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Behind the Buy Podcasts

The "Behind the Buy" podcast features audio stories told by members of the Federal acquisition workforce who have successfully executed best practice IT contracting strategies from the TechFAR and Digital Services Playbook to help their agency meet its mission.

Last year, the Administration released two crucial tools to build upon successful efforts to fundamentally improve the way Government delivers services to the public. The Digital Services Playbook outlines key "plays" drawn from private and public-sector best practices to help Federal agencies deliver services that work well for users and require less time and money to develop and operate. The TechFAR Handbook explains how agencies can execute key plays in the Playbook in ways consistent with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which governs how the Government buys goods and services from the private sector.

To share best practices from tools like the Playbook and TechFAR, members of the Federal acquisition community recommended we use more innovative communication channels. The workforce wanted an interactive way to send and receive solutions that enhance the value of IT procurements for customers and taxpayers. Those suggestions led to the creation of the Behind the Buy audio series, or podcast, a human-centered design approach that allows procurement and program offices to listen and learn about innovative IT contracting strategies while carrying on their daily work responsibilities.

In the seventh episode of Behind the Buy, U.S. Chief Acquisition Officer Anne Rung interviews Beth Hochberg, an Assistant General Counsel at the General Services Administration (GSA) and GSA’s chief

Other Media Items in the Collection

Behind the Buy Podcast 1 - Mark Naggar Interview

In this inaugural episode of the Behind the Buy podcast series, OFPP Administrator Anne Rung interviews Mark Naggar, the project manager for the Buyers Club at the Department of Health and Human Services. During the episode, Mark explains how the TechFAR and play #4 from the Playbook, Build the

Behind the Buy Podcast 2 - Driving Agile IT Procurement

In this second episode of the Behind the Buy podcast series, OFPP Administrator Anne Rung interviews Jonathan Mostowski, the Contracting Officer at the U.S. Digital Service. During the episode, Jonathan explains how budgetary flexibility and cost savings are achieved during agile IT procurement

Behind the Buy Podcast 3 - A Simple and Intuitive Approach for IT Procurement

In this third episode of the Behind the Buy podcast series, OFPP Administrator Anne Rung interviews Traci Walker, a founding member of the U.S. Digital Service’s procurement team. During the episode, Traci explains how to make IT procurement simple and intuitive by using the TechFAR and Digital

Behind the Buy Podcast 4 - Leveraging an Agile and Iterative Approach to Help Save American Lives

In this fourth installment of the Behind the Buy podcast series, OFPP Administrator Anne Rung interviews Consumer Financial Protection Bureau contracting officer, Tara Jamison, who has experience in executing agile and iterative strategies supported by the TechFAR Handbook and Digital Services

Behind the Buy Podcast 5 - Managing and Delivering Digital Services for Agile Software Development

In the fifth episode of the Behind the Buy podcast series, OFPP Administrator Anne Rung interviews Chris Cairns, a former founding member of a private equity company and now Managing Director of the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) 18F Consulting. The GSA’s 18F Consulting team

Behind the Buy Podcast 6 - Managing and Delivering Digital Services for Agile Software Development

In the 6th episode of Behind the Buy, OFPP Administrator Anne Rung interviews Dave Zvenyach, former General Counsel to the Council of the District of Columbia and now a highly accomplished “full stack” developer and Director of Acquisition Management for the U.S. General Services Administration’

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