NCMA GCMS: Ready for the Future
Written by: Vera Medici
Management Concepts was excited to exhibit at the 2021 National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Government Contract Management Symposium (GCMS), held December 2–3, 2021, as a hybrid event online and onsite at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. NCMA strove to create a robust experience for virtual and onsite attendees alike with a combination of virtual-only sessions and live-streamed “in-person” sessions.
Whether attendees participated in the “GCMS 2021: The Urgent Future” or the “2025 Experience: The Future Is Now” track, the message was clear—the landscape of acquisition and contracting in the federal government is changing, and it is changing rapidly.
Forging a Path
A recurring theme throughout GCMS was change, both in terms of dealing with the significant challenges people and agencies have faced throughout the pandemic and being prepared to meet the next challenge, all presented through the lens of acquisition and contracting.
One case study was the “Department of Homeland Security, Procurement Innovation Lab’s (PIL) 60th Webinar: A Booster Shot of Innovation – FEMA’s COVID-19 Vaccination Support Story.” Although the general public was aware of the Operation Warp Speed mission to disseminate COVID-19 vaccines throughout the US, the behind-the-scenes aspect was a fascinating glimpse into what was happening in the background and the many people who supported the effort through little-known systems.
Speakers from the US Department of Homeland Security shared the story of one team at the Federal Emergency Management Agency that awarded two $1.6 billion contracts (each) in just 79 days while receiving more than 50 applications. Because the mission’s critical nature mandated that the team award contracts quickly, the team used a host of innovative procurement techniques to quickly solicit, evaluate, and procure support personnel to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
Other sessions addressed technical skills, leadership skills, IT solutions, and other innovations in a variety of breakouts, workshops, and keynote speakers.
Management Concepts: A Step Ahead
Management Concepts staff greeted many visitors onsite on the expo floor and online at our virtual booth. We had plenty to share in new and exciting offerings in our acquisition and contracting training courses and professional development opportunities, including our Digital IT Acquisition Professional (DITAP) Program, Acquisition and Contracting Credentials Programs, and IT modernization courses for contracting professionals.
The Management Concepts six-month DITAP Program empowers participants as they join a cohort of peers and master the art of digital acquisition. Successful completion of the DITAP Program earns participants a Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Core-Plus Specialization in Digital Services (FAC-C-DS) and 80 CLPs.
For those looking to enhance their knowledge base (and resume), our specialized Management Concepts Acquisition and Contracting Credentials Programs enable participants to earn electronic training certificates and digital badges through successful completion of required course work. These three- to four-course programs support the competency standards set by NCMA’s ANSI-accredited Contract Management Standard (CMS)TM publication and the corresponding Contract Management Book of Knowledge® (CMBOK®) standards.
Credential programs are available in Agile Acquisition, Business Acumen, Construction and Architect-Engineer Services, Contracting Team Lead, Government Acquisition Credentials, IT Acquisition, Leadership for Contracting Professionals, Program Protection – Cyber, and Services Acquisition.
Our Career Gateway: Acquisition is launching soon.
More to Come
In a time of rapid change, acquisition and contracting professionals have risen to the challenge and are prepared for what is next, and Management Concepts is ready to support them now and in the future.
View our event photo album on Facebook and visit our NCMA Partner Page throughout the year for ongoing events and activities with NCMA.
