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Return to Article: Procurement leaders go back to basics as administration winds down

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  Acquisition has become a vicious cycle and it's getting worse. One problem not only in Acquisition but, in other career management positions is hiring. All management thinks about is having a warm body in place...however, when the warm body is a vacuum not having the common sense to come out of the rain, you've a problem. It's the same all over the personnel who can do get all the work...yet, the appraisals, etc., are the same across the board. Secondly, training, you can train personnel until you're blue in the face...however, if they do not possess an ounce of gray matter to comprehend the subject material, you're spinning your wheels. The training in the Acquisition core is redundant...the only thing that's changed is the title of the course. Lastly, management....there are more managers in high level positions whose potential to achieve success within an organization is severely lacking. Furthermore, more and more managers thought processes are "me, me, me" with no forethought of taking care of the personnel under their purview by rewarding the performers and removing non-performers. Most managers prove time and again the "Peter Principle" is alive and multiplying at an abnormal rate.

  CAE Posted July 30, 2008 9:01 AM
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  The problem is not the lack of personnel, but the current business practices we use to issue modifications or award contracts/task orders. It may take several days to write up a business clearance or several months to issue a task order. I ask the intelligencia in Washington to streamline the process. Adding more people will not solve the problem, but streamlining the business practices will.

  Terry Posted July 29, 2008 10:04 AM
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  There are not too few contracting people. Has anybody thought how much time is spent by procurement persons attending seminars and industry gatherings? There is more time wasted in partying and theorizing than there is in working. If someone would mke civil servants stop being entertained by contractors with money that is washed through "associations" and keep them off the golf courses playing at rates that are subsidized by, guess who, industry, the government might get some work done. The problem is that they are better trained at partying than contracting. GAO, I challange you to do a study of how much time was spent by contracting civil servants attending all the seminars under the guise of "training".

  Clement Munno Posted July 29, 2008 8:18 AM
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  There is no shortage of skilled aquisition people only a critial shortage of leadership talent. Too Often fear is confused with competance and skill is confused with the abilty to recite the FAR. I have seen many 14s, 15s and SESers who can recite the FAR but can't do a simple contract or solve a simple contract problem. Saying there is a critical shortage of good acquisition folks is gives an excuse for incomptent leaders to hide.

  If you want good acquistion folks focus on the leadership.

  Jamie Posted July 26, 2008 1:40 PM
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  The problem is one of protectionism. A lot of us retired military acquisition professionals work for private firms vice the government - and hwy...the government rejects our job applications.

  We get accused of double-dipping, yet pay the same as our civilian counterparts who can get the reitement with social security unlike us, both civil service and military.

  Better hiring us ex-military types, and then see reform occur than keeping those and their grey-beards whose only mission is slef-preservation.

  Joe Yuna Posted July 25, 2008 1:21 PM
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  Yada yada yada no one said anything about looking at the current regulations that are over kill and need to be simplified. Its amazing that city state and counties can hire people and get them up to speed in 6 months. This is a reflection of the current workforce that has been complaining about workload for 30 years. Institute a NSPS program for all the acquisition people and watch what they are capable of

  Dan ketter Posted July 25, 2008 10:48 AM
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  Let's see. Under Clinton we had "right sizing" the workforce. Under Bush we had "right thinking" the workforce. Has anyone considered not jerking the workforce around? It might give the workforce incentive and time to do their jobs?

  I'm not sure that these short-term guys are even slightly able to assess and recommend what skills and training the workforce needs.

  Anna Posted July 25, 2008 8:56 AM
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  I see affirmative action as an issue in getting the right people to these positions. There those of us in the work force who have been passed over for selection because we are not part of the affirmative action plan. As a former supervisor, I had to make the statement that I fully supported this plan, which in turn required me to hire some people who were less qualified, and therefore hurt my acquisition process to the point where after three years, I threw in the towel and moved back to non-supervisory. I see that as an action the resulted from inaction of those people I was forced to hire. I know of others who retired early (and are planning on doing so) because they are carrying a larger load than some employees who have filled the position, but not the job. This is not the entire problem but it is a issue of considerable importance when looking at the why we have problems retaining a well-qualified workforce, do not have the organizational history and legacy to pass on to newer employees, simply lose people due to their frustration over not being selected for critical positions because they do fall within the parameters of whatever 'program' in currently in vogue. As for me, as soon as hit the date for retirement in 18 months, I'm part of that history that will walk away and take my knowledge to the private sector where I know it will be appreciated and valued. Please do not hate me for telling the truth, and for having the guts to say what I know.

  James Posted July 25, 2008 8:21 AM
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  Did you realize when you interviewed Radm. Gary Blore for this article that his only experience in acquisition comes from his current job?

  Thomas Jackson Posted July 24, 2008 9:24 PM