Smart contracting starts with a smart contracting workforce, a fact picked up by two smart contracting gurus in Congress: Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va.The two lawmakers have each dropped identical acquisition workforce reform bills that will help improve civilian agency training by creating a clear reporting structure for the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI). The bills, S. 762 and H.R. 1424, would mandate FAI report directly to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy and would give OFPP the power to enforce governmentwide training standards for acquisition personnel through FAI.
As the primary training source for civilian agency personnel, FAI plays a crucial role in ensuring the acquisition workforce can handle the ever-changing and increasingly complex world of government contracting. Positioning FAI under OFPP gives the institute the backing it needs to establish a clearly defined career path for acquisition professionals through governmentwide training standards and certifications for civilian agencies. The result of the legislation should be more efficient and effective contracting, which will save taxpayer dollars in the long run.
PSC commended the senator and the congressman for their efforts in letters sent on April 13. PSC is also urging other legislators to support the bills and our nation’s acquisition workforce. To its credit, on April 13 the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee unanimously approved the Collins bill by a voice vote, clearing the measure for hopefully near term Senate consideration.
