Government-wide Acquisition Management
Intern Program

Government-wide Acquisition Management Program FY 2010

The Government-wide Acquisition Management Intern Program is a three-year full-time program designed to employ federal government Contract Specialists and to develop them into procurement professionals and government business leaders of the future. Interns complete four six-month rotational assignments in sponsoring Departments and Agencies. Interns receive technical and business skills training including contract administration, price and cost analysis, customer service, project management and presentation skills. Participants are hired at the GS-7 levels with full promotion potential to GS-13. Upon completion of the two-year training program, interns will complete a year-long apprenticeship with one of the sponsoring agencies.

The program contains three core components:

1. Training
2. Rotational assignments
3. Mentoring

Training

Each intern is required to complete a prescribed curriculum of procurement and acquisition courses. The curriculum is based on Core Competencies established for the Contract Specialist (1102) series and develops knowledge and skill in areas such as:

• The Federal Budget
• Cost and Price Analysis
• Contract Formation and Administration
• Contract Negotiations

Online Learning

DOIU offers over 2,300 online courses that cover a variety of technical and non-technical topics. Interns are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this flexible training delivery to augment their skill development and intern experience.

Rotational Assignments

Interns will complete 4 six-month rotational assignments in agencies within the federal government. The rotations are designed to give interns valuable practical experience in procuring goods and services for the Department of Defense. During these rotations, interns have opportunities to learn from many high-level leaders.

Agencies that have participated in the program include:

• Environmental Protection Agency
• Department of the Interior
• Department of Commerce
• Department of Defense
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Food and Drug Administration
• National Institute of Health
• Department of Education
• Department of Homeland Security
• Defense Commissary Agency
• Defense Security Services

Mentoring

Each intern benefits from participation in a structured mentoring program to guide them throughout the three-year program.

Mentors and protégés participate in formal training and are involved in on-going activities over the course of the program. Many of these mentor/protégé relationships extend beyond program completion.

Application Requirements

At a minimum, each applicant must have completed a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field AND have at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. All Government-wide Acquisition Management Career Development positions are located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Applicants must be US citizens.

At a minimum, each applicant must have:

A) Education: Applicants must have completed a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in any field; AND have successfully completed at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management with a cumulative GPA of 2.95 or higher.

OR

B) Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 level in the Federal service or private sector. Such experience must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position. Specialized experience includes developing acquisition strategies on a wide variety of complex services, supplies, information technology; preparing proposals; conducting source selections; responding to inquiries and protests; performing contract administration functions such as preparing change orders, contract modification; enforcing contract performance; making payments; AND have completed a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in any field; OR have successfully completed at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.

How to Apply

The next class for this program is slated to begin in June/July 2010, and recruiting for this program will begin in the winter (January 2 - April 2, 2010). Resumes are not being accepted at this time. Please continue to monitor this website for updates.

For questions please contact, Robert L. Foye, Program Manager, by phone at 202.208.3140 or by e-mail at Robert_Foye@nbc.gov