Rulemaking made easy
Acquisition professionals and stakeholders know first-hand the complexities involved in updating a Government Agency’s Supplemental Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The experience includes countless meetings, lots of stops and starts, audits, and congressional scrutiny.
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To streamline the process, Markon developed a branded, industry-tested solution called xFAR™ that is customizable for each client. The xFAR™ process utilizes a 5-Step Methodology to develop a unique process for addressing individual agency updates. Our solution is based on rigorous trial and error, and lessons learned from our real-time experience.
Additionally, xFAR™ utilizes project management and change management best practices to create a seamless, repeatable way to implement rulemaking. We provide a questionnaire to help clients identify policy and training gaps.
Related: Markon Professionals Develop a Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Supplement Questionnaire
What does xFAR™ provide?
Complete Review of the Regulation
An agency that conducts significant procurements will have more supplemental policy. The xFAR™ process considers the whole agency and the size of procurements to determine the ideal type of support they need.
Missing Requirements Analysis
xFAR™ incorporates the review of current FAR requirements, thresholds, definitions, and titles.
Update Checks
Federal policy is constantly changing due to various pain points in the policy process including Executive Orders, FAR Rules, OMB memos, court orders, new legislation. These are public-facing policies that should be addressed by each agency, otherwise they are risk to OIG (Office of Inspector General), GAO (Government Accountability Office) reports and audits.
Support for the Government Acquisition Workload and Training Challenges
In a 2018 GAO report, workload and training were reported as an ongoing challenge for the Government acquisition workforce. Our xFAR™ process will help support the agency in meeting workload and training as part of the xFAR™ Management Plan. Markon’s 5-Step Methodology utilizes a custom checklist that outputs a xFAR™ Management Plan and a xFAR™ Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to assist agencies in delivering rule changes more efficiently and with less stops and starts. Markon’s xFAR™ solution increases the odds for approval, helps gain stakeholder buy-in, and follows a thorough communication plan for holistic success.
The first step focuses on defining the scope, communications, research, and risk mitigation. The second step is involves assessing the existing policy for impact areas, evaluating policy gaps, and developing your case for change. The third step is all about improving the change through updates, quality control, and ensuring staff has proper training. The fourth step utilizes a holistic approach to identify goals, stakeholder impact, and a communication plan. The last step is implementation, which includes providing updates to stakeholders and conducting training on how to interpret and incorporate the new policy.
With this process, you have a greater likelihood of increasing stakeholder buy-in and creating a well trained workforce that understands the change taking place, how it affects them, and what to do. Markon’s xFAR™ has effectively reduced the time it takes for a rulemaking package by more than 50 percent (from 90 days to 30 days).
You may also like: Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Acquisitions and Logistics – Office of Procurement Policy
According to one of our clients who has benefited from the xFAR™ solution, “The Markon team has been a tremendous help in resolving some of our problem areas and helped research and develop a sound solution. Markon’s responses to requests for information and assistance has allowed me [Director] to provide well-researched, detailed information to my leadership in a timely manner.”
Visit the xFAR™ site or click here to contact our acquisition team to learn more about this offering.
