News for the Acquisition Workforce

The deadline for the 2024 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, 2024. You can read more about the award categories and the judging process here. We hope to see your nominations!

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy and GSA are launching the Procurement Co-Pilot, a groundbreaking acquisition market and price research tool powered by OMB's Hi-Def strategic acquisition data policy, part of the Better Contracting Initiative. This tool enhances market research for contracting professionals by leveraging data from FPDS, SAM.gov, BIC contract vehicles, and GSA TDR program. Federal employees gain unparalleled access to government-wide data. They can find vendors, review prices paid, and identify suitable government or agency-wide contracts. Agency-specific pricing data will be included in future iterations through OMB Circular A-137, Strategic Management of Acquisition Data and Information. Access the Procurement Co-Pilot at AcquisitionGateway.gov/co-pilot (MAX authentication required). Stay tuned for live demos and explore additional resources on the Procurement Co-Pilot landing page. Provide feedback online or contact hidef@gsa.gov. 

Successful completion of the Digital IT Acquisition Professional (DITAP) training program earns students a DITAP training certificate, 80 CLPs, and the ability to apply for the Digital Services Credential (DITAP) (formerly FAC-C-DS) through FAI's credential program. FAC-C (Professional) holders with at least two years of experience and assigned to acquisitions consisting primarily of digital services over FAR 13.500(c) thresholds are required to attend the DITAP training program. FAC-COR Level II/III and FAC-P/PM Level II/III holders with at least two years of experience and assigned to acquisitions consisting primarily of digital services over FAR 13.500(c) thresholds are encouraged to attend DITAP training to create a cohesive team that fully understands how to buy digital services. There are several vendors who provide the training: Graduate School USA, Skylight, Management Concepts, EAGLES, ICF, and CivicActions. Learn more about DITAP by visiting the TechFAR Hub.

Join GSA's Office of Professional Services and Human Capital Categories for their next Civilian Services Acquisition Workshop webinar series as they explore the world of incentive strategies. Discover how incentive strategies can revolutionize federal acquisition and gain valuable insights on motivating contractors through outcome-based achievements. GSA will provide real-world success stories and assist you in implementing innovative incentive strategies for your next acquisition. Earn 1.5 continuous learning points by attending. Register now.

You are invited to attend GSA’s Acquisition Training for the Real World’s Summer Camp, July 15-19, 2024! Reasons you should join: (1) you will earn up to 10 continuous learning points, (2) you'll gain access to free tools, digital resources, and personalized services and (3) you'll become an expert on finding and acquiring products, services, and solutions. This is a week-long series of virtual training sessions for acquisition professionals. There are five virtual training sessions open to government employees only (federal, military, state, local, tribal). Register now!

The Commercial Platforms program regularly hosts weekly live demo sessions to showcase the key features and benefits that can streamline and simplify micro-purchasing through the program. The program's awardees, including Amazon Business, e-Procurement Services, Fisher Scientific, Glass Commerce, Grainger, NOBLE, Pacific Ink, and Staples, take turns conducting these sessions. Federal purchase cardholders can determine the platforms accessible to them by consulting their agency's point of contact before enrolling. Please note that these sessions are exclusively for government personnel and are not intended for industry participation.

Join GSA for the next IAE stakeholder forum on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. E.T. to gain insights into the various roles available in SAM.gov and the importance of having multiple entity administrators. This forum is open to all SAM.gov users interested in learning about entity roles. Please note that a separate event focusing on federal roles will take place at a later date. The forum will be accessible through your computer audio, with closed captioning and a recorded version available. Press members, kindly RSVP to press@GSA.gov after registration. Don't miss out, register now!

The Leadership Excellence for Acquisition Professionals Program (LEAP) prepares GS-12 to GS-14 federal employees in acquisitions to become better leaders by focusing on the four core tenets of the Partnership’s Public Service Leadership Model: self-awareness, engaging others, leading change and achieving results. By the end of the course, participants will be able to make values-based decisions, use their roles to build strong partnerships, identify how to drive positive impact within their organizations and demonstrate enhanced leadership attributes.

GSA’s successful use of the Highest Technically Rated Offeror with Reasonable Price (HTRO-RP) Technique Survives GAO Protest: The Highest Technically Rated Offeror with Reasonable Price technique allows agencies to ditch the tradeoff process and award to the highest technically rated offeror that also has a reasonable price. GSA used this technique to award up to 60 contracts under the Alliant 2 program. When the technique was asserted as a protest ground, GAO denied the protest ruling that the technique is permitted by the FAR which allows agencies to use any one or a combination of source selection approaches necessary to obtain best value. See the PTAI PDF Playbook to use this technique in your next procurement! Do you have innovative techniques you have implemented? Share them here!

CON 2420V - Architect-Engineer Indirect Rates (July 22–July 25)

CON 1400V - Contract Post-Award (July 25–Aug. 2)

SBP 102V - Introduction to Small Business Programs, Part B (July 29–Aug. 1)

ACQ 265 - Mission-Focused Services Acquisition (Aug. 5–Aug. 8)

FPM 121 - Acquisition Fundamentals of Project and Program Management II (Aug. 5–Aug. 9)

FCR 400 - Advanced Contracting Officer's Representative (Aug. 19–Aug. 23)

FCR 404 - COR Refresher (Aug. 19–Aug. 23)