In the latest development of a White House contracting reform effort begun last March OMB has issued an acquisition workforce development strategic plan developed by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy that is designed to develop the civilian agency acquisition workforce over the next five years.
According to OMB, many agencies concentrate on filling vacancies in the procurement field rather than developing longer-term growth and succession plans for the broader acquisition workforce, including program managers and contracting officer technical representatives.
The strategic plan for fiscal 2010 – 2014 establishes the need for workforce growth of 5 percent and a comprehensive annual workforce planning process to be managed by OFPP, in consultation OPM.
It also established a blueprint for increasing the use of intern programs and other training and development initiatives and a five-year action plan to improve workforce development efforts and the workforce management infrastructure.
Using the information and guidance in the plan agencies that are covered by the Chief Financial Officers Act are to develop their own annual acquisition human capital plans that identify specific strategies and goals for increasing both the capacity and capability of the workforce for the period ending in fiscal 2014.
Those plans are due to OFPP by the end of March, and each year thereafter. OFPP will also work with agencies to measure certification rates for all acquisition programs beginning in fiscal 2010 and assess improvements regularly, OMB said.
