H.R. 1424 – Reading Mode

112th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1424

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 7, 2011

Mr. Connolly of Virginia introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

A BILL

To improve the Federal Acquisition Institute.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Federal Acquisition Improvement Act of 2011.

Acquisition workforce improvements

(a)

Workforce improvements

Section 1704(b) of title 41, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by inserting after the first sentence the following: The Associate Administrator shall be chosen on the basis of demonstrated knowledge and expertise in acquisition, human capital, and management.;

(2)

by striking The Associate Administrator for Acquisition Workforce Programs shall be located in the Federal Acquisition Institute (or its successor). and inserting The Associate Administrator shall be located in the Office of Federal Procurement Policy.;

(3)

in paragraph (4), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;

(4)

by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and

(5)

by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph:

(5)

implementing workforce programs under subsections (f) through (k) of section 1703 of this title; and

(b)

Federal Acquisition Institute

(1)

In general

Division B of title 41, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 11 the following new chapter:

Federal Acquisition Institute

Sec.

1201. Federal Acquisition Institute.

1201.

Federal Acquisition Institute

(a)

In general

There is established a Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) in order to—

(1)

foster and promote the development of a professional acquisition workforce Government-wide;

(2)

promote and coordinate Government-wide research and studies to improve the procurement process and the laws, policies, methods, regulations, procedures, and forms relating to acquisition by the executive agencies;

(3)

collect data and analyze acquisition workforce data from the Office of Personnel Management, the heads of executive agencies, and, through periodic surveys, from individual employees;

(4)

periodically analyze acquisition career fields to identify critical competencies, duties, tasks, and related academic prerequisites, skills, and knowledge;

(5)

coordinate and assist agencies in identifying and recruiting highly qualified candidates for acquisition fields;

(6)

develop instructional materials for acquisition personnel in coordination with private and public acquisition colleges and training facilities;

(7)

evaluate the effectiveness of training and career development programs for acquisition personnel;

(8)

promote the establishment and utilization of academic programs by colleges and universities in acquisition fields;

(9)

facilitate, to the extent requested by agencies, interagency intern and training programs; and

(10)

perform other career management or research functions as directed by the Administrator.

(b)

Budget resources and authority

(1)

In general

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Administrator of General Services shall provide the Federal Acquisition Institute with the necessary budget resources and authority to support government-wide training standards and certification requirements necessary to enhance the mobility and career opportunities of the Federal acquisition workforce.

(2)

Acquisition workforce training fund

Subject to the availability of funds, the Administer of General Services shall provide the Federal Acquisition Institute with amounts from the acquisition workforce training fund established under section 1703(i) of this title sufficient to meet the annual budget for the Federal Acquisition Institute requested by the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy.

(c)

Federal Acquisition Institute Board of Directors

(1)

Reporting to Administrator

The Federal Acquisition Institute shall report through its Board of Directors directly to the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy.

(2)

Composition

The Board shall be composed of not more than 8 individuals from the Federal Government representing a mix of acquisition functional areas, all of whom shall be appointed by the Administrator.

(3)

Duties

The Board shall provide general direction to the Federal Acquisition Institute to ensure that the Institute—

(A)

meets its statutory requirements;

(B)

meets the needs of the Federal acquisition workforce;

(C)

implements appropriate programs;

(D)

coordinates with appropriate organizations and groups that have an impact on the Federal acquisition workforce;

(E)

develops and implements plans to meet future challenges of the Federal acquisition workforce; and

(F)

works closely with the Defense Acquisition University.

(4)

Recommendations

The Board shall make recommendations to the Administrator regarding the development and execution of the annual budget of the Federal Acquisition Institute.

(d)

Director

The Director of the Federal Acquisition Institute shall be appointed by, and report directly to, the Administrator.

(e)

Annual report

The Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives an annual report on the projected budget needs and expense plans of the Federal Acquisition Institute to fulfill its mandate.

(2)

Conforming amendment

Section 1122(a)(5) of such title is amended to read as follows:

(5)

providing for and directing the activities of the Federal Acquisition Institute established under section 1201 of this title, including recommending to the Administrator of General Services a sufficient budget for such activities.

(c)

Government-Wide training standards and certification

Section 1703 of title 41, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (c)(2)—

(A)

by striking The Administrator shall and inserting the following:

(A)

In general

The Administrator shall

; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(B)

Government-wide training standards and certification

The Administrator, acting through the Federal Acquisition Institute, shall provide and update government-wide training standards and certification requirements, including—

(i)

developing and modifying acquisition certification programs;

(ii)

ensuring quality assurance for agency implementation of government-wide training and certification standards;

(iii)

analyzing the acquisition training curriculum to ascertain if all certification competencies are covered or if adjustments are necessary;

(iv)

developing career path information for certified professionals to encourage retention in government positions;

(v)

coordinating with the Office of Personnel Management for human capital efforts; and

(vi)

managing rotation assignments to support opportunities to apply skills included in certification.

; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(l)

Acquisition internship and training programs

All Federal civilian agency acquisition internship or acquisition training programs shall follow guidelines provided by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to ensure consistent training standards necessary to develop uniform core competencies throughout the Federal Government.

(d)

Expanded scope of acquisition workforce training fund

Section 1703(i) of such title is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (2), by striking to support the training of the acquisition workforce of the executive agencies and inserting to support the activities set forth in section 1201(a) of this title ; and

(2)

in paragraph (6), by striking ensure that amounts collected for training under this subsection are not used for a purpose other than the purpose specified in paragraph (2) and inserting ensure that amounts collected under this section are not used for a purpose other than the activities set forth in section 1201(a) of this title.

(e)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this section, or the amendments made by this section, shall be construed to preclude the Secretary of Defense from establishing acquisition workforce policies, procedures, training standards, and certification requirements for acquisition positions in the Department of Defense, as provided in chapter 87 of title 10, United States Code.