More information on this nominee
Excellence in Acquisition Workforce Management Award 2006
Nominee: Department of the Interior
GovWorks
GovWorks Acquisition Team
The GovWorks Acquisition Team in the Department of the Interior's GovWorks Directorate is a shared service provider. Operating like a private sector business, shared service centers are agencies within the Federal government that take care of many of the administrative and business management functions of other Federal agencies. The shared service model enables frequently used processes, such as acquisition, financial management and business management, to be handled in a more cost-effective, compliant, and consistent manner. With GovWorks in place, agencies can focus solely on their core missions.
Created in 1996, GovWorks strives to dramatically change the perception of the procurement process, as it offers acquisition services to Federal agencies on a fee-for-service basis. The original goal of GovWorks was to provide better acquisition services than its customers' own agency acquisition office. Ten years later, GovWorks has brought about significant change in acquisition services and provides acquisition management services to a variety of Federal government agencies. Federal project managers in nearly every Federal agency have relied on GovWorks for professional acquisition services.
One of GovWorks' innovative business practices is its GovPay program. Through this program, customers receive electronic bill paying services and regulatory financial services. Checking the status of million dollar contracts is as easy as online banking with a web-based financial services database. With GovPay, acquisition staff can track funds, learn when contracts are awarded, and determine how funds were obligated against deposits. In addition, GovWorks documents all of its business practices in preparation to meet ISO 9000 requirements.
It is important for GovWorks to acquire and retain a team which is multi-functional. This element of the GovWorks human capital plan begins at employee orientation, which includes exercises in multi-functional planning, as well as a panel discussion with executive management.
GovWorks' goal is to continue to lead the acquisition community through innovation and adoption of new and better ways of doing business.