Acquisition Workforce:
DOD's Efforts to Rebuild Capacity Have Shown Some Progress
GAO-12-232T: Published: Nov 16, 2011. Publicly Released: Nov 16, 2011.
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The Department of Defense (DOD) is the government's largest buying entity and has recognized that rebuilding the acquisition workforce is a strategic priority. The federal government's current budget and long-term fiscal pressures underscore the importance of a capable and well-functioning workforce. GAO and others have long recognized that the size and capabilities of the workforce across the government warrant the attention of the Congress. This statement discusses (1) DOD's progress in addressing challenges faced in rebuilding the capacity of the acquisition workforce, and (2) insights into the efforts by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) to rebuild its contract oversight capacity. This statement is drawn from our broad body of work on DOD contract management and acquisition workforce as well as a report issued earlier this month on DCMA's efforts to rebuild capacity. We also obtained updated information from DOD with regard to its acquisition workforce competency assessments and workforce hiring..
DOD has made some progress in rebuilding the capacity of the acquisition workforce. For example, DOD reported that it hired about 5,900 civilians into the acquisition workforce in fiscal year 2010 using the Defense Acquisition Development Workforce Fund or as a result of decisions to convert functions previously performed by a contractor to performance by government personnel. DOD's plans for further growing the acquisition workforce remain uncertain because of budget issues. Building workforce skills and expertise is just as important, however, as increasing the size of the acquisition workforce. DOD also made progress in completing competency assessments, which identify the current skills and capabilities of the workforce and help identify areas that needed further management attention. DOD officials reported that DOD has completed three assessments, including contracting, life cycle logistics, and program management, and is drafting final reports for another six assessments. One area where DOD still faces challenges is determining the effectiveness of its training in improving acquisition outcomes. GAO recommended in 2010 that if DOD is to fully assess performance improvements, it needs to go beyond measuring the size of the workforce. DOD did not concur with the recommendation, stating that it believed existing metrics were sufficient to assess the impact of its training efforts on acquisition outcomes. GAO continues to believe DOD needs to develop additional metrics. Further, to help improve acquisition outcomes, GAO reported that DOD needed to assess the skills and competencies of and training provided to those people who have a role in acquisition but who are outside what DOD has formally defined as the acquisition workforce. GAO recommended that DOD establish criteria for identifying these personnel, assess the critical skills needed to perform their role in the acquisition process, and designate an organization that has the responsibility to track DOD's progress in identifying, developing, and overseeing personnel outside the defined acquisition workforce. DOD concurred with these recommendations. The challenges DCMA is experiencing in rebuilding its capacity are illustrative of those faced by DOD. DCMA performs a critical role in helping to manage and oversee contractor performance. GAO's November 2011 report found that DCMA is attempting to rebuild its workforce, making increased use of the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund. For example, in fiscal year 2011, DCMA reported it hired 1,221 new employees under this authority, a substantial increase from 166 hired in fiscal year 2009. GAO also noted that by the late 1990s, DCMA had lost the majority of its contract cost/price analysts, which, according to DCMA, meant many of its pricing-related contract administration responsibilities, such as negotiating forward-pricing rate agreements and establishing final indirect cost rates and billing rates, were no longer performed to the same level of discipline and consistency as in prior years. As a result, DCMA reported that DOD's acquisitions were subjected to unacceptable levels of cost risks. Over the last 2 years, DCMA reports it has hired 279 new contract cost/price analysts and cost monitors (bringing the agency's total number to about 400), extensively using the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund to do so. GAO is not making any new recommendations in this statement. GAO has previously made recommendations to DOD to help address DOD's workforce challenges. DOD generally agreed with most of the recommendations and has efforts under way to implement them.
Apr 25, 2018
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Military Readiness:
Clear Policy and Reliable Data Would Help DOD Better Manage Service Members' Time Away from HomeGAO-18-253: Published: Apr 25, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 25, 2018. -
Warfighter Support:
DOD Needs to Share F-35 Operational Lessons Across the Military ServicesGAO-18-464R: Published: Apr 25, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 25, 2018. -
Weapon Systems Annual Assessment:
Knowledge Gaps Pose Risks to Sustaining Recent Positive TrendsGAO-18-360SP: Published: Apr 25, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 25, 2018.
Apr 18, 2018
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KC-46 Tanker Modernization:
Program Cost Is Stable, but Schedule May Be Further DelayedGAO-18-353: Published: Apr 18, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 18, 2018.
Apr 17, 2018
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Amphibious Combat Vehicle:
Program Should Take Steps to Ensure Manufacturing ReadinessGAO-18-364: Published: Apr 17, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 17, 2018. -
CIVILIAN AND CONTRACTOR WORKFORCES:
DOD's Cost Comparisons Addressed Most Report Elements but Excluded Some CostsGAO-18-399: Published: Apr 17, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 17, 2018.
Apr 16, 2018
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Defense Business Systems:
DOD Needs to Continue Improving Guidance and Plans for Effectively Managing InvestmentsGAO-18-130: Published: Apr 16, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 16, 2018. -
Military Bases:
DOD Should Address Challenges with Communication and Mission Changes to Improve Future Base Realignment and Closure RoundsGAO-18-231: Published: Mar 30, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 16, 2018.
Apr 11, 2018
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Military Personnel:
DOD Needs to Reevaluate Fighter Pilot Workforce RequirementsGAO-18-113: Published: Apr 11, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 11, 2018.
Mar 29, 2018
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DOD Contracted Services:
Long-Standing Issues Remain about Using Inventory for Management DecisionsGAO-18-330: Published: Mar 29, 2018. Publicly Released: Mar 29, 2018.
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