Authorization of the acquisition professional career program

(a)

In general

Title VII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

711.

Acquisition professional career program

(a)

Establishment

There is established in the Department an acquisition professional career program to develop a cadre of acquisition professionals within the Department. (b)

Administration

The Under Secretary for Management shall administer the acquisition professional career program established pursuant to subsection (a). (c)

Program requirements

The Under Secretary for Management shall carry out the following with respect to the acquisition professional career program. (1)Designate the occupational series, grades, and number of acquisition positions throughout the Department to be included in the program and manage centrally such positions. (2)Establish and publish on the Department’s website eligibility criteria for candidates to participate in the program. (3)Carry out recruitment efforts to attract candidates— (A)from institutions of higher education, including such institutions with established acquisition specialties and courses of study, historically Black colleges and universities, and Hispanic-serving institutions; (B)with diverse work experience outside of the Federal Government; or (C)with military service. (4)Hire eligible candidates for designated positions under the program. (5)Develop a structured program comprised of acquisition training, on-the-job experience, Department-wide rotations, mentorship, shadowing, and other career development opportunities for program participants. (6)Provide, beyond required training established for program participants, additional specialized acquisition training, including small business contracting and innovative acquisition techniques training. (d)

Reports

Not later than December 31, 2020, and annually thereafter through 2026, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the acquisition professional career program. Each such report shall include the following information: (1)The number of candidates approved for the program. (2)The number of candidates who commenced participation in the program, including generalized information on such candidates’ backgrounds with respect to education and prior work experience, but not including personally identifiable information. (3)A breakdown of the number of participants hired under the program by type of acquisition position. (4)A list of Department components and offices that participated in the program and information regarding lengths of time of each program participant in each rotation at such components or offices. (5)Program attrition rates and retention data, including information on how such data compare to the prior year’s data, as available. (6)Information on the Department’s recruiting efforts for the program. (7)Information on the Department’s efforts to improve the efficacy of the program and promote retention of program participants. (e)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Hispanic-serving institution

The term Hispanic-serving institution has the meaning given such term in section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a). (2)

Historically Black colleges and universities

The term historically Black colleges and universities has the meaning given the term part B institution in section 322(2) of Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)). (3)

Institution of higher education

The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 710 the following new item:

Sec. 711. Acquisition professional career program.