1. DITAP: Digital IT Acquisition Professionals Program

2. The Digital IT Acquisition Professional (DITAP) Training & Development Program offers a FAC-C core-plus certification for contracting professionals

3. Problem Statement: Government technology purchasing suffers from acquisitions based more on compliance than delivery, organizations who may lack technical knowledge, and a lack of focus on improving service delivery for end users.

4. Digital Service Core-Plus Certification Objectives
Become Digital Service Acquisition Specialists who apply strategic thinking, industry best practices, market place conditions, and appropriate acquisition strategies to the procurement of digital supplies and services
Are equipped with the knowledge necessary to be imbedded within Digital Service teams to serve as a business advisor to the team, its customers, and its stakeholders
Have the knowledge to lead agency training, workshops, and consultations in order to expand digital service procurement expertise within their agency and the government.

5. Iterative Approach to Program Development
What we did
What we learned
Challenge.gov: In May of 2015 OFPP & USDS released a prize challenge to determine if a training & development program could be built to meet the necessary training objectives for acquisition professionals
A 3 -phased approach with to allow for concept, design, and development of the program through a pilot was highly successful way of testing a hypothesis
Pilot: Utilized 30 contracting professionals from several large and small agencies to prove design concept
The concept of the development program is proved. Individuals receive training to be able to start implementing digital service acquisition, however, not expert level
The time was a challenge based on content delivered, majority of the students were able to complete the course, participation and badging strategies implemented were successful
MVP: Had to prove that success in pilot could be replicated with improvements. Used a different set of 30 contracting professionals for 4 months .
Scaling: The program is larger than OFPP or USDS can manage so to scale, a bigger plan must be enacted
Providing the open source content, EdX platform, and facilitation guides will enable vendors and agency training institutions to replicate the success with minimal time/cost
Maintenance team – see Amy’s notes

6. Pilot + MVP Cohort Results – April 2017
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7. 77%
Indicated a difference in their job based on what they learned in DITAP
71%
Have been approached by others to apply knowledge & skills gained in the program
81%
Indicated increased visibility as a digital services professional

8. Although it is a 4-6 month
training program…

9. Program Features
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10. Iterative Learning: agile approach to lessons
Access to Industry Experts and Digital SMEs
Flipped Classroom & Self Directed Learning
Skills lab & real world application
Shadowing/Interviewing
Team of teams/Cohort/Alumni identification
Badging

11. Scaling the Solution
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12. The use of EdX, an open Source Learning Management System, made it possible to facilitate the program.
It includes discussion boards, the course material, supplemental reading material, a Wiki, and custom options were built in to facilitate badging and participation tracking

13. Scaling the Solution
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14. The Need Survey Who Key Result
Digital Service Training & Development questionnaire was administered by FAI.gov as a supplemental to the Acquisition Human Capital Plan
Who
All civilian 23 CFO Act Agencies were required to complete the supplement
Key Result
Overall agencies estimated that roughly 6,500 civilian workforce members would need digital service training

15. FAC- C Digital Service Training ESTIMATED TOTAL: 3,006 FAC-C

16. FAC- P/PM Digital Service Training ESTIMATED TOTAL: 2,176 FAC-P/PM

17. By the Numbers…. Contracting Professionals Program Managers
Other support staff (CORs)
Total
CY 17
CY 18
CY 19
Digital Service Expertise Need Identified
3,000
2,200
1,300
6,500
1,180
2,600
2,720
Approximate Total Number
13,000
8,700
N/A
Percent of Workforce Needing Digital Services Training
23%
25%
Target Number Needing Training at Master-Level
1,000
750
None
1,750
180
600
970
Target Number Needing Awareness Training
2,000
1,450
4,750

18. The Ask Agency Training Institutions
At least 1 agency led training in CY18
Industry Training Providers
At least 2 Industry led development programs offered by CY18
Develop and run the digital service training & development program to meet the needs of training the federal acquisition workforce
By using the already developed content, instructional design, proven outcomes & instructional material, we believe this goal to be achievable

19. Competencies and Outcomes
Competency
Performance Outcome
Digital Services in the 21st Century Government
Describe digital services in the 21st century, including what they are, who provides them, how they are delivered, and why they are important
Understand What You Are Buying
Determine the problem to be solved while effectively supporting and communicating with the customer and industry
How do you buy
Effectively use techniques for acquiring digital service solutions in your solicitation or acquisition strategy
Awarding & Administering Digital Service Contracts
Conduct and award digital service contracts, using and applying metrics and incentives appropriately, and applying proper course correction when necessary
Leading Change as a Digital IT Acquisition Professional
Apply techniques to create a culture of innovation within your sphere that enables you and others to effectively lead and influence customers to the best solutions
Application of Skills
Apply techniques learned in the course through various activities

20. DITAP Scaling Framework:
USDS
*Manage Open Source content & platform
*Determine competencies & certification process
*Provide SME’s to course facilitators
*Evaluate & Approve changes to program elements
*Assist with Buy In/Program Recruitment/ Top Cover
*Manage Alumni community
Agencies
*Hire/Train Facilitators
*Conduct DITAP Program
*Recruit & Run Application Process
*Contribute to Open Source content & edx platform
*Provide funding for program (if facilitating)
*Provide funding for participants
* Give participants digital service acquisition opportunities
Industry
*Create industry run development program
* Ensure program is developed with 70% of content provided
*Create remaining 30% of program facilitation
*Recruit & run application process
*Contribute to open source content & EdX platform
* Provide program to remote/distant regions/areas

21. Competencies/Certification
Badging Levels – Level I
Level II
Bronze Level = 80% course completion
CLPs = 60
Silver Level = 90% course completion
CLPs = 70
Gold Level = 100 % completion
CLPs = 80
Additional training & competency based applied skills requirements.
To Be Determined
FAC-C Core Plus Certification
Given to all Bronze Level Badge earners

22. Required Core Content Approval of Program
USDS has validated through two run programs the core content and facilitation techniques that must be provided in order for students graduating to receive the certification.
Core Content: We have identified 70% of the content, facilitation methods, participation elements, and readings that must be included in development program to ensure consistency and keep the certification brand related to the achieved outcomes.
The purpose of this is two-fold:
Maintain consistency of certification approach and skills achieved
Streamline the process of getting more development programs built & delivered in CY17
USDS Provides Validation
USDS will evaluate the proposed development program – either from agency or industry – to determine that the basic requirements/competencies are covered
Will maintain the approval of all core content updates as part of the open source strategy for the EdX platform
Will communicate to FAITAS/OFPP approved courses so registered participants will earn eligible credit & certification
The remaining 30% of the content can be exactly the same as provided in either the pilot/MVP version of the program or can vary based on the specific skills or learning approaches that the program provider wants to apply.

23. Open Source Content to be Provided by USDS
Content Map
All course content & readings
Pilot & MVP Transition Reports w/ Recommendations
Access to EdX Platform
Classroom Instruction Slides w/ facilitator notes
Classroom activities w/ facilitator instruction
Open Source Content to be Provided by USDS

24. Discussion/Questions
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