News for the Acquisition Workforce

The Chief Acquisition Officers Council is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Acquisition & Program Management Excellence Awards. These awards recognize exceptional performance across the federal acquisition workforce.

Acquisition Excellence Award (Two Awards) One for an individual, one for a team. Eligible nominations must fall into one of these categories:

• Strategic Acquisition – Innovative strategies that improve speed, competition, or value.
• Procurement Consolidation & Category Management – Effective BIC use, supplier engagement, and demand strategies.
• Cost Efficiency & Performance Accountability – Data-driven improvements or successful application of emerging technologies.

Lisa M. Wilusz Program Management Excellence Award (One Award) Awarded to either an individual or a team who exemplifies program management excellence through risk control, cost/schedule balance, and alignment with PMIAA standards.

Submit by: Aug. 11, 2025 (Deadline will not be extended)

Next session in the FAR Forward series:

Date: July 28, 2025
Time: 1–2 p.m. Eastern
CLPs: 1 CLP | For: Federal acquisition workforce only (.gov or .mil email required)

As the fourth quarter ramps up, understanding the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) is more important than ever. This interactive session will offer a brief discussion on how to apply the RFO to support your agency’s end-of-year planning and execution, including examples from frontline acquisition professionals. Don’t worry, there will still be plenty of time for your RFO-related questions and live Q&A!

This is an open office hour! Bring your questions and insights, and help shape the future of acquisition. Register now to reserve your spot! 

What to expect:

• Live discussion with acquisition professionals
• Timely updates on FAR changes
• Real-world scenarios, peer Q&A, and practical takeaways

Before joining, be sure to check the RFO FAQs to see if your question has already been answered.

Note: This is a recurring session held on the fourth Monday of each month. Your registration confirmation email will include a unique access link that should only be used by you.

The FAR Overhaul is moving fast! If you haven’t checked out the growing library of Practitioner Albums, now’s the time. Whether you’re just getting started or need to catch up, these tools are built to make implementation easier. 

Each of the following FAR parts now has a dedicated Practitioner Album: FAR Part 1, FAR Part 6, FAR Part 10, FAR Part 11, FAR Part 18, FAR Part 34, FAR Part 39, and FAR Part 43.

You can earn one continuous learning point simply by engaging with these albums:

1. Select the album via the link above or directly in the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Playlist.  

2. Request and open the appropriate completion method based on how you accessed the content:

• If you reviewed the album using the link above: Activate the completion attestation and follow the prompts to submit your response.
• If you launched the album in FAI CSOD for the first time: Review all the content within the course. Look for the checkmarks next to each track (section) title to ensure everything is marked complete.

CLPs will then be added to your CSOD transcript.

Stay in the Know: More albums are coming—click “Follow” on the playlist and subscribe to FAR updates so you never miss a release. For deeper insights, check out the new Revolutionary FAR Overhaul FAQ on Acquisition.gov—your go-to for answers and implementation guidance.

Are you working toward or interested in earning your FAC-P/PM Entry Level Certification? FAI has seats available in the following FPM 121 – Acquisition Fundamentals of Project and Program Management II classes from now through the end of September:

FAI: FPM 121-2025-V24, Aug. 18–22

FAI: FPM 121-2025-V25, Sept. 8–12

FAI: FPM 121-2025-V26, Sept. 15–19

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Make data your advantage and start learning today!

Successful completion of the Digital IT Acquisition Professional (DITAP) training program earns students a DITAP training certificate, 80 CLPs, and the ability to apply for the Digital Services Credential (DITAP) (formerly FAC-C-DS) through FAI's credential program. FAC-C (Professional) holders with at least two years of experience and assigned to acquisitions consisting primarily of digital services over FAR 13.500(c) thresholds are required to attend the DITAP training program.

FAC-COR Level II/III and FAC-P/PM Level II/III holders with at least two years of experience and assigned to acquisitions consisting primarily of digital services over FAR 13.500(c) thresholds are encouraged to attend DITAP training to create a cohesive team that fully understands how to buy digital services. There are several vendors who provide the training: Management Concepts, EAGLES, ICF, CivicActions, Graduate School USA and Skylight. Learn more about DITAP by visiting the TechFAR Hub.

Join GSA on July 30 from 12–1 p.m. ET for a free webinar that shows you how to buy cloud computing the right way. They'll cover FedRAMP in just seven minutes, explain contract types and pricing models, and show how GSA’s solutions simplify the acquisition process. You’ll get practical tips for smarter cloud procurement, insights into common acquisition challenges and workarounds, and earn CLP credit for attending. No cost, no fluff—just the cloud knowledge your team needs. Register now. Questions? Contact CloudInfo@gsa.gov. Real-time captions provided; ASL interpretation available upon request.

Join the Federal RPA Community of Practice on Tuesday, July 29, at 1 p.m. ET for an engaging session exploring how AI and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) can solve complex agency challenges. The expert panel will break down the key differences between AI and RPA, highlight real-world examples where each technology excels, and provide strategic frameworks to support smart deployment decisions. Seating is limited—register now before it fills up! This session is open to federal employees and approved contractors only. Please register using a .gov or .mil email address.