Recent US Federal Law Opens Connections for AACE International Initiatives

By Calvin Speight Jr., CCP

AACE Government Liaison Committee Chair

To enhance project delivery and methods to the federal government, President Obama on Dec. 14, 2016, signed into law the Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act of 2015 (PMIAA). Bipartisan support of this legislation included Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Representative Todd Young of Indiana, and Representative Gerry Connolly of Virginia.

The key thrust of this law is to demonstrate prudent spending of taxpayer dollars on large, complex projects. The PMIAA also reforms federal project management fundamentals in the following four dimensions:

• Creating a formal job series and career path for program managers in the federal government.
• Developing a standards-based program management policy across the federal government.
• Recognizing the essential role of executive sponsorship and engagement by designating a senior executive in federal agencies to be responsible for program management policy and strategy.
• Sharing knowledge of successful approaches to program management through an interagency council on program management.

Opportunities for AACE International

Since 2016, the AACE International Government Liaison Committee has been reinvigorated. Given that PMIAA has opened the door to external associations, the AACE team will lead efforts to build linkages with government agencies for the purpose of AACE being recognized as the technical authority in cost and schedule management for programs, projects, products, assets, and services.  The committee will strive to create value by advancing AACE technical knowledge and professional development. Even though information technology (IT) represents the lion’s share of the federal project and program portfolio, AACE’s niche position fits construction, aerospace, and defense projects as well. The AACE Government Liaison Committee, working in concert with the AACE Board of Directors and AACE headquarters, assists in activities necessary to ensure the successful on-site execution of the Federal Agency Roundtable. In line with PMIAA, AACE International will address each reform in the following manner:

• Promote AACE membership, AACE Section activity, and AACE certifications for federal employees.
• Infuse Total Cost Management (TCM) as the standard for asset creation and asset management into the federal DNA.
• Develop relations with federal executives, especially those working on high-value, mission-critical federal programs.
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing between AACE and federal agencies with a renewed cooperative agreement with the Defense Acquisition University (DAU). AACE members contribute heavily to the GAO Cost Expert Panel.

The Way Forward

AACE International will be presenting a Federal Agency Roundtable on March 22. The purpose of the Federal Agency Roundtable series is to institute AACE standards and methods into the project delivery of the federal government. The 2017 Roundtable is will feature a dialogue between federal executives and practitioners on the proposed topics of: “Estimating Realism, Cost-Schedule-Risk Integration, and How Contract Language Can Enhance Project Success." The 8 a.m. to noon event will be at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. Registration information and additional details will be released soon for this roundtable.

Previous AACE sponsored Federal Agency Roundtables have been well received. Program managers and project controls professionals involved in the federal government are invited to participate in the March 22 roundtable to exchange best practice advice and concerns with professionals from government agencies.  Come hear what issues your colleagues at other agencies are dealing with and share your best practices.