Flexing Federal Muscle: How Uncle Sam Can Truly Drive Innovation

Francis welcomes Dr. Jerry McGinn—Executive Director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University and former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense—for a deep dive into one of the most urgent and complex questions in federal policy: Can the government truly lead innovation at scale? Jerry unveils new research showing a staggering 220% increase in Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contract spending since 2018, while also revealing why much of that growth remains difficult to quantify in terms of real-world outcomes. You’ll learn why OTA contracts and SBIR programs have exploded in use, yet lack consistent measures of success; what truly incentivizes innovation in the federal marketplace (hint: it’s not just money); and how outdated definitions and regulatory hurdles are holding back the involvement of non-traditional contractors. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.