GSA Acting Administrator Dan Tangherlini and OFPP Administrator Joe Jordan Headline Acquisition Excellence 2013

FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) today announced GSA Acting Administrator Daniel M. Tangherlini will provide the opening remarks at Acquisition Excellence 2013, a one-day education and training event that will explore how agencies can progress to a more modern acquisition environment with innovative solutions. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Administrator Joseph Jordan will serve as the keynote speaker. The event will be held on March 21, 2013, at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C.

“GSA is committed to creating opportunities for collaborative discussions that are designed to provide significant value for both government and industry in the acquisition community”

“GSA is committed to creating opportunities for collaborative discussions that are designed to provide significant value for both government and industry in the acquisition community,” said Kathleen Turco, Associate Administrator for GSA’s Office of Government-wide Policy and Acquisition Excellence 2013 government chair. “Acquisition Excellence 2013 will bring current thought leaders and future acquisition leaders together to share and learn the most expeditious and cost-efficient methodologies for federal government IT acquisition.”

Acquisition Excellence 2013 will feature leading experts from federal civilian and defense agencies, non-governmental organizations and academia, who will share their unique perspective on acquisition policy and management and how government and industry can work together towards the common vision of a more agile and efficient government. Featured speakers include: Lesley Field, Deputy Administrator, OFPP, Office of Management and Budget (OMB); Nancy Gunderson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grants and Acquisition Policy and Accountability, Department of Health and Human Services; Glenn Haggstrom, Principal Executive Director, Office of Acquisition, Logistics and Construction, Department of Veteran Affairs; and Tom Sharpe, Commissioner, Federal Acquisition Service, GSA, among others. Attendees will receive continuing education units for their participation in this education and training event.

“The acquisition process and the importance of IT to the accomplishment of government’s mission have gained importance over the years,” said Jim Beaupre of JB Federal Consulting and Acquisition Excellence 2013 industry chair. “AE 2013 is designed to create a positive, open-forum environment for government and industry to engage in a results-focused dialogue on how to minimize the roadblocks in the procurement process and enable a more effective and efficient government.”

The agenda will focus on two tracks, Innovation in Acquisition and Workforce Transformation, each with three content-rich sessions, including:

Bringing the “A” Team – A panel of experts will discuss the fundamental leadership elements for building, developing and sustaining a successful acquisition team.
Risk is Not a Dirty Word – This session will provide attendees with a better understanding on how risk is managed in the government acquisition process from both the government and contractor perspectives.
Acquisition Professional of the future – Participants will learn about new skills, competencies and experience needed to be successful in 2013 and beyond.
Innovating by Making the Right Moves when Protesting – Experts will discuss common root causes of protests and provide timely advice on how to avoid and/or decrease the risk of having procurement actions protested.
How to Save your Agency Millions Through Strategic Sourcing – This session will explore proven strategic sourcing strategies and approaches that can be applied to organizations seeking to drive greater savings and value in their procurement process.
Better Outcomes at Lower Cost – Achieving better outcomes at lower costs will require new, creative approaches to acquiring services. This session will provide attendees with invaluable insight on how to serve as advisors to program executives, researching innovative solutions and taking the initiative to implement these new approaches.

During lunch, Norman Dong, Deputy Controller of OMB’s Office of Federal Financial Management, will be discussing current federal budget and acquisition challenges. Additionally, the Acquisition Excellence 2013 Awards, sponsored by the Chief Acquisition Officers Council (CAOC), will recognize federal employees who have achieved exceptional results in the following acquisition categories: Innovation, Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) Excellence, Strategic Sourcing and Small Business Contracting. Other highlights include a vendor showcase featuring more than 17 government and industry exhibitors.

For more information or to register, please visit: www.actgov.org/events/AE2013. For sponsorship or exhibiting information, please contact Judy Fry at (703) 208-4800 ext. 205 or jfry@actgov.org.

About ACT-IAC – Advancing Government Through Education, Collaboration and Action

ACT-IAC has been recognized as the premier government IT community’s public-private partnership and is an example of how government and industry work together. We are a nonprofit educational organization created to advance government in serving the public through the effective application of IT resources. Our education, training, programming and collaboration opportunities enhance and advance the government IT profession. ACT-IAC’s objective, vendor and technology-neutral, and ethical forum allow government and industry to collaborate and improve government through technology. Headquartered in the Greater Washington, D.C. area, ACT-IAC also has chapters in the Pacific region (based in San Diego) and the Rocky Mountain region (based in Denver).

Learn more about our organization and how to become a member at www.actgov.org or call 703-208-4800.