Training in the Acquisition Workforce

Importance of Training in the Acquisition/Contracting Field

PROC 5000, Supply Chain Management, Webster University

Mark Long

February 21, 2010

The one consistency between the commercial sector and the government is the importance of purchasing professionals in their respective organizational strategies. The federal government, like any commercial firm has the responsibility of supporting its mission by acquiring commodities, services, and construction projects. The individuals who are responsible for making this happen throughout the government are purchasing/acquisition/contracting professionals. In day-to-day operations, the value of acquisition personnel is often overlooked because they are not as visible as other high profile occupations in regards to executing the mission. However, these experts often work arduously behind the scenes rapidly acquiring the requirements of a vast variety of customers in addition to responding to numerous unforeseen problems that occur throughout the acquisition life cycle of purchase orders and long-term contracts. Customer requirements range from buying simple items such as running shoes and canine obstacle courses to complex projects such as multi-million dollar construction projects, medical patient safety consulting contracts, and aircraft and weapon systems acquisitions. To accomplish these purchases, contracting specialists are asked to deploy skills such as conducting tactical and strategic market research, documentation, cost/price analysis, negotiation in addition to being cognizant of the legal parameters and ethical issues involved in each acquisition, all while having to possess the ability to multi-task and be functionally organized. Additionally, military and sometimes civilian contracting and acquisitions personnel are required to travel abroad to do the noble task of being contingency contracting officers, supporting our war fighters in Iraq, Afghanistan and surrounding areas, adding a...