Reimagining Federal Acquisition-Insights from GSA’s FAR Overhaul Webinar
The General Services Administration (GSA) is undertaking one of the most ambitious modernization efforts in recent federal acquisition history. During a recent webinar, GSA leaders came together to share their vision for transforming the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) into a modern, accessible, and mission-driven tool and provided updates on the future of acquisition in government contracting.
Why Overhaul the FAR?
The FAR is the backbone of federal procurement, but as GSA’s speakers noted, it is outdated in both structure and usability. Originally designed for a paper-based era, it lacks the digital functionality and human-centered design that today’s acquisition workforce and the vendors they engage with need. According to Stephen Ehikian, the current FAR “hasn't kept pace with how people learn and work,” describing it as “a complex, legalistic document that often feels disconnected from real-world contracting needs.” The overhaul seeks to reframe the FAR not just as a set of rules, but as a living, breathing system that supports learning, decision-making, and policy application across the lifecycle of federal procurement.
The Future of Acquisition
This webinar presented a blueprint for transformational change. While many specifics haven’t been released, here are five key takeaways that frame the future of federal acquisition:
GSA is still working through the procurement consolidation of current and future contracting vehicles based on the recent EO Eliminating Waste and Saving Taxpayer Dollars by Consolidating Procurement including NASA SEWP and CIOSP-4.
Merit based contracting is a core tenet of the FAR Overhaul.
This is not just a reformatting of the FAR—it’s a complete paradigm shift. Practitioner Albums, Category Buying Guides and Companion Guides will become primary learning tools for the acquisition workforce. The new tools emphasize usability, accessibility, and workflow integration.
Stakeholder engagement is foundational to the success of the overhaul.
The future FAR is digital-native, scalable, and designed for integration with AI and emerging technologies.
Merit-Based Contracting
One important theme from the webinar was the mention of return to merit-based contracting. In contrast to legacy procurement models that emphasized compliance above all else, merit-based contracting focuses on selecting vendors based on their ability to deliver high performance, innovation, value, and results. During the webinar, GSA officials highlighted the need to ensure procurement decisions prioritize capability, past performance, and value to the government. This stands in alignment with Executive Order 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” which mandates a sweeping rollback of any policies or contracting practices that rely on race-, sex-, or identity-based preferences.
This executive order aims to strip away what it characterizes as “illegal DEI preferences” and refocus government procurement on individual merit, competence, and value delivery. In practical terms, this means contracting officers will be expected to evaluate vendors based on their qualifications, innovation, and track record—not on identity-based criteria. However, it’s important to note that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has clarified that this executive order does not apply to programs or activities that affect or serve American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). As confirmed in a memo from SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis, it would be “unreasoned to read [the order] as applying to AI/ANs given that Tribes are separate sovereigns”. While the broader implications for federal set-aside programs remain to be fully determined, this clarification provides reassurance that Tribal programs under SBA’s purview are not affected.
What’s Changing? Tools and Frameworks in the New FAR Ecosystem
The webinar unveiled several new elements that are either in development or already underway, including:
1. Practitioner Albums
These are curated, narrative-driven collections of tools, examples, and explanations designed to help users understand policy through the lens of practice. They’re structured around specific acquisition topics like Market Research or Contract Types and include implementation checklists, sample documents, and contracting officer testimonials. Practitioner Albums are not static—they are built to evolve with community feedback. They are “not a policy issuance,” but “a practical learning tool grounded in actual acquisition experiences.”
2. FAR Companion Guides and Category Buying Guides
While the FAR remains the official source of policy, the Companion Guides and Category Buying Guides will be designed to translate policy into workflow-oriented knowledge. These guides will provide context, recommended practices, and explain the “why” behind policy decisions, helping professionals apply FAR clauses with greater clarity. The FAR Companion will also act as a “bridge between regulation and real-world action,” offering professionals a digital experience that organizes content by task, not clause number. These guides are not yet available for public comment but are in development.
3. New Digital Infrastructure
GSA is rebuilding the FAR ecosystem to be modular, searchable, and AI-ready. This includes a redesigned web interface, plain-language explanations, interactive tools, and advanced search functionality—features acquisition professionals have long requested. Importantly, the FAR will no longer be siloed. Regulatory content will be linked with practical resources so users can explore guidance based on where they are in the procurement process.
Why Industry Involvement Matters
This transformation is not just about federal buyers, it’s about reshaping the entire acquisition ecosystem. For companies doing business with the government, these changes represent both a challenge and an opportunity. By getting involved early through feedback and collaboration, companies can help shape the rules they will one day operate under.
The FAR Overhaul reinforces this by structurally reducing procedural burdens, empowering acquisition professionals to use judgment, and creating new tools (like the Practitioner Albums and Companion Guides) that emphasize performance-driven decision-making. For industry, this shift creates both accountability and opportunity. The companies that are best prepared, most innovative, and consistently deliver value will be the ones best positioned to thrive. Focus on these three main factors about your business and how it will shape the future of government contracting:
Capabilities and outcomes matter more than box-checking.
Contracts will reward vendors who show strong past performance, demonstrate agility, and offer proven solutions.
Acquisition teams will have more discretion to select partners based on what they can achieve.
By focusing on merit rather than rigid procedures, the government hopes to open doors to a broader, more innovative industrial base and to foster competition based on excellence, not incumbency or legacy compliance habits. If your company can offer real value and deliver results, this overhaul may level the playing field in ways not seen in decades. GSA has made it clear: they don’t want to build this in a vacuum. The time to engage is now.
Stay Informed and Participate
To stay updated on future webinars and public comment periods, visit www.acquisition.gov and sign up for FAR News alerts.
