The Office of Management and Budget’s Government Effectiveness Advanced Research Center concept is entering a new phase of development. The GEAR Center Challenge is a contest put on by OMB to help decide what the center’s operations will look like. Up to three winners will get $300,000 for presenting their ideas. Robert Shea, principal at Grant Thornton Public Sector, says that what the organization will look like is anyone’s guess.
“I can’t imagine it as a fully funded, staffed operation, independent of government and industry.” Shea said. “It has to be one that convenes, one that facilitates collaboration, one that offers incentives in the way of procurement flexibilities, hiring flexibilities, but most importantly that accelerates the adoption of proven practices that solve challenges.”