A CMS‐Based Competency Assessment of the DoD Contracting Workforce

Abstract

In April 2020, the DoD senior procurement executives established a new contracting competency model and a single level of certification program for the DoD contracting workforce. The new competency model is based on the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Contract Management Standard (CMS). This new DoD contracting competency model complies with the requirement in Section 861 of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to base a professional certification on standards developed by a third-party accredited program. The purpose of this research is to conduct a competency assessment on a sample of the DoD contracting workforce using the NCMA CMS. This research will answer the following question: Based on the competency assessment results, in which contract management competencies is the workforce less proficient and less knowledgeable? Based on the competency assessment results, recommendations for competency development are provided to the assessed organization.