Acquisition Resources Service - Training

OFPP and DoD Memorandum of Agreement regarding Acquisition Workforce Training

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503

MEMORANDUM FOR PROCUREMENT EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS

I am excited to share with you the attached memorandum of agreement (MOA) on acquisition workforce training that I have entered into with Stan Soloway. This MOA is a major step toward establishing reciprocity between Defense and civilian agency training programs.

Pursuant to this MOA, the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) will provide its course materials to the General Services Administration (GSA) so contractors under GSA's new training Multiple Award Task Order Contract can teach the DAU courses. DAU will also review courses developed by those contractors to grant equivalency between those courses and DAU courses. Aside from reviews on courses taught by academic institutions, this marks the first time DAU will review commercial offerings and determine such courses equivalent to DAU's own courses. The immediate result will be wider access by civilian agencies to the curriculum found in DOD's training program. In the larger picture, it sets the stage for us to examine how we are training our workforce, and to address differences among agency programs that may be limiting interagency mobility opportunities.

My staff will involve the Procurement Executive Council's acquisition workforce subcommittee in our efforts to implement this MOA, and I invite each of you to follow our progress personally. Ultimately, I want us to reach the point where all agencies will institute reciprocal recognition of training; that is, regardless of what agency trains an individual, the individual's training will be accepted all agencies.

If you have any questions about this MOA or related issues, please contact Tony Baumann at (202) 395-7188 or e-mail abaumann@omb.eop.gov.

Attachment

cc: Deborah O'Neill, FAI

1. Purpose

   This memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Administrator of Federal Procurement Policy and the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Reform lays a foundation for greater cooperation between Civilian and Defense agencies in training the Federal contracting workforce.

2. Background

   The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), through its Policy Letter 92-3 dated June 24, 1992, established a standard set of competencies in which every Federal contracting official is expected to attain an appropriate level of skill. Nonetheless, Civilian and Defense agencies have been delivering different training courses to achieve those competencies, with agencies often reluctant to recognize training across the Civilian/Defense line. The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) has primary responsibility for training the Defense workforce, while Civilian agencies have relied on a variety of training sources to support their workforce. Recently, the General Services Administration (GSA) awarded a Government-wide, Multiple Award Task Order Contract for procurement training of the Civilian agency workforce, wherein the awardees will deliver their own courses as well as courses developed by DAU. Despite the progress seen in this new training arrangement, the parties to this MOA understand that further action is necessary. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that training throughout the Federal sector satisfies a uniform set of required competencies, is recognized by all agencies, and is delivered in a manner suited to the demands of the 21st Century acquisition environment.

3. Short-Term Actions

   In the near-term, we will focus on ensuring reciprocity of training between Civilian and Defense agencies. Such efforts will establish the cooperative spirit necessary to lead us on a successful path into the next century.

   1. DAU will provide its course materials, including any updates and courses that may be developed by DAU in the future, to GSA for use in training the Federal contracting workforce under the GSA training contract.
   2. DAU will work with GSA and the contractors holding GSA's Multiple Award Task Order Contract to implement a process for performing equivalency reviews of contractor-developed training courses. Upon determining equivalency, DAU will authorize the contractors to include the statement, "DAU-Determined Equivalent to CON XXX" (with the appropriate DoD course number identified), on certificates of course completion.
   3. OFPP will work with the Senior Procurement Executives of Civilian and Defense agencies to secure reciprocal recognition of DAU courses within agency training programs.
   4. OFPP will coordinate an ongoing effort between the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) and DAU to explore approaches for verifying, validating, and certifying Government and commercially available training as satisfying required competencies, and for achieving Government-wide recognition of courses for meeting training requirements.
   5. OFPP will participate in DoD-sponsored working groups focusing on the future acquisition workforce, and will involve DoD in similar groups being coordinated by FAI on behalf of OFPP. This will ensure integration of Civilian and Defense agency perspectives and avoid duplication of efforts.
      
      
4. Long-Term 0bjectives

   OFPP and DoD agree to pursue the following long-term objectives, with the assistance of FAI, agency Procurement Executives, and other participants as appropriate:

   1. Explore the roles and responsibilities of the Federal contract specialist of the 21^st Century;
   2. Propose the competencies necessary to adequately perform in a 21^st Century contract specialist position; and
   3. Propose a framework for determining the education and training requirements to equip the 21^st Century contract specialist with necessary competencies, and for delivering that training across the Federal workforce.
      
      
5. Implementation Timeframe

   OFPP and DoD will immediately undertake the short-term actions identified in this MOA, with a completion goal of six (6) months. DAU interface on course materials and equivalency reviews will be ongoing. Pursuit of long-term objectives will commence immediately, but it is expected to evolve over a two (2) year period. Within that schedule, efforts to determine roles and responsibilities should conclude in six (6) months, followed by another six (6) month period for definition of competencies. Design and establishment of the training framework is expected to cover another twelve (12) months. The parties commit themselves to any actions deemed necessary to implement the intent of this MOA.