SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Ten federal agencies from around the San Francisco Bay Area exchanged ideas about contracting best practices during the Bay Area Acquisition Roundtable, a forum hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regional Contracting Division, here April 3, 2013 at South Pacific Division headquarters, San Francisco, Calif.

“The roll of contracting will be more critical as the sequester and government reductions take hold,” said Mr. Joseph Calcara, South Pacific Division Director of Programs, who joined the discussion as a keynote speaker. “Reliance on the private sector will increase with a smaller federal workforce."

The roundtable, started in 2010 by Jim Bartha, Regional Chief of Contracts, provides an opportunity for contracting chiefs and officers to discuss federal contracting with the current meeting focused on the impact of budgetary challenges.

“Experience tells us that federal agencies have a lot to learn from each other about best contracting practices," said Bartha. "This is our opportunity to share ideas with our partners and other defense agencies as well as improve the overall dialog and transparencies of federal acquisitions in Northern California."

Federal agencies at the roundtable included the Environmental Protection Agency, General Services Administration, Forest Service, Department of Labor, Small Business Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Agriculture, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Commerce and Department of Energy.