FAIPreparing Tomorrow’s Acquisition Workforce

Gloria M. Sochon

Director, Federal Acquisition Institute

October 22, 2004

FAI Fundamentals• Mission– To foster and promote the development of a

professional acquisition workforce into effective business leaders.

– 41 U.S.C. 405(d)(5)

• Strategic Goals– Ensure exceptional training– Provide compelling research– Promote a professional acquisition workforce– Improve acquisition workforce management

FAI Partners• OFPP and the FAI Board of Directors• U.S. General Services Administration• Defense Acquisition University (DAU)• Interagency Procurement Career Management

Committee (IPCMC)– Interagency forum to discuss strategies for addressing

issues in acquisition career management

• Bowie State University (BSU)– Seminars– Procurement and Acquisition Center of Excellence (PACE)– Research

Partnership with DAU

• Leveraging resources

• Developing common career development tools

• Current initiatives– Common competencies

– Common training for contracting personnel

– Coordinated certification programs

FAI Training• FAI Online University – offers web-based

acquisition courses and seminars, including: – Contracting Orientation– COR Mentor Program and Refresher Training– Market Research– Negotiations– HUBZone courses

• Acquisition Learning Seminars

• Federal Acquisition Conference and Expo (FACE)

Acquisition Workforce Training Fund (AWTF)

• Established by the Services Acquisition Reform Act (SARA) of 2003

• Purpose: To ensure the federal acquisition workforce – Adapts to fundamental changes in the nature of

federal acquisition– Acquires new skills & perspectives to contribute

effectively in the changing environment

AWTF Basic Operations

• GSA consults with OFPP• GSA to manage the fund through FAI• Beginning Jan 1, 2004, and effective for 5 years – Applies to all eligible fees collected on or after

January 1, 2004 on any active task or delivery orders and contracts

– Amounts credited are available in the fiscal year credited plus two

• Significantly increases FAI resources– $1.3 million in appropriated funds supplemented by

$5 million from the training fund

AWTF Current Initiatives• Partnering with DAU on

– Revision of CON curriculum• CON 110 online Oct 1; other courses by Dec 31

• Mission-oriented focus

– Services acquisition course– Training on FAR updates– Includes online and classroom training

– Providing subject matter advice directly and through civilian agency volunteers

– May support development more directly on targeted initiatives

AWTF Near Term Initiatives• Updated Contracting Officer’s

Representative (COR/COTR) training• Identifying project/program Management

training• Earned Value Management System training• Training on small business issues• Migration to e-training platform• Definition and application of measures of

training effectiveness• Sponsoring classroom training

Other FAI Initiatives

• Competency reports– Contracting Specialists– COTRs– Competitive Sourcing

• Annual Report on the Federal Acquisition Workforce

• Acquisition Career Management Information System (ACMIS)

• Federal Acquisition Insight Newsletter

Other FAI Initiatives (cont.)• Training Blueprints– Contract Specialist– Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative

(COTR)

• Competency-Based Career Development Training Guide

• Educational Resources– FAI Guide to Acquisition-Related Academic

Programs and Courses– Accreditation of College and University Courses

CAOC Human Capital Initiatives

• Defining the acquisition workforce• Identifying human resource needs and

human capital flexibility– Online HR tools for managers

• In the Virtual Library at www.acqnet.gov – Single recruitment brochure– Skills inventory of the acquisition workforce

• Competitive Sourcing Training video

Other Career Management Initiatives• Government-Wide Acquisition Intern Program

– Two-year program, managed by the Department of the Interior

• Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards for the 1102 Series

• Award Programs– Ida Ustad Award for Excellence in Acquisition– Procurement Roundtable Elmer Staats Award– Excellence in Performance Based Acquisition

• Governmentwide, GSA, and DOD awards

– Business Solutions in the Public Interest– CAO Council Award

FAI Resources • FAI Online University: www.faionline.com

– Free online training courses available to public and private sector students

• Home page: www.fai.gov – ACMIS– FACE Conferences– Acquisition Learning Seminars– Partnerships– Newsletter– Career Management– Educational Resources

• Contact Us– 202-208-4153 or questions@fai.gov