Sec. 2. Findings
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Congress makes the following findings: The Government Accountability Office
(GAO)has conducted a trend analysis of governmentwide contracting for each of the last several fiscal years. These analyses show that the Federal dollars obligated through contracts has been steadily increasing. Contract spending accounts for more than 80 percent of the Federal information technology budget. Spending on cybersecurity, software, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence technologies is projected to grow significantly. Rapid technological developments and increased Government demand create a need for a Federal acquisition workforce with an understanding of technology and related procurement considerations. Recruitment and retention of procurement staff are chief concerns for Federal agencies, which are facing a shortage of procurement professionals despite growing contract spending and the need for a faster procurement process to keep pace with technological advancements. Federal agencies are challenged to shorten the procurement cycle to timely meet agency technology requirements. Unlike in the past, procurements that take years from requirements development to implementation may be obsolete by the time they are fielded. While Federal contracting dollars are increasing year over year, the number of Federal contractors receiving contract awards is shrinking, particularly with regard to new and small companies. This trend could impair the Federal Government's access to innovative commercial technologies.