§1201 Federal Acquisition Institute

Summary

Creates the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) to build and support a professional federal acquisition workforce. FAI must lead government-wide research and improvements in buying and contracting, gather and study workforce data, review acquisition job fields to find needed skills, help agencies recruit qualified people, create and test training materials with colleges and training centers, encourage academic programs in acquisition fields, run interagency internships and joint training when asked, assist agencies with acquisition and capital planning, work with other civilian agency training programs and the Defense Acquisition University, and carry out other career or research tasks the Administrator assigns. The Administrator must recommend a budget and authority to the Administrator of General Services so FAI can support government-wide training and certification that improve workforce mobility. If funds are available, the Administrator of General Services must give FAI money from the acquisition workforce training fund under section 1703(i) to meet the annual budget requested. FAI reports through a Board of Directors to the Administrator. The Board has up to 8 federal members, appointed by the Administrator, who guide FAI, make budget recommendations, and ensure FAI meets workforce needs. The Director of FAI is appointed by and reports to the Administrator. The Administrator must send an annual report on FAI’s projected budget needs and spending plans to the Senate Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Appropriations, and to the House Committees on Oversight and Government Reform and Appropriations.