Public Procurement for Innovation

In this book, nationally recognized public procurement experts Dolores Kuchina-Musina and Benjamin McMartin present a comprehensive analysis of the alternative contract vehicles used to promote innovation in the United States (US). Kuchina-Musina and McMartin begin by introducing the innovation policy environment in the US, addressing current trends in the workforce, decreased investment in research and development (R&D), and how technology is increasing at a rapid speed. They then go on to discuss key terms and subjects to show how public procurement and innovation policy are tied together. Diving deeper, Kuchina-Musina and McMartin examine the pathways the federal government uses such as the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) part 12 acquisition, a review of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, and non-FAR-based contract overview with a specific focus on Other Transaction Authorities (OTA). Using the new Department of Defense (DoD) prototype OTA that was enacted in November 2015, Kuchina-Musina and McMartin conclude by presenting a methodology for examining the effectiveness of OTs. Specifically, they show the way the government is evaluating the DoD statute and discussions on some of the additional guidance the DoD uses to implement this authority. Bringing academic literature on innovation policy and applying it to the practitioner environment, Public Procurement for Innovation provide its audience an understanding of models, methods, and techniques the US uses to promote the development of innovative technologies and products. Clearly written and impeccably researched, the book fills a huge void in the literature on public procurement.

Dolores Kuchina-Musina holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy and a Master of Business Administration from Old Dominion University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Christopher Newport University. She has been published in the Journal of Public Procurement, Politics, and Policy and is working on additional research. Dr. Kuchina-Musina has a graduate certificate in Public Procurement and Contract Management (PPCM), is a Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM), and is a National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Fellow. Her research focus includes innovation policy, Other Transaction Authorities, federal procurement reform, and decisionmaking models. Dr. Kuchina-Musina is the CEO/Founder at REXOTA Solutions, LLC, a consulting company in the DC-Metro area, focusing on strategy, planning, pursuit, capture, management, and administration of federal contract/agreement awards. Dr. Kuchina-Musina has over a decade of experience in federal, state, and international public procurement, specifically directing and managing strategic pursuits in collaboration with business development, proposal development, and change management initiatives for Federal procurement acquisitions. She has also been a strategic partner in providing risk management support for Federal compliance contracts for public and private sector organizations.

Benjamin McMartin, Esq, holds a J.D. from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. Mr. McMartin has been published through the George Mason University Center for Government Contracting White Paper Series and has several articles published relating to Federal and international procurement policy. He is a Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM), a National Contracts Management Association (NCMA) Fellow, and a Senior Fellow of the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University. Mr. McMartin’s research focus areas include Federal and defense procurement policy, intellectual property, export control, artificial intelligence policy, and emerging technology trends for national security. Mr. McMartin has more than a decade of practical experience as a contracting officer and acquisition manager for the Department of Defense and was instrumental in the development and implementation of defense policy and guidance for the use of Other Transaction Authorities while serving as Chief of the Acquisition Management Office for the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – Ground Vehicle Systems Center.