CIA emphasizes speed under new acquisition framework

The CIA says it’s also using “centralized vendor vetting” and a “streamlined IT authorization process” to speed up acquisitions.

The CIA is emphasizing speed under a new acquisition framework aimed at tightening partnerships between the spy agency and private technology companies.

The CIA announced the new framework in a Monday press release. The agency said it would “accelerate and streamline CIA’s collaborative efforts with U.S. commercial partners to harness the cutting-edge innovation of America’s private sector.”

“We’re optimizing our approach to working with the private sector,” CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in a statement. “CIA’s rapidly evolving mission demands a radical shift towards a culture of speed, agility, and innovation. By leveraging the best technological solutions available today, the CIA will be better equipped to meet the intelligence challenges of tomorrow.”

The CIA said it’s also using “centralized vendor vetting” and a “streamlined IT authorization process” to speed up acquisitions. Those along with the new framework are expected to “significantly reduce the time between when CIA defines a mission requirement and when it receives operating authority.”

The agency didn’t release details on specific acquisition authorities or contracting approaches. But it said the framework includes “clear pathways for CIA to leverage its unique authorities to acquire essential capabilities, rapidly onboard breakthrough technology prototypes, and modernize its core systems to meet urgent mission needs.”

A CIA official confirmed the acquisition reforms are being led by Efstathia Fragogiannis, who joined the CIA as chief procurement executive in November. Fragogiannis previously served as director of contracts and senior procurement executive at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis, in a statement, said the CIA “is open for business.”

“We’re entering a range of commercial partnerships, from startups to industry leaders, in areas like AI, biotech, FinTech, and microelectronics,” Ellis said. “If you’re a company pushing the boundaries of emerging technologies, we want to partner with you to help CIA stay ahead of foreign adversaries by getting game-changing capabilities into the hands of our officers faster.”

While much of the CIA’s business processes and solicitations aren’t made public, the agency does accept tech pitches through its website.

The CIA’s focus on acquisition reform comes as it looks to better harness emerging tech for its global intelligence mission. Like many federal agencies, spy agencies have struggled to keep pace with commercial technologies like AI.

During his confirmation hearing last January, Ratcliff said the CIA should do more to use technologies like AI and quantum computing to advance its human intelligence collection.

“We’re not where we’re supposed to be,” Ratcliffe told lawmakers.

The CIA’s announcement comes after the Defense Department embarked on a similar shake up of the DoD acquisition system starting last year. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also put an emphasis on speed at the center of that sweeping transformation effort.

Lawmakers for several years have put provisions in the annual intelligence authorization bill that push the intelligence community to do more to adopt innovative technologies and work with more tech start-ups.

The 2026 intelligence authorization bill, for instance, requires the intelligence community to establish a strategy to “acquire and integrate emerging technologies proven to meet mission needs.”

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