A fiscal year 2023 DHS report noted that acquisition hiring time frames ranged from 3 to 18 months. Image: Mark Van Scyoc/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe GAO has cited as key challenges to the DHS acquisition workforce issues that other reports have raised regarding other agencies, including incomplete information about the current staff onboard, the need for better planning for the future and the often slow and complex hiring process.
“Since its inception in 2003, DHS has confronted numerous challenges related to recruiting, retaining, and managing its acquisition workforce,” said a report that focused on three occupations that apply government-wide—program managers, contracting officers, and contracting officer’s representatives—plus eight department-specific occupations.
In interviews with 55 employees in such positions, 41 identified “heavy workload” as their most considerable challenge. “Lengthy hiring time frames were also a considerable challenge. Twelve of the 17 program managers that GAO interviewed cited this as a challenge. For context, a fiscal year 2023 DHS report noted that acquisition hiring time frames ranged from 3 to 18 months,” it said.
Other challenges commonly cited included retention, certification requirements and internal communication. DHS however “has not evaluated whether it is effectively addressing” those challenges through steps it has taken such as career development, mentoring, and training programs, GAO said.
“Furthermore, DHS does not have comprehensive data on the size or demographics of its acquisition workforce” and without it, the department “lacks reasonable assurance that its decisions about current and future workforce requirements are based on complete information,” the report said.
DHS agreed with a recommendation regarding better collection of data on its staff but disagreed with others regarding assessment and planning, saying it already has such initiatives underway. GAO in turn reiterated its recommendations, saying more is needed.
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