News for the Acquisition Workforce

ACQ 315 - Understanding Industry (Business Acumen) (Feb. 5–Feb. 9)

FCN 170 - Procurement Innovation - FAR Flexibility (two-day) (Feb. 13–Feb. 14)

FCN 482 - Cybersecurity for Contracting Professionals (Feb.15–Feb.16)

ACQ 265 - Mission-Focused Services Acquisition (March 4–March 7)

FQN 475 - Advanced Simplified Acquisition Procedures (five-day) (March 4–March 8)

Members of the federal acquisition workforce now have free access to over 8,000 LinkedIn Learning assets through the FAI CSOD virtual campus. These assets include guides, courses, books, and videos that offer opportunities to expand skills, receive training, and earn continuous learning points. Users can search for training by topic or filter by provider to find LinkedIn Learning courses. The new courses seamlessly integrate into the existing environment. Once registered, the course will appear in the user's active FAI CSOD transcript until completion. LinkedIn Learning offers a wide range of options, including courses on business, innovation, leadership skills, and supply chains. Read more about LinkedIn Learning in this FAQ document!

FAI has introduced playlist functionality to FAI CSOD. Playlists are curated lists of learning events, videos, and articles that bridge the gap between formal training and the unique needs of organizations. Users can create their own playlists to explore later. FAI has developed a COR Continuous Learning Playlist, which includes FAI CSOD courses, articles, and more. It offers options for technical skills, emotional intelligence, systems thinking, time management, and project management. Currently, only administrators can publish playlists, but this capability will be extended to agency administrators and acquisition career managers in the future. Access playlists in FAI CSOD under the "Learning" tab. Several playlists will be released in the coming months. Log into FAI CSOD and take a look at playlists today. 

How will the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act and FAR Case 2020-011 affect how you do business? Learn more and enroll in the NEW FAI CSOD course, FCS 103 - Security Exclusions and Prohibitions! You will gain essential skills and knowledge for robust cyber supply chain risk management, which will be valuable for your professional development and contribute to the protection and mitigation of national security threats. This course is part of FAI's series of Cyber-Supply Chain Risk Management courses. Completion of this course will earn you one CLP, and it is open to all federal employees. Enroll today!

SMS authentication is a great option. You can easily access your FAI CSOD account if your email address changes, or quickly reset your password if you forget it. It gives you convenient access to your verification code via phone. Follow the steps below to configure SMS authentication:

1. Visit and login to https://id.dau.edu/.
2. Open the drop-down menu below your name in the upper right-hand corner and click Settings.
3. Scroll down and view the box that says, Extra Verification.
4. Click Set Up next to SMS Authentication and follow the instructions provided.

GSA’s Acquisition Training for the Real World (ATRW) series runs Jan. 29 through Feb. 9, every weekday at 2 p.m. E.T. ATRW offers all government employees (federal, state, local, tribal) virtual courses designed to help you become an expert on finding and acquiring products, services, and solutions to meet mission needs. Get access to free planning tools, digital resources, and personalized services to improve your acquisitions. Earn up to 10.5 CLPs.

Are you planning to use the OASIS contracts for your professional services requirements? If so, be sure to register for the next OASIS Delegation of Procurement (DPA) training on Jan. 25, 2024. DPA training gives contracting officers access to the OASIS unrestricted and OASIS small business contract vehicles and teaches best practices for task order issuance. The DPA clearly delineates the roles and responsibilities between the GSA contracting officer and the ordering contracting officer and complies with the Office of Management and Budget's executive agent designation to GSA. Register now.

The Better Contracting Initiative aims to save billions of dollars annually for taxpayers while advancing a diverse and resilient federal contracting base. Register today for A Deep Dive into the Better Contracting Initiative to learn about strategies agencies are implementing now to improve procurement processes, leverage acquisition data for better decision-making, and ensure value in high-risk contracts. Scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 25 from 1:00–2:00 p.m. E.T., the webinar features administration officials and agency leaders in acquisition as they discuss the initiative's goals and strategies as part of the President's Management Agenda. Register here today for this live webinar.

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) is excited to announce the re-launch of the OFPP InReach Hub on the Acquisition Gateway! The InReach Hub is the only comprehensive source about current and upcoming OFPP policies and activities. With a focus on sharing opportunities to engage with us on government-wide acquisition policies and initiatives, the InReach Hub is your one stop for engaging, learning, and contributing to the development of government-wide federal acquisition practices. Whether you're a seasoned acquisition professional or new to the field, the InReach Hub provides valuable insights, policy updates, and opportunities to enhance your understanding and contribution to the landscape of federal procurement. Check out the InReach Hub today!