Warrant Authority? — The Inaugural Issue
Keaston D. Simmons
Doctoral (Ed.D.) Candidate, University of Pennsylvania | United States Air Force (6C0X1, Contracting) Veteran
Above the Threshold
To the next generation of aspiring and emerging federal acquisition workforce leaders — those of you who dare to reimagine the facilitation of essential services at the nexus of business, government, and society...
Your time is now.
We stand at the forefront of the most significant transformation in our career field's history — a moment when retiring expertise, technological advancement, and emerging technology requirements converge to demand new ways of thinking, leading, and executing the business of government. Amidst this transformation, I am excited to announce the launch of Warrant Authority? — your essential career intelligence resource crafted specifically for tomorrow's federal acquisition workforce leaders.
Warrant Authority? embodies the essence of our career field. In federal contracting, a warrant represents more than just a document — it symbolizes the trust placed in our profession to be effective, efficient, economic, and ethical stewards operating at the nexus of business, government, and society. It signifies authority earned through expertise, judgment, and dedication to public service. While not every federal acquisition professional will seek a warrant, the journey of professional development it represents — continuous learning, ethical decision-making, and a commitment to excellence — exemplifies the growth mindset our exciting career field demands.
With the launch of this newsletter, I promise to deliver actionable insights relevant to your professional growth — from policy development to career opportunities, from legal decisions to training resources. As evidenced in today's issue, with landmark OMB guidance reshaping AI acquisition practices and workforce development, alongside emerging opportunities across multiple agencies, our career field is rapidly evolving. I am launching Warrant Authority? to help you navigate this evolution with clarity, confidence, and composure.
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Leading Indicators
? Retirement Eligibility: 28.1% of the GS-1102s will be retirement age eligible within the next year, creating unprecedented leadership opportunities for early and mid-career professionals.
? Entry-Level Gap: Only 2% of GS-1102s are under the age of 25, highlighting critical needs in early-career recruitment and development.
? Mid-Career Competion: With 76.3% of GS-1102s identifying as Millennial or Gen X, there is a significant concentration of mid-career professionals signaling heightened competition for senior positions as Baby Boomers retire, as well as critical gaps in early-career recruitment and succession planning.
? Digital Transformation: Federal agencies now require Digital IT Acquisition Professional (DITAP) certified personnel for technology procurements above $7M, yet demand for certified professionals continues to outpace the current certification rate.
? Diversity Metrics: Women represent 61% of the federal acquisition workforce, while underrepresented minorities comprise 35%, indicating progress but ongoing opportunities for increasing diversity at senior levels.
Policy & Procedure
Summary:
The "Building Our Best" memo outlines strategies to strengthen the federal acquisition workforce. It emphasizes creating an Acquisition Workforce Advisory Committee (AWAC) to guide enterprise-wide recruitment and retention initiatives, establishing annual hiring and staffing targets, and leveraging pooled hiring practices. Agencies are directed to enhance leadership training, reduce administrative burdens, and offer growth opportunities like mentoring and internships. Unfortunately, the memo fails to speaks to the potential us of increasingly more equitable methods of recruiting, specifically skills-based hiring and registered apprenticeship program; and, leaders in the field such as Jaime Gracia and Donald Shannon point to other shortcomings — such as the increasing need for proficiency in digital services procurement and the omission of industry standards, such as the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Contract Management Standard, as it pertains to professional development and certification opportunities.
Key Career Takeaways:
?? Leadership Growth: Take into upon yourself to pursue leadership roles by developing soft skills and getting involved with innovative initiatives across your agency.
?? Career Advancement: Leverage mentoring, rotational assignments, and training opportunities to advance your career more quickly.
?? Strategic Impact: Position yourself in an agency whose mission and goals align with your own as doing so will help you more easily see the strategic impact of your work.
Summary:
Improving the ways in which the federal government procures "artificial intelligence (AI)" will be an ongoing effort over the next decade as the technology evolves; however, this memo sets the groundwork by providing comprehensive guidelines for federal agencies in their pursuit of AI acquisitions. Agencies are required to prioritize privacy, security, and interoperability, avoid vendor lock-in, and ensure compliance with ethical standards. Specific practices for rights-impacting and safety-impacting AI, generative AI, and AI-enabled biometric systems are also outlined. Furthermore, agencies must evaluate environmental impacts and enforce robust testing, monitoring, and risk mitigation, all of which will likely delay implementation and increase the costs to taxpayer; yet, given our limited knowledge of the expansive impact of AI and it's long-term effects, these efforts are necessary given where we are today. With that said, the memo emphasizes the need for innovation while safeguarding citizen rights and safety — and, it's a move aimed at fostering a diverse and competitive federal AI marketplace.
