Electronic Commerce Removing Regulatory Impediments

Electronic Commerce techniques, such as electronic mail and electronic data interchange EDI, enable Government agencies to conduct business without the use of cumbersome paper documents. The benefits include reduced paper-handling costs, lower clerical costs, fewer data errors, faster communications, easier access to information, and better customer service. Regulatory impediments, however, are restricting the ability of Government agencies to actually obtain those benefits. The primary impediment is the Federal Acquisition Regulations requirement that Government agencies use paper forms and manual signatures when conducting procurement and contract administration actions. Other impediments are similarly limiting the application of Electronic Commerce techniques in the areas of accounting, transportation, and supply. This report recommends a number of specific changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulation and identifies a variety of other regulations and documents that are impeding the application of Electronic Commerce techniques within DoD. It also recommends that the DoD Executive Agent for Electronic Commerce and Electronic Data Interchange require all participants in DoDs Electronic Commerce Program to include regulatory and procedural reviews in their program plans. Electronic Commerce, Electronic Data Interchange, Federal Acquisition Regulation, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement.