EIA continues to build upon a tradition of service and representation for companies providing goods and services to the federal government. EIA serves as a forum for industry to review, debate, and formulate a strong consensus position on the many legislative and executive branch actions affecting the government contracting community.

As an advocate for acquisition policies that recognize the realities and benefits of choice and competition, EIA seeks to ensure that the U.S. government can access, in a cost-efficient and timely manner, the latest commercial and military (or dual-use) technologies and services required to fulfill its mission.

An important – but often underutilized – acquisition policy is the government's avowed preference for procuring commercial and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products and services.  It is essential that the federal government continue to resist or minimize government-unique requirements that are a disincentive to commercial firms wishing to do business with the government.

The Government Procurement Relations Council (GPRC), which was reconstituted at the end of 2006 to address acquisition-related policy issues for all EIA sectors, is the primary forum for defining and advocating our industry's proactive procurement agenda. The goal of the GPRC is to help our members enter the government market by supporting acquisition policies that will ease current barriers to market entry. It will also be the focal point for educating and enlisting congressional support for policies that enable the industry to remain globally competitive.

Through the GPRC, EIA will be actively engaged in the congressional debate on the short-term and near-sighted policies introduced in recent years, such as the "Buy American" legislation, and will continue to oppose any government action that would jeopardize the federal supply chain in order to protect specific industrial segments.