Technology moves fast. Mission needs can change just as quickly. Yet government acquisition often takes months or even years to deliver solutions. That gap creates risk. By the time a contract is awarded, the technology may have changed, the mission may have shifted, or the need may have become more urgent. Acquisition professionals face a difficult challenge: how do we move faster while still following the rules and protecting the public’s trust?
In this episode, Kevin invited Hector Navarrro to help explore the Commercial Solutions Opening, or CSO. This authority gives contracting officers another way to acquire innovative commercial products and services. Instead of starting with a detailed solution, a CSO starts with the problem that needs to be solved. That allows industry to bring different ideas and approaches that may better meet the government’s needs.
We’ll discuss when a CSO makes sense, how to use it effectively, and what it takes to make decisions that are both fast and defensible. Whether you’re a contracting officer, program manager, or contractor, you’ll learn practical ways to speed up acquisition without sacrificing sound judgment, competition, or accountability. If you’ve ever wondered how to move faster inside the rules, this episode is for you.