Key Career Takeaways:
?? Interdisciplinary Skills: Seek to build expertise in privacy, security, and data to be able to effectively manage AI acquisition risks.
?? Adapt to Innovation: Stay up-to-date on AI technologies and ethical standards shaping the marketplace and federal acquisitions.
?? Collaboration Expertise: Develop the skills necessary to work across teams in order to implement AI solutions effectively.
The Docket
Summary:
GAO sustained a protest after the Air Force rejected DecisionPoint's proposal for lacking proof of a required Level III CMMI certification. DecisionPoint had merged with its subsidiary EmeSec before proposal submission and held the certification. However, the Air Force argued the certification did not apply to EmeSec, the initially listed prime contractor. GAO ruled that DecisionPoint, post-merger, was the actual prime contractor and satisfied the certification requirement. GAO recommended reevaluating the proposals, possibly awarding to DecisionPoint if deemed the best value, and reimbursing protest costs.
Lessons Learned:
?? Corporate Changes: Account for mergers or novations in proposal evaluations.
?? Clear Solicitation: Write unambiguous requirements to avoid protests.
?? Thorough Review: Align decisions with actual corporate and proposal structures.
Summary:
COFC dismissed a contractor’s claims against the U.S. Postal Service for wrongful termination of a mail delivery contract. The court ruled that Emiabata’s claims were barred by res judicata, as the issues had been litigated and decided in previous cases. Additionally, the court lacked jurisdiction over other claims because Emiabata had already pursued them through the Postal Service Board of Contract Appeals. While the court granted Emiabata in forma pauperis status due to financial hardship, it certified that any appeal would not be taken in good faith.
Lessons Learned:
?? Strong Records: Keep detailed evidence to support contract terminations.
?? Clear Guidance: Ensure contractors understand proper dispute resolution channels.
?? Follow Rules: Adhere strictly to contract dispute procedures to avoid legal issues.
Career Opportunities
Department: United States Department of Defense
Location(s): 1 vacancy - Alexandria, Virginia
Salary: $82,764.00 to $107,590.00 / PA
Series and Grade: GS-1102-11
Open Period: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 to Monday, December 2, 2024
Position Information: Permanent - Full-time
Who May Apply: Open to the public
Announcement Number: NC7X245287387562HK
Hiring Organization: Office of Acquisition and Grants Management (OAGM)
Location(s): Many vacancies - Woodlawn, Maryland
Salary: $55,924.00 to $88,926.00 / PA
Series and Grade: GS-1102-7/9
Open Period: Monday, November 25, 2024 to Monday, December 2, 2024
Position Information: Recent Graduates - Full-time
Who May Apply: Recent graduates
Announcement Number: HHS-CMS-RG-12597156
Department: United States Department of the Army
Agency: U.S. Army Contracting Command
Hiring Organization: ARMY CONTRACTING COMMAND - ORLANDO CCOR CONTRACTING DIRECTORATE
Location(s): 1 vacancy - Orlando, Florida
Salary: $86,962.00 to $134,435.00 / PA
Series and Grade: NH-1102-3
Open Period: Monday, November 25, 2024 to Monday, December 2, 2024
Position Information: Permanent - Full-time
Who May Apply: Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL), Competitive service, Excepted service, Land and base management, Military spouses, Special authorities, Veterans
Announcement Number: MCAD245303010438
Department: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
Hiring Organization: NAVFAC Northwest
Location(s): 1 vacancy - Bremerton, Washington
Salary: $115,793.00 to $150,535.00 / PA
Series and Grade: GS-1102-13
Open Period: Monday, November 25, 2024 to Monday, December 2, 2024
Position Information: Permanent - Full-time
Who May Apply: Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL), Competitive service, Individuals with disabilities, Land and base management, Military spouses, Special authorities, Veterans
Announcement Number: ST-12612108-25-JWS
Department: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
Hiring Organization: NAVFAC Northwest
Location(s): 1 vacancy - Bremerton, Washington
Salary: $115,793.00 to $150,535.00 / PA
Series and Grade: GS-1102-13
Open Period: Monday, November 25, 2024 to Monday, December 2, 2024
Position Information: Permanent - Full-time
Who May Apply: Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL), Competitive service, Individuals with disabilities, Land and base management, Military spouses, Special authorities, Veterans
Announcement Number: ST-12612108-25-JWS
Location(s): 6 vacancies - Multiple Locations
Salary: $122,198.00 to $191,900.00 / PA
Series and Grade: GS-1102-14
Open Period: Monday, November 25, 2024 to Monday, December 2, 2024
Position Information: Permanent - Full-time
Who May Apply: Internal to an agency
Announcement Number: 25-052-TM
Department: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Agency: FEMA
Hiring Organization: Regional Offices, Region Eight, Mission Support Division, Financial Services Branch
