Industry Opposes Restricting Commercial-Item Sales A coalition of leading contractor groups urged the Acquisition Advisory Panel to reject recommendations that would restrict the use of simplified commercial-item rules in federal procurement. In commenting on proposals by the panel’s commercial practices working group, the industry associations said, “The Working Group’s ‘preliminary recommendations’ will undermine years of government and industry efforts to expand the government’s access to commercial products and services.” The working group proposed changes in the definitions of commercial items and commercial services under Part 12 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. The industry associations said the changes would unnecessarily complicate procurement and drive some commercial businesses away from government contracting. The position paper was presented by the Aerospace Industries Association, Contract Services Association, Government Electronics and Information Technology Association, Information Technology Association of America, National Defense Industrial Association and Professional Services Council.