§1102 Improvements in Coast Guard Acquisition Management

Summary

Requires that only people with the right program-manager certification run major Coast Guard acquisitions. A person cannot be the project or program manager for a Level 1 acquisition unless they hold a Level III program-manager certification. A person cannot be the project or program manager for a Level 2 acquisition unless they hold a Level II program-manager certification. The Commandant must name enough jobs in the Coast Guard’s acquisition workforce at headquarters and in the field to do all buying and technical work. Those jobs must cover key areas such as program management; systems research, development, engineering, and testing; contracting and property management; logistics and quality; manufacturing and production; finance and cost estimating; training and career development; construction and facilities engineering; and testing and evaluation. The Commandant must include acquisition jobs at Coast Guard headquarters units and make sure each person in those jobs has the right skills. The Commandant must build a management information system to track the workforce. It must include standardized data on qualifications, assignment history, tenure, and promotion rates for officers and members in the acquisition workforce. No rule may give preference to officers or members when picking people for these jobs. The Commandant must also define and publish career paths (education, training, experience, and assignments) for people who want acquisition careers and must make sure those assigned to acquisition jobs get promotion parity with others.