http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC Recent cfo.gov document postings en-us Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:43:44 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Commercial_Services_Mgmt.pdf The Competitive Sourcing initiative is renamed Commercial Services Management (CSM) to recognize that agencies improve the operation of their commercial functions using a variety of techniques. This memorandum provides guidance to help agencies as they prepare plans under this initiative. In addition to competitive sourcing, the CSM initiative will track agencies' business process reengineering (BPR) efforts that rely on disciplined management practices -- such as the baselining of performance and costs, and the establishment of performance agreements -- but do not ordinarily involve public-private competition or the potential conversion of work from the government to the private sector. CSM plans should identify functions for BPR using the criteria in the attachment. CSM plans should also identify where the agency intends to consider public-private competition, including for the potential insourcing of contracted activities. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Guidelines_Acq_Assessments_A-123.pdf OFPP is issuing the attached guidelines to conduct entity level internal control reviews of the acquisition function, as required by OMB Circular A-123. OMB Circular A-123, Management’s Responsibility for Internal Control, requires agency managers to continuously monitor and improve the effectiveness of internal control associated with their programs. The guidelines include a template to provide a standard approach for conducting the entity level acquisition reviews required under the Circular. The guidelines also require agencies to integrate their assessment efforts with existing agency internal control processes and practices to ensure the coordinated establishment, assessment and correction of internal controls for acquisition. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Guidance_FFATA_Submissions_M-08-04.pdf This memorandum outlines the requirements and procedures for submitting Agency data to OMB’s January 2008 Transparency Act web-site, USASpending.gov. In accordance with Public Law 109-282, agencies must employ these guidelines to submit data to OMB in an accurate and efficient format, and on a timely basis to assure compliance with the Act, and support our collaborative efforts to promote transparency in government spending. This guidance will be supplanted by formal OMB User Guidance following the launch of the Transparency Act web-site. It is our hope that this web-site will afford all users the easy ability to track where and how Federal funds are spent. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Report_FY2007_Competitive_Sourcing_Efforts_M-08-02.pdf This guidance for preparing FY 2007 reports is similar to that developed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for prior fiscal year reports. Agencies must report data for competitions that were completed in FY 2007, as well as those announced but not completed in FY 2007. In addition, agencies must describe the steps their human resources and competitive sourcing organizations have jointly taken during the fiscal year to address skill imbalances, competency gaps, and organizational redundancies. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Use_of_Commercial_RiskAnalysis_BPAs_M-08-10.pdf The purpose of this memorandum is to alert you to the establishment of government-wide blanket purchase agreements (BPAs) for independent risk analysis services and encourage agency consideration of these vehicles to the maximum extent practicable. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Comp_Sourcing_Requirements.pdf This memorandum provides guidance on certain government-wide provisions related to competitive sourcing in sections 739 and 747 of Division D of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, P.L. 110-161. Specifically, this guidance addresses: (1) health and retirement fringe benefit comparability requirements, (2) the use of competitive sourcing for human resources (HR) activities, (3) application of the conversion differential, and (4) the performance of commercial activities by non-profit agencies under the AbilityOne Program. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/2007_StratSourcing_Report_Guidance.pdf The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) continues to focus on strategic sourcing as a sound business principle that should be applied wherever possible. OMB’s memorandum of May 20, 2005, requires Chief Acquisition Officers to develop collaborative strategic sourcing plans and to report on implementation strategies for sourcing goods and services more effectively. Guidance on the content and format of the report is provided. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Guidance_FFATA_Submissions_M-08-12.pdf These are the new Operational Guidelines that Federal agencies shall use to report to USAspending.gov in compliance with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. Agencies must employ these guidelines to submit data in an accurate format and on a timely basis to assure compliance with the Act. These guidelines supersede all previous guidelines. We anticipate within the next quarter, my office will provide guidance on measures of successful compliance with these guidelines and other data not currently being collected. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Acquisition_Data_Quality_Improvement_Guidance_05-09-2008.pdf This memorandum provides guidance on improving the quality of your acquisition data. It builds on and supersedes the FY 2007 guidance for verifying, validating, and certifying FPDS data and includes additional information on the desired format for reporting plans to verify and validate (VandV) FY 2008 FPDS data, based on lessons learned and best practices developed over the past year. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Advisory_Assistance_Service_Contract_Waiver_Auth.pdf Section 834 of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, Public Law 109-364, requires the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) and the Department of Defense to report separately to Congress on the use of advisory and assistance services (AandAS) contracts. In addition, section 834 authorizes the head of an agency to issue a waiver to extend a task order contract for AandAS contracts for a period of not more than ten years if the agency head makes certain written determinations. However, section 834 prohibits the issuance of a waiver if certain data, on the use of AandAS, is not submitted to Congress by April 1, 2007. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Improving_Interagency_Acquisitions.pdf This document provides guidance to help agencies (1) make sound business decisions to support the use of interagency acquisitions and (2) strengthen the management of assisted acquisitions. Particular emphasis is placed on helping requesting agencies and servicing agencies manage their shared fiduciary responsibilities in assisted acquisitions. The guidance includes a checklist of roles for each responsibility in the acquisition lifecycle and a model interagency agreement to reinforce sound contracting and fiscal practices. Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/CAOC_Awards_2008.doc The Chief Acquisition Officers Council is pleased to announce the Acquisition Excellence Awards 2008 and requests nominations of teams or individuals that have demonstrated excellence in acquisition management. Submissions should reflect excellence in the broad category of acquisition management, which may include, but is not limited to, areas such as acquisition teaming, increasing competition, strategic sourcing, acquisition workforce, program management, competitive sourcing, or other area of focus. Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/2008_Performance-Based_Acq.pdf As of November 30, 2007, the Government spent approximately $140 billion on services to meet agency needs. Performance-Based Acquisition (PBA) is the Government’s preferred approach for acquiring services. If effectively implemented, the PBA strategy affords the Government many benefits, such as competitive pricing, innovative solutions, quality services, and results that support agency missions. As you know, the PBA performance goal was established to encourage the acquisition workforce to effectively use PBA methods to achieve results. This memorandum provides the Government-wide PBA performance goal for fiscal year (FY) 2008. Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Incentive_Contracts.pdf Incentive contracts are used throughout the Federal Government to encourage contractors to perform efficiently and effectively. Using incentives appropriately and applying strong project and acquisition management practices are vital to accomplishing mission needs, minimizing waste, and maximizing value. The purpose of this memorandum is to request your assistance and leadership to ensure incentive fee contracts are used to motivate excellent contractor performance. Specifically, please review your agency's acquisition policies to ensure that: 1) incentive fees are linked to acquisition outcomes such as cost, schedule, and performance results; and 2) incentive fees are not earned if the contractor's performance is judged to be below satisfactory or does not meet the basic requirements of the contract. Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Brand_Name_Memo_2008.pdf The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued policy memorandums in April 2005 and April 2006, implementing brand name posting requirements for acquisitions (including simplified acquisitions and sole source procurements) over $25,000. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) was revised in September 2006 to incorporate this new policy. However, we are concerned that agencies are not preparing and posting the brand name justification or documentation in accordance with the new FAR requirements. Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/FAC-COTR.pdf Contracting Officer Technical Representatives (COTRs) perform critical acquisition and technical functions, and Contracting Officers rely on them to ensure that contracts are managed properly to meet mission needs. This memorandum establishes a structured training program for COTRs and other individuals performing these functions, including Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs), that standardizes competencies and training across civilian agencies and improves our collective stewardship of taxpayer dollars. The attached Federal Acquisition Certification for COTRs (FAC-COTR) reflects recommendations from an interagency working group led by the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) and applies to all executive agencies, except those subject to the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act. Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Re-employed_Annuitants.pdf In October 2006, the President signed into law the General Services Administration Modernization Act (P.L. 109-313), which allows Federal agencies to hire retired annuitants to fill critical vacancies in the acquisition field. The new legislation allows agencies to hire an individual receiving an annuity from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund without discontinuing such annuity to fill an acquisition-related position under certain circumstances. The authority to use this provision expires on December 31, 2011. Agencies should use this authority, where appropriate, to help meet some of their acquisition workforce hiring needs. Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/vets_gwac.pdf In January 2007, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, Steve Preston, and the Adminstrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Paul Denett, wrote to department and agency heads, identifying progress the Administration has made to increase contracting opportunities for service-disabled veterans. In October 2004, the President signed Executive Order 13360 to strongly encourage development of opportunities for small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans (SDVOSBs). The Order requires agencies to take actions to significantly increase opportunities for SDVOSBs. The Order also requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to establish a Government-wide Acquisition Contract reserved for participation by SDVOSBs. GSA recently established the Veterans Technology Services Government-wide Acquisition Contract (VETS GWAC) to meet this requirement. Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Emergency_Acquisitions_Guide.pdf This guide is designed to help agencies prepare the acquisition workforce for emergencies. The guide describes strategies for effective response planning and provides a list of acquisition reminders when contracting during emergencies. The guide also discusses flexibilities that acquisition personnel deployed to an emergency situation may use to facilitate timely procurements. This guide is intended to supplement, not supplant, agency-specific guidance, and should be read in conjunction with Part 18 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation on emergency acquisitions. This document supersedes OFPP's Emergency Procurement Flexibilities guide, issued in May 2003. Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST http://127.0.0.1:8500/CAOC/documents/Common_Security_Configurations.pdf The Office of Management and Budget recently issued policy memorandum M-07-11, Implementation of Commonly Accepted Security Configurations for Windows Operating Systems, which stated: agencies with these operating systems [Windows XP and VISTA] and/or plans to upgrade to these operating systems must adopt these standard security configurations by February 1, 2008. This memorandum provides recommended language for your agency to use in solicitations to ensure new acquisitions include these common security configurations and information technology providers certify their products operate effectively using these configurations. Mon, 04 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST