In a significant move to modernize its workforce and promote lifelong learning, the U.S. Federal government is seeking innovative education providers. This initiative, stemming from a broader workforce modernization effort, aims to equip federal employees with comprehensive career planning tools and enhanced access to training pathways. The CFO Council is spearheading this commitment, initiating a Version 1.0 career planning and training solution. This presents a unique opportunity for education providers and vendors to collaborate with the government.
This program is closely coordinated with the Executive Office of the President / Office of Management and Budget and other Executive Councils. Its potential success could lead to an expansion, serving a larger portion of the 2.1 million federal workforce.
The envisioned career planning tool will feature two core components:
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Federal Financial Management (FM) Career and Training Map: An intuitive and detailed career map specifically designed for federal FM employees, accessible on CFO.gov.
- This career map will clearly outline the essential knowledge, skills, and experiences required within 54 competency areas across three General Schedule (GS) levels: junior, mid, and senior.
- Federal employees can utilize this resource for timely and specific guidance. It will assist them in identifying necessary competencies for their current roles and those recommended for career advancement.
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Integrated Links to External Education and Training Content: The career map will seamlessly integrate numerous links—estimated to be in the hundreds—to targeted external courses and educational content. These resources will be provided by a select group of external training providers. The goal is to address specific competency development needs at various stages of an employee’s career journey. The content sought may include:
- University-level training material (graduate and undergraduate) relevant to the 54 competency areas.
- Continuing education content for Certified Public Accountants (or equivalent certifications).
- Emerging technology and knowledge area content, such as Data Science, Analytics, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA), alongside general federal employee skill development.
Federal FM employees will have direct access to this tool to explore and procure training courses and content through a streamlined procurement process. Detailed information is available in the Application Package resource.
Employees utilizing the interactive career map will find these embedded links to external education and training providers strategically placed within the map, relevant to specific career guidance and training options.
Upon clicking these external links, employees will be directed from CFO.gov to the education provider’s website. Here, they can access comprehensive details about the course or content, including curriculum, scope, delivery method, prerequisites, and pricing.
The procurement process will enable employees to directly engage with the education and training provider to purchase desired courses or content. While government purchasing cards (“P-Cards”) are the typical method, alternative purchasing options, such as bulk subscriptions or licenses, will also be considered.
We are actively seeking forward-thinking and innovative Training and Education Providers (TTEPs) to join us in this extensive workforce modernization and upskilling initiative. Selected partners will have their course content integrated as clickable links within our interactive career map, offering direct access to federal employees who can utilize their P-Cards to purchase your offerings.
Partnering with a limited number of providers ensures significant and promoted access to our employee base for the selected vendors.
How to Apply: Keep monitoring this website and sam.gov for updates and revised materials. Search on sam.gov using the search term “FEDS140K” to locate the Request for Information (RFI).
Key milestone dates are outlined in the RFI, detailing deadlines for question submissions, the Q&A Town Hall schedule, and the application deadline.
Timeline Updates:
- 12/13/21 Update: Due to heightened interest in workforce initiatives and to align with the President’s Management Agenda launch, the timeline has been adjusted. Please refer to the updated documents for revised dates. We appreciate your continued interest.
- 1/10/22 Update: Answers to submitted questions have been published on sam.gov and are also accessible here.
- January 13, 2022 Update: Thank you for your strong interest and flexibility regarding schedule extensions. We invite you to our Town Hall session on January 21st at 9 AM for context and direct Q&A. Updated conference call details are on sam.gov (search “FEDS140K”).
- 3/4 Update: Thank you for your interest in the RFI “Seeking Innovative Business Education Providers to Help Upskill a 140K+ Federal Workforce (FEDS140K)”. Updated content is posted here, including a revised application due date of 3/8/22.
Benefits for Successful Education Provider Applicants:
- Direct Access to a Vast Federal Workforce: Become one of a select group (seven or fewer) of Training and Education Providers with embedded links to your purchasable training content within the Version 1.0 Career Planning Tool. Target a financial management workforce of over 140,000 employees, each potentially with a $1,000+ training budget. Agency leadership will actively promote the Career Planning Tool, driving visibility and usage of your courses.
- Exclusive Engagement with the CFO Council and Member Agencies: Present your course offerings, curriculum, and insights on workforce modernization and continuous learning directly to the CFO Council and Member Agencies. Conduct periodic surveys to gather feedback and identify evolving training needs.
- Significant Growth Potential: The success of Version 1.0 within the financial management sector could pave the way for expansion to other federal and state government functions (IT, Acquisitions, Operations, State Governments) and broader segments of the federal workforce.
- Enhanced Visibility and National Recognition: Participate in a high-profile Executive Branch initiative, gaining unique insights into government workforce modernization needs. Establish your organization as a trusted advisor in workforce development within the public sector, enhancing your reputation and opening doors to further opportunities across government and the private sector.
For detailed application instructions and to submit questions, please refer to the RFI and Application Package Documents.
