News for the Acquisition Workforce

Federal Acquisition Institute sent this bulletin at 10/21/2026 11:30 AM EDT

Oct. 21, 2026

What Skill Have You Been Meaning to Build?

Professional explores Udemy Business courses in data literacy, Excel, project management, leadership, and emerging technology.

From Excel and data literacy to project management, leadership and emerging technology, acquisition workforce members can now explore more than 12,000 Udemy for Business learning opportunities through FAI CSOD.

Featured courses include Introduction to Data Literacy, Practical Data Literacy for Leaders, Master NEW Excel Functions in Office 365 & Office 2021+, and Project Management Fundamentals for Beginners.

Whether you want to strengthen a skill you already use or explore something completely new, Udemy provides another way to invest in your professional development.

These are just a few of the available courses. Explore the broader Udemy for Business inventory available through FAI CSOD.

ICYMI: CON 7300V Becomes Required for FAC-C (Professional) Certification Nov. 1

An acquisition professional views a laptop, informing her of the FAC-C curriculum update effective Nov. 1, 2026

Reminder: Effective Nov. 1, 2026, CON 7300V: Price Analysis becomes a mandatory course for civilian agency acquisition professionals pursuing FAC-C (Professional) certification.

Who is impacted? Professionals who have not received approval of their FAC-C (Professional) certification package by Oct. 31, 2026, must complete CON 7300V. Already certified professionals do not need to complete the course to maintain their certification.

If you're currently pursuing FAC-C (Professional) certification, review your training requirements and plan accordingly. Read Acquisition Flash 27-01 for complete guidance, enrollment priorities and updated curriculum requirements.

FAI CSOD User Access: What You Need to Know

FAI CSOD now prompts users to review their records when logging in. If you update your information, you must log out for two hours before changes take effect. However, you can finish your work before logging out. To keep your account active, log in at least once every 90 days. After 90 days of inactivity, FAI CSOD flags your account for suspension. After 120 days, FAI CSOD suspends access. Contact the WarU help desk to restore access. Log in today to explore new FAI courses and learning opportunities from Skillsoft, Udemy and other providers.

Advance Your Skills with Upcoming FAI Training

Instructor presents career development and training opportunities to federal professionals during a group learning session.

CON 2420V - Architect-Engineer Indirect Rates, Nov. 2–5

FQN 432 - Information Technology Acquisition (3-Day), Nov. 16–18

ACQ 265 - Mission-Focused Services Acquisition, Nov. 16–19

ACQ 3700V - Acquisition Law, Nov. 30–Dec. 4

FCR 201 - Contracting Officer's Representative Level 2, Nov. 30–Dec. 4

FCR 400 - Advanced Contracting Officer's Representative, Nov. 30–Dec. 4

FFM 302 - Internal Control: Meeting Federal Requirements for Accountability, Dec. 1–4

FQN 170 - Conducting Acquisitions for Cloud Services, Dec. 7–8

FFM 107 - Negotiation Skills (2-day), Dec. 7–8

FFM 300 - Data Analysis and Modeling Techniques, Dec. 7–10

CON 2430V - Architect-Engineer Contracting, Dec. 7–11

FPM 121 - Acquisition Fundamentals of Project and Program Management II, Dec. 7–11

FQN 070 - Cost and Price Analysis, Dec. 7–11

FQN 200 - Administration Of Cost-Reimbursement Contracts, Dec. 7–11

FQN 440 - Basic Source Selection, Dec. 7–11

FAI Offers Commercial Construction Training

Three professionals in hard hats review documents at a construction site

Join this fast-paced, interactive training session to apply the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul to commercial construction acquisitions. Work through practical scenarios and real-world examples involving commerciality, acquisition strategy, contract type, performance-based approaches, pricing, and the distinction between minor modifications and major customization.

Three live sessions remain:

Nov. 3 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET
Nov. 19 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. ET
Dec. 10 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. ET

Participants can earn 1.5 CLPs, which will be automatically awarded after the event. Strengthen your understanding of the RFO and gain practical approaches you can apply on the job. Register today in FAI CSOD. Each session is limited to 200 seats.

Bring Open-Market Spend Under Management with the Commercial Platforms Program

Video thumbnail showing attendees at a meeting, one raising her hand, with the title “What is the Commercial Platforms Program?” and a play button.

More than 50 agencies have shifted routine micro-purchase spending from the open market to GSA's Commercial Platforms Program — a managed, governmentwide solution with compliance tools and features designed to support federal buying requirements. The program provides access to Amazon Business, ePS, Fisher Scientific, G-Commerce, Grainger, NOBLE, Pacific Ink, and Staples. Buyers gain competitive pricing, no minimum order quantities, real-time inventory visibility, and fast delivery. Watch two new videos — What Is the Commercial Platforms Program? and When to Use the Commercial Platforms Program — to learn how the program can support your agency’s purchasing needs. Questions? Visit the website or email CommercialPlatforms@gsa.gov.

GSA’s Acquisition Training for the Real World FY27 Fall Session

Promotional graphic for GSA’s FY27 Acquisition Training for the Real World Fall Session, Oct. 26-30, 2026, featuring GSA and ATRW logos.

Join GSA Oct. 26–30, 2026, for the Acquisition Training for the Real World (ATRW) FY27 Fall Session. Themed “Start Smart: Building Better Federal Acquisitions for FY 2027,” this five-day virtual event will help federal acquisition professionals plan earlier, buy smarter and execute with confidence.

Participants can earn up to 10 CLPs across 10 interactive sessions covering market research, artificial intelligence integration, small business strategies, prompt engineering, requirements writing and post-award administration. Registration is open exclusively to government employees.

Acquisition Today is published the first and third Wednesday of each month. If you have information that you would like to share with the federal acquisition workforce community via Acquisition Today, you may submit your article for consideration by completing this form. If you have feedback that you would like to share with FAI, please email us at contact@fai.gov.

Any reference to, or information discussing, a specific commercial training organization, or its products, processes, or services within this Acquisition Today newsletter does not constitute or imply an endorsement by FAI, GSA, or the United States Government of the commercial training organization, or its products, processes, services, producers, or providers. The views and opinions expressed in any referenced document, website, linked information, or any other information, contained in the newsletter regarding a commercial training organization do not necessarily state or reflect those of FAI, GSA, or the United States Government. All references to commercial training organizations are for information purposes only. Neither the FAI, GSA, or the United States Government, nor any of their employees, assumes any legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information from a commercial training organization's referenced information, linked information, services, products, producers, or providers.

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