News for the Acquisition Workforce

The deadline for the 2023 Acquisition, Program Management, Small Business and Procurement Equity, and Sustainable Acquisition Excellence Awards is fast approaching, but there is still time to submit an entry! Submit your nomination(s) before July 31, 2023. You can read more about the award categories and the judging process here. We hope to see your nominations!

A key component of FAC-C Modernization is a contracting certification exam that will be required for new contracting professionals who have not previously held any FAC-C or DAWIA certification. The exam, which will become available in July 2023, covers the competencies required for initial readiness for contracting professionals. FAI has received many questions about the exam and has developed a new FAC-C Exam FAQs video to assist the contracting workforce. In addition to this new video, FAI.gov has all of the FAQs and more! 

As we near the fourth quarter, acquisition professionals may be asked to procure furniture. One potential solution is using the GSA Global Supply requisitioning process. Your customer can use this process for high-demand items like adjustable desks. Check out this link for more information on how to order these made-in-the-USA products, and other national stock number furniture products using a government purchase card. For orders over $10,000, other ordering time-saving options are available. See the link for details or send an email to furniture@gsa.gov.

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) is seeking your invaluable expertise and insights! They are excited to introduce the Navigating Supply Chain Challenges campaign. They want to hear about the difficulties you face when sourcing products and services. Are you struggling to find small disadvantaged businesses or other socio-economic small businesses? Do you have trouble finding small businesses for specific NAICs or trouble generating competition for particular products? Battling supply chain disruptions? Unable to find domestic sources? Share your toughest sourcing challenges by June 28. Log in (with a .gov or .mil email address) or request access to create an account here. Your input will help inform activities that support acquisition goals under the President’s Management Agenda. Participants whose contributions are selected for further action may be invited to participate in OFPP’s follow-up efforts. Click here to contribute to this campaign!

A FAC-C-Digital Services (DS) is required prior to being assigned requirements for digital services acquisitions over $7.5 million (or $15 million for acquisitions described in FAR Part 13.500(c)). Legacy FAC-C Level II or III holders, and FAC-C (Professional) holders with at least two years of experience can earn a FAC-C-DS 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.

GSA is working with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Made in America Office (MIAO) to onboard additional vendors to GSA's Multiple Award Schedule. GSA will ensure successfully-prototyped DIU solutions are available to expedite access to vendors in the additive manufacturing/3D print category under special item number 333249. GSA will work with MIAO to ensure American made products are readily available. To learn more about available additive manufacturing/3D print products and services, email 3dprint@gsa.gov.

Join GSA for next month’s webinar and learn more about how to find service providers or suppliers for your next requirement. Let GSA’s Market Research As a Service (MRAS) team assist your agency in finding GSA contract holders capable of meeting your procurement needs. The training will provide you with a better understanding of how to leverage GSA’s MRAS program for more effective market research. By leveraging prior research and analytics and the in-depth knowledge of our market research specialists, GSA’s MRAS team will help you identify suppliers, summarize their capabilities and socio-economics, and provide a comprehensive market plan, all at no cost! Plus, you’ll earn one CLP!

GSA’s 2023 Federal Acquisition Service Training virtual conference series continues June 28! Join experts from GSA, DHS, and FEMA as they outline challenges federal agencies face when preparing for emergencies and the solutions available now. Learn how GSA's Market Research as a Service can help find service providers or suppliers for emergency preparedness requirements, discover how state and local governments can access the multiple award schedule's security and protection solutions and find how the short-term rental process has successfully assisted agencies during emergency situations. You can earn up to three CLPs. Sign up today!