News for the Acquisition Workforce

Credentials were first introduced with the announcement of the new FAC-C (Professional) on Jan. 19, 2023 and will provide you with technical and professional contracting competencies at the time of need. FAI recently developed two videos, one for the FAC-C workforce and another for supervisors, further outlining what credentials are, how they'll support your career journey and answering frequently asked questions. Be sure to tune in!

FAI is pleased to announce the posting of the fiscal year 2022 Q4 quarterly workforce metrics, which provide acquisition workforce updates across two critical occupational series, GS-1102 and GS-1101. The data illustrated in the tables and charts contained within the workbook is sourced directly from the Office of Personnel Management FedScope database. To access the metrics, please visit FAI's Human Capital Planning webpage.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is advertising a job announcement for their Acquisition Professional Career Program (APCP), attempting to reach as many members of the civilian acquisition workforce as possible. The vacancy announcement is for the position of an industrial engineer, GS-0896-07 FPL 12, closing on June 12, 2023. Please encourage any great potential candidates to review and apply! You can learn more about the DHS APCP at the following links: www.dhs.gov/acquisitioncareers, www.dhs.gov/apcp, www.dhs.gov/ship and www.dhs.gov/w2dhs.

Members of the acquisition workforce are encouraged to read Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-04, which implements the prohibition on having or using the social networking service TikTok or any successor application or service developed or provided by ByteDance Limited or an entity owned by ByteDance Limited (‘‘covered application’’). The rule prohibits the presence or use of a covered application on information technology, including certain equipment used by federal contractors. This prohibition applies to devices regardless of whether the device is owned by the government, the contractor, or the contractor’s employees (e.g., employee-owned devices that are used as part of an employer bring your own device (BYOD) program). The list of documents included in this FAC are: introduction, FAR Case 2023–010 Prohibition on a ByteDance Covered Application, final rule, effective: June 2, 2023 and small entity compliance guide. 

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) invites the federal workforce to participate in their new crowdsourcing campaign, Navigating Supply Chain Challenges: Tell us Your Toughest Sourcing Challenge. Help them identify specific types of products or services that have been difficult to obtain in the federal marketplace. They want to hear from acquisition, supply chain, small business, category management, program and industrial policy experts, as well as others who struggle to find the right product or service for your agency's mission or are working to analyze supply chain challenges. Register to participate in OFPP’s online crowdsourcing community and/or log in here.

Service acquisitions succeed by accurately defining tasks and performance standards. Performance standards are defined by the level of execution required to meet your requirement. A Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan evaluates whether the contractor is meeting the performance standards/quality levels in the performance work statement and ensures that the government pays only for the services received. Join GSA this month to learn how to create standards that communicate contractor outcomes and performance objectives. Set high standards and quality levels for every requirement to improve performance. Register for one CLP!

A GSA Schedule Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) is an agreement established by a government buyer with a schedule contractor to fill repetitive needs for supplies or services (FAR 8.405-3). Buyers reduce administrative burden by eliminating repetitive activities such as searching for sources and needing to prepare new, complete requests for quotes for each schedule order. Join GSA this month to learn how BPAs can help you streamline ordering procedures, reduce administrative costs, and save time. Register and earn one CLP!

A FAC-C-Digital Services (DS) Credential is required prior to being assigned requirements for digital service acquisitions over $7.5 million (or $15 million for acquisitions described in FAR Part 13.500(c)). FAC-C level II or III holders can earn a FAC-C-DS Credential and CLPs via the Digital IT Acquisition Professional (DITAP) program. Additionally, level II or III FAC-COR and FAC-P/PM holders can earn a completion certificate and CLPs through successful completion of the DITAP program. There are several vendors who provide the training: Management Concepts, ICF, CivicActions, EAGLES, Skylight and Graduate School USA.

In addition to Acquisition Today, FAI is also active on LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube, where we post additional acquisition-related information, news and updates. So don't miss out, follow us today!