and associated interfaces;
agency electronic invoicing solutions; and information technology
infrastructure. Agency participation in these working groups is
highly encouraged as outcomes may inform future guidance.
2. Acquisition Systems Governance: Acquisition systems
governance will be carried out using the established Integrated
Award Environment governance structures including the Procurement
Committee for E-Government (PCE) which serves as the primary
interagency body advising OMB on acquisition data with a particular
focus on the procurement process. In its role, and in consultation
with additional governing groups, as needed, the PCE will provide
recommendations, priorities, and implementation decisions that
consider the policy, operational, and technological improvements
necessary to effect positive change in the efficiency and
effectiveness of the use of technology and data in the Federal
acquisition and procurement processes.
In addition, agencies will ensure that their current
representatives selected for each governance structure or
established in support of the goals of the Circular adhere to their
respective charters, and possess the necessary skills and abilities
to make recommendations and decisions that affect the generation,
collection, use, sharing, and improvement of agency data.
Appendix C. Examples of Hi-Def Applications
This appendix provides illustrative examples of how a future HDE
will benefit the acquisition lifecycle, agency planning, and
budgeting. Based on agency feedback, the Office of Federal
Procurement Policy has identified five initial targeted outcomes:
1. Improved Market Research
2. Supply Chain & Demand Management Insights
3. Vendor Management & Engagement Support
4. Streamlined Requirement Definition & Solicitation Development
5. Enhanced Contract Evaluation
The table below demonstrates how the impacts of the HDE will map
to each stakeholder group, summarizing the impact and noting to
which Hi-Def Targeted Outcomes the impact primarily relates.
BILLING CODE 3110-01-P
[[Page 46920]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN30MY24.013
[[Page 46921]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN30MY24.014
BILLING CODE 3110-01-C
Appendix D. Ensuring Uniform Implementation and Data Integrity
Data integrity refers to the accuracy, completeness, and
reliability of data in its physical location, during transmission,
and throughout the stages of generation, collection, use, sharing,
and improvement, which support the Federal Data Lifecycle (see
Figure 1). Data integrity is maintained through compliance with
laws, policies, and standards established by governance. The
integrity of the Federal acquisition process, including budgeting
for, planning, managing, and closing out contracts that support
programs, depends on the quality and availability of data.
Innovation leads to ongoing business process improvements, requiring
regular assessments of processes and data against established
standards. The standardized processes and data will drive strong
foundations across the Federal acquisition enterprise, while
encouraging and enabling agency innovation and agility in
acquisition planning, management, and operations.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN30MY24.015
Data Roles
This policy builds on the Federal Data Lifecycle by organizing
its data roles into the five phases of the acquisition data
lifecycle: Generate, Collect, Share, Use, and Improve. In addition,
privacy and security are roles that affect every aspect of
acquisition data, and agencies should ensure that the most current
data protection methodologies are used and that all applicable
statutes and regulations are followed.
<bullet> Generate--
[cir] Define: Identify agency and stakeholder needs for
acquisition data of sufficient quality for intended uses
[cir] Coordinate: Assess the ability of acquisition data
resources and infrastructure to meet agency and stakeholder needs
<bullet> Collect--
[cir] Collect: Organize, plan, and execute acquisition data
collections and acquisitions to meet agency and stakeholder needs
[cir] Curate: Organize, refine, and maintain agency acquisition
data resources with sufficient quality to meet agency and
stakeholder needs
<bullet> Share--Access: Identify and develop multiple acquisition
data access methods for agency staff and stakeholders
<bullet> Use--
[cir] Analyze: Optimize the ability of staff and stakeholders to
use agency acquisition data to generate insights
[cir] Visualize: Present acquisition data insights for
consumption by all users, stakeholders, and leaders for their
intended needs
[cir] Disseminate: Provide multiple avenues for release of
acquisition data and insights
<bullet> Improve--Implement & Assess: Maximize the use of
acquisition data for decision-making, accountability, and the public
good by continuously improving the acquisition data process
[[Page 46922]]
Vision for Data Integrity
The governance model identified in Appendix B will support
efforts to identify, develop, and implement common business
processes, data, and standards. This includes assessing existing
standards instituted at an agency level for their potential
application to the broader Federal acquisition community. The future
HDE will make possible a seamless flow of data from authoritative
sources to the point of need. Data will only need to be entered once
and will be available for use at any point in the acquisition
lifecycle consistent with applicable regulations and policies
through implemented machine-readable data, in an open format, and
available to computer applications to promote interoperability and
system integration such as APIs.
As new regulations or policies are developed, new data may be
required. Ongoing processes to review how best to collect this data
from new or existing sources should be put into place, including for
the review of the quality, security, and integrity of that data.
Business process re-engineering may be required to avoid manual or
redundant processes, improve quality, and make data available at the
time of need. Reporting requirements may need to be adjusted or
integrated as a result of increased data availability. Agencies must
strategically plan how various Federal-wide and agency specific
efforts can be harmonized and used to avoid duplication of effort,
costs, and diminished data quality resulting from multiple instances
of similar data across an agency.
