News for the Acquisition Workforce

Do you know someone who has made a significant impact in the field of acquisition? Don't delay! Now is the perfect time to recognize their achievements! Nominate them for the 2024 Acquisition, Program Management, Small Business, and Procurement Equity and Sustainable Acquisition Excellence Awards. Your nomination could shine a spotlight on their hard work and dedication, inspiring others in the community. Don’t miss the chance to honor those who have excelled. Submit your nomination today and help celebrate excellence in our field!

The Procurement Co-Pilot is now live on AcquisitionGateway.gov/co-pilot! This tool enhances market research by providing federal employees with access to comprehensive government-wide data, including prices paid. Leveraging data from the FPDS, SAM.gov, BIC contract vehicles, and the GSA TDR program, it helps acquisition professionals: (1) review prices paid by various agencies, (2) locate vendors across all categories and sizes, and (3) find the best contracts for their agency's mission. Powered by Hi-Def, a pillar of the Better Contracting Initiative and PMA, the Procurement Co-Pilot is a crucial resource. Learn more: Welcome to the Procurement Co-Pilot (Acquisition Gateway/YouTube) and New Procurement Co-Pilot tool helps agencies with market research. For questions, contact Gateway@gsa.gov or Hi-Def@gsa.gov.

The Administration announced the Climate Smart Building Initiative to help agencies identify opportunities for achieving annual reductions of 2.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through performance contracting. The goal is to cut federal emissions by 50% by 2030. Federal agencies must harness procurement power to prepare their sites for climate resilience. Explore how performance contracts can save energy, water costs, and reduce GHG emissions by taking the Energy Savings Performance Contracting: Five Phases to Success course FCL-DOE-203 on FAI CSOD. More courses tailored for acquisition staff will follow soon. For questions about how FEMP supports agencies, visit here.

RSVP now for the Biden-Harris PMA: Driving Results for All in-person event on Wednesday, July 10! Hear from Jason Miller, Deputy Director for Management from the Office of Management and Budget, and other public servants on how PMA initiatives are transforming government. Nicole Evans, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and the senior procurement executive at the Department of Treasury, will discuss efforts to advance equity in federal procurement. Don’t miss out – RSVP today!

Are you an experienced contract specialist seeking new challenges or exploring career advancement? If yes, join GSA at their upcoming Contract Specialist Virtual Information Session on Tuesday, July 9 at 12:30 PM ET. This session offers valuable insights into current openings and provides a glimpse into working at GSA, consistently ranked among the top federal workplaces. To secure your spot, register today on Zoom for Government or contact GSA at gsa.recruitment@gsa.gov for more details.

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: Skylight, Management Concepts, EAGLES, ICF, CivicActions, and Graduate School USA. Learn more about DITAP by visiting the TechFAR Hub.

Are you a federal partner seeking to expand your portfolio? Do you want to partner with GSA and provide services to the federal government? If so, register for GSA's Industry Symposium on Aug. 7. This free virtual event connects you with federal subject matter experts and offers networking opportunities with industry peers. Secure your spot now before capacity is reached!

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

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 404 - COR Refresher (Sept. 9–Sept. 13)

GSA uses comparative evaluations to issue task orders under GWAC, simplifying task/delivery orders and acquisitions. This method lets agencies compare offerors directly, saving time on adjectival ratings. For its Alliant (Small Business) GWAC, GSA compared vendors' technical approaches. GAO upheld this technique as proper and reasonable. Check the PTAI PDF Playbook to apply this method in your next procurement! Share your innovative techniques here!

Market research is a two-way street between government and industry. Your mission is to collect and analyze market information to meet your agency's needs; however, the techniques outlined in the FAR can sometimes appear vague. ASI Education created this five-minute video to offer a comprehensive overview of market research as described by the FAR and to guide you on your market research journey! **Disclaimer:** GSA/FAI shares this video for informational purposes only. The inclusion of this content does not imply endorsement of the company, its services, or any opinions expressed within the video.