With the number of certified and experienced federal acquisition professionals expected to drop in 2013, two new certifications could help industry fill the gap. Here’s my take on the DAWIA/FAC-C Certification equivalents for people looking to expand their skills.
Category Archives: Acquisition Management
How to Make Agile Work for You in IT Acquisition
In an environment of uncertain budgets and evolving technology, a modular or Agile approach to acquiring new systems can provide greater cost control and flexibility. In Part I of my primer on Agile, I wrote about the What and Why of the modular approach to buying information technology (IT). Now in Part II, I’ll look …
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Think Agile in Modular Acquisition for IT
Government agencies need the most innovative IT solutions, but they also need to “innovate with less.” That’s where Modular Acquisition comes in, taking a “small bites” approach to IT investment, which gives government fast access to the latest technology while lowering the risk of upfront spending on systems. The Agile approach is the most appropriate …
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The Hidden Costs of Firm-Fixed Price Contracts
As fiscal pressures rise, senior leaders across the federal government place additional emphasis on Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) contracts. A prime example is the Department of Defense “Better Buying Power” memoranda. FFP contracting is an important method to add simplicity and cost efficiency, but with respect to services, FFP contracting is not always appropriate. When bound …
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2013’s Top Trends in Acquisition and Program Management
Our Integrity experts each forecast one top trend for 2013. What emerging trends will dominate the next 12 months or more in acquisition and program management? And what should you know right now? Trending Up: Back to the Basics — Choosing the Right Contract Type Last November Mr. Frank Kendall, Under Secretary of Defense …
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A Conversation on Strategic Sourcing 101
You’ve heard of strategic sourcing. You’re being advised to use it. But when does it work best and what’s the key to getting started? Integrity Fellow Tom Kuhn sits down with Chris Dorobek of the Dorobek Insider program for a wide-ranging discussion about how to make strategic sourcing work in federal agencies. Read the transcript, …
OMB 300/53 Business Case: The Path to Green Scores, Part II
In my first post about the OMB 300/53, I laid out the operational basics, the scoring, and important stakes behind managing the business case process. It’s not easy to achieve an all green scorecard at the end of this process. But, it is do-able, if you anticipate the challenges and have proactive strategies. Having supported …
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Business Case Primer: How OMB 300/53 Can Lead to All-Green Scores
Each year Program Managers are tasked with proving that investments align with agency mission and support business needs with low risk during the investment lifecycle. The OMB Budget Exhibit 300/53 is a business case that justifies the strategic and economic value of any investment, say for example, in major IT infrastructure. The business case helps organizations …
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Don’t Let Incremental Funding Drag Your Program over the Fiscal Cliff
During this period of fiscal uncertainty, characterized by continuing resolutions and the approaching “Fiscal Cliff,” many may turn to incremental funding as a means to manage scarce and unpredictable resources. Incremental contract funding is a useful financial tool because it forces the government to closely monitor costs. However, if not deliberately planned and carefully managed, …
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What Social Media Can Teach Us about Government/Industry Exchange
Two years into the “Myth-Busters” campaign by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), there is still a long way to go to improve information exchange between government and industry. How quickly can the federal government change its traditional ways of engaging, and what can we learn from popular social media platforms such as Facebook …
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