Quality Technology and Data
In collaboration with the Integrated Award Environment
governance structures and the Federal Acquisition Regulatory
Council, and in consultation with Managing Partners for common
technology tools, the PCE will ensure that applicable regulations
and policy are reflected in any technologies, processes, systems,
and data to reduce agency burden and ensure quality data are
available for downstream use.
In addition, the PCE, in coordination with OMB and Integrated
Award Environment governance structures, will review, and as needed,
update the existing parameters and methods for annual V&V \24\
reporting every 5 years to align with policy, regulatory and agency
needs as aligned with policy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\24\ Office of Mgmt. & Budget, Executive Office of the
President, OFPP Memorandum, Improving Acquisition Data Quality for
Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010 (Oct. 7, 2009), <a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/procurement_memo/data_quality_guidance_100709.pdf">https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/procurement_memo/data_quality_guidance_100709.pdf</a>; Office of Mgmt. &
Budget, Executive Office of the President, OFPP Memorandum,
Improving Federal Procurement Data Quality--Guidance for Annual
Verification and Validation (May 31, 2011), <a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/procurement/memo/improving-data-quality-guidance-for-annual-verification-and-validation-may-2011.pdf">https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/procurement/memo/improving-data-quality-guidance-for-annual-verification-and-validation-may-2011.pdf</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agency Responsibilities
In the distributed procurement information technology
environment, agencies have responsibilities to generate data
consistent with procurement policy, as well as standards for
business processes, data, and interoperability. Federal agencies
must manage data consistent with statutes, regulations, and OMB
policies. Agency Chief Acquisition Officers, Senior Procurement
Executives, Chief Data Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Chief
Information Officers, and Budget Officers must collaborate to:
<bullet> Ensure independent V&V processes for data quality in
accordance with relevant guidance;
<bullet> Assess the feasibility of building and maintaining
appropriate and secure APIs to permit sharing and interoperability
of procurement data and are developed through the appropriate
working group(s) and after the initial data assessment period;
<bullet> Promote best business practices of appropriate data
hygiene, principles, and standards as developed by the PCE;
<bullet> Further innovation and efficiency in the Federal
acquisition system by leading or actively participating in the
development and implementation of emerging technology tools that
align with policy;
<bullet> Actively develop professionals with skills in Federal
Acquisition Regulation (FAR)-based data analytics for decision-
making;
<bullet> Assume responsibility for making data-driven decisions
and for providing their acquisition workforce with critical
information needed to negotiate contracts in the best interest of
taxpayers;
<bullet> Build security and fraud protection into the management
of procurement data to ensure data availability and usability; and
<bullet> Practice and share data management best practices
through interagency working groups, such as the Chief Data Officers
Council.
Appendix E. Annual Agency Planning Requirements
Strategic and operational planning by agencies, including budget
planning, is essential to an interoperable environment where data
are shared and available at the point of need. These activities
provide opportunities for addressing gaps identified through
assessments and innovation in business processes and technology,
including lessons learned from pilots or shared activities. As such,
agencies must include appropriate analyses of these considerations
in agency annual strategic plans, as required by OMB Circular A-11
and any supplementary direction from OMB during the budget process.
These plans will be reviewed by OMB to inform and shape actions
necessary to support Hi-Def implementation and maintenance.
The Office of Federal Procurement Policy will provide a template
with questions and structure for compiling agency Hi-Def strategic
plans. The template will include sections for responding to
questions related to acquisition data resources and infrastructure,
Government-wide priorities established by OMB and governance groups,
and agency-specific priorities. The yearly priority areas will be
posted with an updated template on the Hi-Def website.\25\ The
acquisition data resources and infrastructure questions will
generally address the following areas and may include other areas of
interest as appropriate:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\25\ The Hi-Def Initiative, <a href="https://acquisitiongateway.gov/Hi-Def">https://acquisitiongateway.gov/Hi-Def</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Appropriate resource management activities necessary to
support innovative practices and alignment of data with statutes,
regulations, policies, and standards to support interoperability.
The identification of activities should be accomplished in
coordination with the appropriate agency leaders directing the
acquisition, information, security, data, finance, and human capital
functions.
b. Solutions (active, in development, or planned for future
development) identified by the agency workforce as the greatest
opportunity for improving processes and leveraging technology to
support innovation and reduce burden. Such ideas support agency
operations and mission success by addressing issues, challenges, and
best practices identified by those most impacted on a daily basis by
access (or lack thereof) to data and information.
c. Details on how agencies are assuring any new technologies at
the agency level are aligned with policy and regulations, and how
agency technology supports the interoperability of data in the
federated model established through this Circular.
d. Recommendations on any business processes that should be re-
engineered to support innovation or just-in-time access to quality
information or data. Re-imagining the process before applying
emerging technologies or shared tools can lead to a more impactful
change. This can be done by seeking workforce input, taking maximum
advantage of FAR flexibilities, leveraging data and information
technology as strategic assets, consulting with governance on how
data is supposed to be used and displayed, and driving changes to
agency-specific requirements.
