Shortages of Contracting Officers at USAID and other agencies are painful for all as awards and approvals are delayed. OFPP is also supporting greater efforts to staff and strengthen the CO ranks. As part of a continuing effort to train, develop, and retain the acquisition workforce, OMB has issued a memo describing four initiatives:
- Establishment of a cross-agency Acquisition Workforce Advisory Committee
- Agency level collaboration at senior levels for strategic workforce planning
- Development of leadership skills across the contracting workforce (Contracting Officers, Contract Specialists, Contracting Officers Representative, etc.)
- Creation of retention programs (e.g., internships, collaborative learning, networking, etc.)
While the need to expand and develop the acquisition workforce exists regardless of who is in the White House, new leadership in OMB and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) will likely put their own mark on it. Ultimately it will come down to funding availability at the Agency level. See the item in this edition entitled USAID’s Jami Rodgers Announces Acquisition & Assistance Strategy Implementation Plan Update for 2024 to see what’s at stake.
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