Driving Efficient Acquisition of Artificial Intelligence in Government
This OMB memorandum provides guidance to executive departments and agencies to improve their ability to acquire artificial intelligence responsibly, efficiently, and competitively. It establishes requirements for market research, solicitation development, contract terms, intellectual property protection, and vendor lock-in prevention. The document rescinds and replaces the previous OMB Memorandum M-24-18.
Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.
Who issued it
Who it governs
Heads of executive departments and agencies, acquisition professionals, and federal officials involved in procuring artificial intelligence.
What the document contains
The memorandum covers the acquisition lifecycle for artificial intelligence systems and services in federal agencies, detailing requirements for market research, solicitation terms, intellectual property, privacy protection, vendor lock-in prevention, and ongoing performance monitoring.
It does not cover non-agency uses of AI, intelligence community elements, national security systems, or regulatory actions directed at private sector AI deployment outside federal procurement.
- Agencies must update their internal acquisition policies and procedures within 270 days to comply with this memorandum and OMB Memorandum M-25-21.
- Procurements must prioritize American-made AI and safeguard taxpayer dollars by tracking performance and managing risk.
- Contracts must include terms protecting intellectual property rights, data handling, and preventing vendor lock-in.
- Agencies must utilize performance-based acquisition techniques like Statements of Objectives, Quality Assurance Surveillance Plans, and contract incentives.
- Continuous testing, monitoring, and authorization to operate (ATO) compliance are mandatory throughout the AI acquisition lifecycle.
· 1. Overview · 2. Scope · 3. Agency-Level Requirements · 4. AI Acquisition Lifecycle Guidance · Appendix I: Consolidated Table of Required Actions
How it scores
Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.
Fairness
3/5Non-discrimination and equitable treatment
Throughout the AI acquisition lifecycle, agencies shall consider and mitigate, as appropriate, risks to privacy, civil liberties, and civil rights.
4. AI ACQUISITION LIFECYCLE GUIDANCE
screening score · 2026-10-23
Human Dignity
1/5Respect for the inherent worth of persons
Consistent with applicable law, it is the policy of the United States to buy American and to maximize the use of AI products and services that are developed and produced in the United States.
3. AGENCY-LEVEL REQUIREMENTS, c. Maximize the Use of American-Made AI
screening score · 2026-10-23
Human Oversight
3/5Humans remain in control of consequential decisions
Government personnel should be prepared to assume a more active role in performance monitoring.
4. AI ACQUISITION LIFECYCLE GUIDANCE, b. Market Research & Planning
screening score · 2026-10-23
Transparency
4/5Openness about how AI systems work and are used
Additionally, for AI systems with potential or expected high-impact use cases, agencies must inform vendors of reasonable transparency and documentation requirements that will be placed on the vendor to enable agency compliance
4. AI ACQUISITION LIFECYCLE GUIDANCE, c. Solicitation Development
screening score · 2026-10-23
Impact Assessment
4/5Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use
During this phase, agencies must identify reasonably foreseeable use cases arising from the use of an AI system or service, and to the greatest extent practicable, make an initial determination of whether a system is likely to host high-impact AI use cases
4. AI ACQUISITION LIFECYCLE GUIDANCE, a. Identification of Requirements
screening score · 2026-10-23