FAI and IAE PMO Collaborate to Update DAU Online Courses

In September 2006, the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) was invited by the IAE Program Management Office (PMO) to join a working group to improve Federal Procurement Data Systems-Next Generation (FPDS-NG) data quality. The purpose of these meetings was to determine if FPDS-NG data quality and accuracy could be improved by including more information on FPDS-NG in the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) curriculum.

End users needed to better understand how this data is used and the importance of accurate data entry. One conclusion of these meetings was that FAI and the IAE PMO needed to review the existing DAU courses (specifically CON 100, CON 110, CON 111, and CON 112) where FPDS-NG and the other IAE systems were referred to and make sure the material was accurate and up-to-date. Use of most of these systems is mandated by the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Providing updated information on these required systems will allow the acquisition workforce to do their jobs better and more efficiently and enable agencies to better accomplish mission goals. Additionally, this working collaboration between DAU/FAI and IAE will strengthen the ability of DAU/FAI to provide updated coursework for the up-and-coming generation of acquisition professionals. Other actions to specifically target FPDS-NG data are in the works to include special sessions at both GSA Expo and the Federal Acquisition Conference and Expo (FACE).