Definition of Clinger-cohen act

The Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 and the Federal Acquisition Reform Act (FARA) of 1996 were combined to become the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (CCA). The CCA repealed the earlier Brooks Automatic Data Processing Act, so that agencies did not have to obtain information technology procurement authority from the General Services Administration. The CCA is a United States federal law that was co-authored by U.S. Representative William Clinger and Senator William Cohen in 1996. It is designed to improve the way the federal government acquires and manages information technology (IT). It requires the Department and individual programs to use performance based management principles for acquiring IT. These principles include:

• Plan major IT investments.
• Revise processes before investment.
• Enforce accountability for performance.
• Use standards.
• Increase acquisition and incorporation of commercial technology.
• Use modular contracting.