Federal CIO University - At GSA

The CIO Council addresses information technology education for Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and that has led to a specific initiative to address the needs of federal executives - The CIO University. 


Originally established by Executive Order 13011 (Federal Information Technology) and later codified by the E-Government Act of 2002, the CIO Council is the principal interagency forum for improving agency practices related to the design, acquisition, development, modernization, use, sharing, and performance of Federal information resources.

The process by which CIO university curriculum was developed was a careful one that involved senior executives, industry representatives and academic partners. Beginning with the good work done by the CIO Council to list a set of high-level competencies that met the requirements of the Clinger Cohen law, GSA and the CIO Council agreed that universities would need more specific guidance to guarantee the full intent of the law would be met. To do that, it was necessary to add specificity to these categories. Using a facilitated group process, each of the major content areas were reviewed using groupware to capture all the comments of focus groups consisting of representatives from academia, industry and senior executives from government. Following established principles based on adult learning theory, behavioral learning objectives were collected that were a product of the group consensus.

CIO University - FAQs

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How do I enroll in CIO University?

There is no enrollment process through the government. Students simply apply to one of our approved Master's Programs and register for their "CIO University" specific program (the listed point of contact from each university can assist students with specific questions on courses.) After a student receives their graduate degree, their name is forwarded to GSA and the CIO Council. They are then instructed to fill out an online exit survey and invited to a graduation ceremony held in July in Washington, DC. For those unable to attend, CIO University certificates are mailed after the graduation. Note: all travel is the responsibility of the student.

25 Point Implementation Plan To Reform Federal Information Technology Management

dated 12/09/2010.

THE CHALLENGE

The Federal government invests approximately $80 billion per year in information technology (IT). Yet far too often, these investments fail to deliver on their plans without adequate intervention or warning, resulting in billions of wasted taxpayer dollars. We must change the way Washington works when it comes to IT.

THE SOLUTION

On June 30, 2009, the Federal Chief Information Officer (CIO) launched the IT Dashboard, which allows the American people to monitor IT investments across the Federal government. If a program is over budget or behind schedule, the IT Dashboard tells you that, and by how much. The IT Dashboard also provides contact information for the person responsible, the agency CIO, and allows the public to provide feedback.

However, it is not enough to simply shine a light on IT programs and hope results follow. As the President said in his inaugural speech “those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.” Following the President’s lead, on January 13, 2010 the Federal CIO held the first TechStat Accountability Session (or more simply, TechStat). A TechStat is a face-to-face, evidence-based review of an IT program, undertaken with agency leadership, powered by the IT Dashboard. In each TechStat session, the team works together to carefully examine program data, with a focus on problem solving that will lead to concrete action to improve overall performance.

Techstat Toolkit

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GSA Offers Training On Using GSA Schedules For Professional Services

After defining the scope of the GSA professional service schedules, the training reviews the Request for Quotation (RFQ) and Task Order award processes, particularly the differences between FAR Subpart 8.4 and FAR Part 15 procedures. The Schedule contract itself, including Schedule contract clauses, will be examined. We then explore how to use Contractor Teaming Agreements and Blanket Purchase Agreements for complex or recurring services.  This FAR-based training is tailored for those in the GS-1102 Contract Specialist/Officer series, agency Program Managers and others who generate service contract requirements, plan service contract acquisitions, and conduct market research for professional service procurements can also benefit.  (see example of training in Tacoma, WA)

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Searching For Training Services Using the GSA elibrary

If you are looking for training services, you can benefit by using the U.S. General Services Administration elibrary website.  The site searching feature allows you to target, for example, instructor led training vendors, which is the 874.4 category.  See the description below which explains this category.

874.4  Training Services: Instructor Led Training, Web Based Training and Education Courses, Course Development and Test Administration Proposed courses shall be commercially-available off-the-shelf training and/or educational courses that are delivered via an Instructor-led (i.e. traditional classroom setting or conference/seminar) and/or web-based (i.e. Internet/Intranet, software packages and computer applications) system. Courses shall have a defined course title, length of time (i.e. hours, days, semesters, etc.), description of material to be taught (i.e. syllabi, table of contents, etc.), and whether materials are included (i.e. books, pamphlets, software, etc.). Support materials not included may be offered on SIN 874-5.

Proposed professional services shall be in support of planning, creating, and/or executing test administration, learning management, customized subject matter specific training and/or educational courses that are delivered via an instructor-led (i.e. traditional classroom setting or conference/seminar) and/or web-based (i.e. Internet/Intranet, software packages and computer applications) system.

At minimum, proposed professional services in support of planning, creating, and/or executing a customized course(s) shall include labor categories (i.e. Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), Program Managers, Project Managers, Research Assistant, Technical Specialist, etc.), subject matter(s), and methodology(ies) to be used.

Many of the vendors have their contract terms and catalogs of their course offerings posted.

Checkout section 874.4 on elibrary to learn more about the available providers in this category.

Another aspect of the GSA website is the eBuy feature.

What is eBuy?

GSA's latest e-Business innovation, e-Buy, has simplified the acquisition process. e-Buy, a component of GSA Advantage, is an electronic Request for Quote (RFQ) system designed to allow Federal buyers to prepare RFQs, directly on-line, for a wide range of services and products offered through GSA's Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) and GWAC programs. e-Buy allows RFQs and quotes to be exchanged electronically between Federal buyers and Schedule contractors. e-Buy delivers the power of the Internet by allowing Federal buyers to interact with the commercial marketplace to obtain best value solutions for their operations.

Need more instruction on using the site:  call GSA Customer Service 1-877-472-3777, option 2 , or try their Tutorial .

If you are a business looking to get the most from the GSA Schedule, checkout this pdf file sponsored by American Express.