A Grant Thornton and Professional Services Council report reveals that federal acquisition professionals believe agencies must grab the opportunity to leverage new skills and ideas and transform the acquisition workforce, the Federal Times reported Thursday.
Andy Medici writes that respondents in the latest PSC-Grant Thornton Acquisition Policy Survey also pointed to challenges that have hindered the development of training programs or limited their curriculum coverage.
“Uncertainty in funding levels and the timing of available funds undermines the acquisition process from training, to planning to execution and access to innovation,” said Phil Kangas, a principal at Grant Thornton.
PSC President and CEO Stan Soloway added that current learning programs also do not include business and negotiation skills as well as knowledge of relevant technologies in the core curriculum.
He also noted that the workforce is less willing to take risks or push for innovation.
Federal acquisition professionals in the survey also indicated concerns about available funds and competition from the private sector preventing the hiring of needed workers, Medici reports.
