Thu, Apr 23, 2009 Mike S.

Oh Joy! Just what I need another panel to tell me how to do my job as a contract specialist! Having returned to federal service after 17+ years in DoD followed by 15 years of working in the private sector with Government contracts, all we seem to do is Monday Morning Quarterback the process. Does the average supply chain manager in the private sector deal with congressional inquiries, GAO and Agency audits, protests, disputes, mandatory training and refresher training, earmarks, mandatory small business goals, etc., etc., etc. ? We have too much regulation in federal procurement from laws passed by the same Congressional leaders who criticize those of us working 10+ hours a day to support the federal procurement mission. We promote people too early based on college degrees and other formal training instead of measuring technical competencies as a Contract Specialist or Contract Officer. I have met folks who are GS-12s that back in my days in the military would not have earned a GS-7 in my office. I worked for civilians in DoD in the late 1970s who had high school degrees but they were excellent Contracting Officers! Why? They applied basic contracting 101 principles taught to them in a military technical school in procurement. The problem with federal contracting today can be tied to two areas-- poor leadership & management at both program and procurement lvels and a lack of effective mentoring in teaching contracts professionals how to effectively and efficiently perform their jobs!