Improving Acquisition Timelines with the Operating BEAT Framework
Anyone working in federal acquisition knows the challenge: complex processes, long lead times, and pressure to deliver capability faster than ever. But improving acquisition speed doesn’t always require new laws or sweeping reforms. Often, agencies can expedite delivery by using existing authorities more deliberately.
That’s the foundation of Operating BEAT, a practical, evidence-driven framework developed and applied by GovCIO Project Manager Dustin Ford. BEAT aims to help government and industry teams pinpoint what’s slowing them down and identify small, legitimate, repeatable steps to remove obstacles and improve outcomes.
In December, Dustin took the stage at I/ITSEC 2025 to present “From Red Tape to Red Bows: Urgent Defense Acquisition Transformation.” He’ll unpack how the Operating BEAT framework repositions acquisition around time, barriers, and levers—and how programs can apply it in real-world environments.
Below is a preview of some insights and case study themes Dustin covered.
What is Operating BEAT?
Operating BEAT relies on two critical clocks that determine schedule performance:
- Procurement Administrative Lead Time (PALT): The time from solicitation release (RFP, RFQ, or task order) to award, owned by contracting.
- First Delivery (FD): The time from funded go-ahead to first user-available capability, owned by the program office.
Most teams treat acquisition as one long process. BEAT separates it into two intervals so delays can be diagnosed precisely, accountability is clear, and improvements can be measured using data from systems of record — not assumptions.
Why BEAT Matters for Federal Contractors
For federal contractors, BEAT provides a shared language and structure for partnering more effectively with government customers. It helps industry teams:
- Understand where delays really originate
- Provide evidence-based recommendations instead of opinions
- Reduce risk across complex delivery environments
- Improve timelines without requiring new authorities
- Align with contracting and program offices using the same framework
- Demonstrate value as a strategic schedule partner, not just a vendor
BEAT turns vague conversations into targeted ones.
How the BEAT Framework Works
As Dustin’s research evolved, supported by performance-improvement models from ISPI’s Human Performance Technology and Gilbert’s Behavioral Engineering Model, acquisition scenarios naturally sorted into three elements:
- The Clock: Which timeline are we improving: PALT or First Delivery?
- The Barrier: Is it structural, organizational, or integration-related?
- The Lever: Using existing authority, what practical adjustment will shorten that clock?
This structure became the BEAT framework: repeatable, defensible, and transferable across programs, contracting shops, and mission portfolios.
Download This Session
Dustin’s session, “From Red Tape to Red Bows: Urgent Defense Acquisition Transformation,” walked attendees through:
- Real acquisition case studies
- How barriers show up across programs
- Which levers consistently shorten PALT and First Delivery
- How BEAT scales across mission sets
- Practical tools teams can implement immediately
Click here to download the author’s paper.