Location(s): 1 vacancy - Lakewood, Colorado
Salary: $66,670.00 to $104,861.00 / PA
Series and Grade: IC-1102-9/11
Open Period: Monday, November 25, 2024 to Monday, December 2, 2024
Position Information: Term - Full-time
Who May Apply: Open to the public
Announcement Number: 823448-IF-12615233-CORE
Department: United States Department of Defense
Hiring Organization: DCMA Cost and Pricing (PC)
Location(s): 1 vacancy - Location Negotiable After Selection
Salary: $86,962.00 to $113,047.00 / PA
Series and Grade: GS-1102-12
Open Period: Monday, November 25, 2024 to Monday, December 2, 2024
Position Information: Permanent - Full-time
Who May Apply: Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL), Competitive service, Military spouses, Veterans
Announcement Number: DCMA-PC-25-12621023-MP
Department: United States Department of Defense
Hiring Organization: DCMA East (P6)
Location(s): 1 vacancy - Fort Eustis, Virginia
Salary: $60,808.00 to $95,641.00 / PA
Series and Grade: GS-1102-9/11
Open Period: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 to Monday, December 2, 2024
Position Information: Permanent - Full-time
Who May Apply: Military spouses, Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL), Internal to an agency, Veterans
Announcement Number: DCMA-P6-25-12619435-IMP
Department: United States Department of the Army
Agency: US Army Corps of Engineers
Hiring Organization: National Contracting Organization, Contracting Division, Contracts Branch
Location(s): 4 vacancies - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Salary: $53,947.00 to $124,398.00 / PA
Series and Grade: GS-1102-7/12
Open Period: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 to Monday, December 2, 2024
Position Information: Permanent - Full-time
Who May Apply: Open to the public
Announcement Number: CERD245503025609HW
To view the complete list of opportunities, please visit the following link:
Multiple Events Schedule
Fighting Fraud in the Federal Government
Date: December 3, 2024 @ 10-11am ET
Location: Virtual
Join a distinguished panel of federal experts as they discuss innovative strategies to combat fraud and abuse, sharing insights into current technologies being deployed to detect, prevent, and mitigate fraud’s impact. Learn about the programs and tools that government agencies are implementing to safeguard public interests and strengthen the resilience of our national institutions.
Talent Community of Interest: Fostering Cross-Generational Connection, Community, and Self-Care In Physically Distributed Teams
Date: December 3, 2024 @ 11am-12 noon ET
Location: Virtual
Join a distinguished panel of federal experts as they discuss innovative strategies to combat fraud and abuse, sharing insights into current technologies being deployed to detect, prevent, and mitigate fraud’s impact. Learn about the programs and tools that government agencies are implementing to safeguard public interests and strengthen the resilience of our national institutions.
Nexus 2025
Date: February 9-12, 2025
Location: Long Beach, CA
Nexus 2025 is where industry and government acquisition teams will shatter the “we’ve-always-done-it-this-way” mindset. Come tackle, dismantle, and improve outdated processes and engage in open and unfiltered dialogue. Earn CPE/CLE credits while rethinking the status quo.
Determination & Findings
The evidence presented in this week's issue reveals a critical moment of transformation in the federal acquisition workforce. The convergence of demographic shifts, technological evolution, and policy changes creates both challenges and opportunities for emerging leaders.
Two key findings emerge:
? The barriers to entry are becoming more navigable, with agencies actively implementing new recruitment strategies and modernizing training approaches as directed by recent OMB guidance.
? The opportunity landscape is expanding rapidly, with positions available across multiple agencies, grade levels, and specialized areas — particularly in emerging fields like AI acquisition and digital procurement.
For aspiring and current acquisition professionals, the path forward is clear: now is the time to position yourself at the forefront of this transformation. Whether through pursuing new certifications, engaging with digital transformation initiatives, or seeking leadership opportunities, the federal acquisition workforce needs your talent and fresh perspective.
Through Warrant Authority?, I will continue to monitor these developments and provide you with the intelligence you need to successfully navigate your career!
Until next week...
Your partner in public service,
Keaston D. Simmons | Editor, Warrant Authority?
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Your engagement helps build a stronger federal acquisition workforce!
Contract Specialist for DOI AQD (Federal Contractor)
2 个月Incredible!
Passionate About Federal Acquisition, Contracting & Procurement. Passionate About Training & Development
3 个月Keaston. Innovative idea you have a niche here
President - Barlow Acquisition Solutions, and author
3 个月Well done. I like it.
Business Owner at TOGETHERHEALTH
3 个月Love it