Acquisition Support Tool

Overview

Development stage

DeployedSource: c) Deployed – The use case is being actively authorized or utilized to support the functions or mission of an agency.

High-impact designation

Not high-impactSource: c) Not high-impact

Impact justification

Does not produce an output that serves as a principal basis for decisions or actions with legal, material, binding, or significant effect on any of the individuals or entities identified in OMB-25-21.

Start date

2025-02 (month precision)Source: 02/2025

Withheld from public reporting

NoSource: a) No

Mission

Topic area

Procurement and Financial Management

Operational functions

Summarization, Procurement and acquisition Derived by keyword rules; see methodology

Problem the AI is intended to solve

The problem VAO Ally is intended to solve is the time and resource burden of navigating complex procurement regulations in an office that is already operating lean, even at near full staffing. . Ally quickly summarizes public-domain contracting regulations, simplifying technical language, and providing easy access to relevant rules and resources. This reduces the time staff spend searching for answers, minimizes the risk of misinterpretation, and allows contracting professionals to focus on the judgment-based, legally binding decisions that only they can make.

Expected benefits

The expected benefits of VAO Ally are faster access to accurate procurement guidance, reduced administrative burden on contracting professionals, and greater consistency in interpreting acquisition regulations. For the agency, this means improved efficiency in procurement processes, fewer delays caused by staff shortages or vacancies, and better use of limited resources to focus on mission-critical decision making. For the public, the outcome is a procurement workforce that can respond more quickly and effectively to agency needs, ultimately supporting timely delivery of government services and safeguarding taxpayer dollars.

System outputs

Plain-language summaries, references to regulations, and simplified guidance that users can apply as part of their own professional judgment. The tool may suggest possible resources or interpretations, but the final decision-making authority rests entirely with a warranted Contracting Officer.

Technology

AI classification

Generative AISource: Generative AI: AI that generates new or synthetic content (e.g., images, videos, audio, text, code).

System name(s)

Redacted for cybersecurity purposes.

Custom-developed code

No

Public source code

Not reported

Sourcing

How it was built

Purchased from vendorSource: a) Purchased from a vendor

Vendor (as reported)

Virtual Acquisition Office (VAO) Ally

Vendors (standardized)

None on the standard list

A vendor is the supplier named by the agency. It does not identify the underlying model or AI technology.

Data and privacy

Involves PII

Yes

Privacy Impact Assessment

Not reported

Authorization to Operate

No

Demographic features

k) None of the above

Training and evaluation data

The case owner relied on DOJ AI governance practices to select and prepare data, as well as evaluate performance.

Federal Data Catalog

Not reported

Governance

0 of 8 minimum-practice questions answered. A blank answer means the agency reported nothing; it does not mean the practice is absent.

Potential impacts and how they were identified

Not reported