Appendix F. Sample Elements for Data Sharing Agreements
Based on input collected through agency plans and stakeholder
use cases, OMB will identify and prioritize datasets to be shared
into the HDE.
Once identified, an MOU may be required to share data between
the Hi-Def Managing Agency and the originating agency to ensure that
data is properly stored, secured, and accessed. OMB is responsible
for developing standard MOU templates to cover probable data
scenarios, including but not limited to:
1. Exchange of discoverable, non-classified data;
2. Exchange of unstructured, document-based data such as
contract terms and conditions; and
3. Exchange of classified or otherwise sensitive data that
requires additional security considerations.
Sample elements for a data sharing MOU may include, but are not
limited to:
1. Scope of data: Specify the types of data involved and any
restrictions on use.
[[Page 46923]]
2. Data Ownership: Clarify who owns the data and any rights or
responsibilities associated with it.
3. Confidentiality: Outline privacy considerations and measures
to protect sensitive information.
4. Security: Detail security protocols required for
transmitting, storing, and accessing data
5. Permitted Uses: Specify the authorized uses of the shared
data and any limitations (for example, vendor names must be
anonymized).
6. Duration of Agreement: Define the start and end dates or
conditions for termination.
7. Responsibilities of the Parties: Clearly outline the
obligations and responsibilities of each party involved.
8. Data Accuracy and Quality: Address the accuracy and quality
standards expected for the shared data.
9. Data Access and Sharing Procedures: Specify how data will be
accessed and shared.
10. Dispute Resolution: Establish procedures for resolving
disputes or breaches of the agreement.
11. Governing Authorities: Specify the governing authorities
that provide for the sharing of this data.
12. Amendments: Outline procedures for making changes to the
agreement, as necessary.
Appendix G. HDE Stakeholders
HDE Stakeholders fall into four categories: Users, Customer
Agencies, Data Providers, and Industry. This list is subject to
further refinement, with updates posted to the Hi-Def website.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\26\ The Hi-Def Initiative, <a href="https://acquisitiongateway.gov/Hi-Def">https://acquisitiongateway.gov/Hi-Def</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Data Providers will enable and provide access to their
acquisition data to improve the capabilities, scope, and value of
the HDE.
a. All Federal agencies are expected to ultimately be data
providers. However, in the initial phase of the HDE, individual
agencies will be consulted by OMB and the Hi-Def Executive Steering
Committee about pilot opportunities on a case-by-case basis.
b. Other data providers may include non-Federal Government data
sources and commercial data providers, where such data sources
significantly enhance Hi-Def capabilities (e.g., market, business,
sales, supply chain, and/or product intelligence information).
2. Customer Agencies will be composed of HDE users (outlined
below) and will have access to select HDE capabilities. They can
leverage the HDE to help equip their agency users with Hi-Def
insights and functionality.
a. Customers will be Federal agencies who access select
capabilities such as data products, applications, and support
services.
b. The customer base and services available are expected to grow
and evolve as HDE functionality matures.
3. Users will engage directly with the HDE or leverage HDE data.
a. The Acquisition Workforce (AWF) will primarily engage with
various AWF-facing applications, dashboards, and reports that
leverage HDE data products, initially those focused on commodity and
service prices-paid analysis for market research, monitoring buying
patterns, and solicitation development. The AWF can also use their
understanding of the data in the HDE to identify more complex
acquisition questions that they would like their data analysts to
address. AWF users will primarily be agency Contracting Officers,
Contract Specialists, and Agency Buyers and Program Managers.
b. Data Analysts from customer agencies will have access to
usable agency acquisition data through various HDE components and
features. This includes: (1) direct access to the HDE data
management layer to perform custom analyses and develop new data
products; (2) use of the dashboard and report management application
to provide streamlined insights to their AWF in the HDE; and (3)
ability to use HDE data products to power functionality developed
and hosted by their home agency (e.g., an advanced web-application).
c. Acquisition Executives will primarily engage with various
end-user applications that use HDE data products to quickly identify
key insights (e.g., demand trends, contractor performance, etc.)
that support overall program direction and high-level decision
making. Similar to the AWF, Acquisition Executives can also identify
additional acquisition questions they would like data analysts to
address. Acquisition Executives will include a range of program,
category, and schedule managers.
4. Industry will benefit from enhanced acquisition efficiencies
from the HDE, but will not be given access to the HDE, unless in a
manner explicitly specified by the agencies and approved by OMB
based on need, and in accordance with statutes, regulations, and
protocols that address the release of contractor information to non-
governmental sources.
[FR Doc. 2024-11864 Filed 5-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3110-01-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 30, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.