2026 Government Eagle Award: Jeffrey Koses

Why It Matters

The streamlined FAR cuts compliance burdens and accelerates acquisition cycles, strengthening collaboration between the government and industry. It also creates a template for modernizing other entrenched federal regulations.

Key Takeaways

• FAR reduced 25%, deleting 484 pages and 2,724 mandates.
• Cross‑agency tiger team accelerated real‑time testing of rule changes.
• Industry‑only sessions on Acquisition.gov boost transparent feedback loops.
• Data‑driven pricing aligns Federal Supply Schedules with market rates.

Pulse Analysis

Federal procurement has long been hampered by an unwieldy regulatory framework that breeds protests, delays, and excessive staff overtime. The Federal Acquisition Regulation, a 2,000‑page rulebook dating back decades, often forces contracting officers to navigate dense, prescriptive language rather than focusing on mission outcomes. As the government seeks to become more agile, leaders recognize that clearer communication, reduced paperwork, and technology‑enabled processes are essential to cut costs and improve supplier relationships.

Jeffrey Koses tackled these challenges by assembling a cross‑agency “tiger team” that blended seasoned practitioners with technologists. Rather than relying solely on the traditional rulemaking docket, the team used deviation pilots to test changes in real time, allowing rapid iteration. The effort shaved 25% off the FAR, eliminating 484 pages and 2,724 "must‑do" clauses, while introducing transactional data reporting that ties Federal Supply Schedule pricing to real‑world market data. Complementary industry‑only sessions on Acquisition.gov created a transparent forum for candid feedback, ensuring that reforms reflect both government needs and commercial realities.

The impact resonates across the defense, aerospace, and IT sectors that depend on timely federal contracts. Greater flexibility lets contracting officers negotiate more efficiently, shortening award timelines and reducing compliance overhead. By aligning pricing with market benchmarks, the government can achieve better value and avoid overpaying for goods and services. Koses’ cultural shift—prioritizing simplicity, empowerment, and open dialogue—sets a precedent for future regulatory modernization, signaling that legacy rules can be reengineered without sacrificing accountability. This approach positions the federal procurement ecosystem to better serve taxpayers and industry alike.