OUR TAKE – Procurement
DFARS 252.244-7001 identifies training as a required element of an acceptable purchasing system. Many contractors still treat training as a compliance checkbox rather than a tool for strengthening purchasing system compliance and efficiency. When designed and implemented effectively, procurement compliance training strengthens decision-making, promotes consistent application of requirements, and reduces risk across the organization.
Our Take: Procurement compliance training is a force multiplier
Effective procurement compliance training does more than communicate regulatory requirements. It translates complex FAR, DFARS, contractual, and internal policy requirements into clear expectations that personnel can apply consistently throughout their daily work.
This is especially important as regulatory changes, internal review findings, and shifting compliance expectations create new questions across purchasing organizations. When training is timely, targeted, and supported by knowledgeable resources, it builds confidence, improves decision-making, and reduces the likelihood of inconsistent practices or recurring compliance issues. Used strategically, training strengthens individual performance while reinforcing the organization’s broader compliance foundation.
Here are the top 3 training mistakes government contractors are making:
- Mistake #1: Failing to provide timely, reliable answers
- Procurement professionals have access to more regulatory guidance, commentary, and online content than ever before, but not every source is accurate, current, or applicable to the organization’s contracts. When questions remain unresolved—or answers are provided without the necessary expertise—personnel may rely on incomplete information or develop inconsistent interpretations that increase compliance risk. Organizations should ensure employees have access to knowledgeable resources that can provide clear, well-supported guidance when questions arise.
- Mistake #2: Treating training as an isolated compliance activity
- Training designed only to satisfy a regulatory requirement rarely produces meaningful results. Effective training should equip personnel to make stronger decisions, apply requirements consistently, and identify issues before they become non-compliances. When tied to organizational risks, employee responsibilities, and measurable outcomes, training becomes a force multiplier—moving personnel beyond awareness and toward consistent, effective execution.
- Mistake #3: Failing to connect internal reviews with training
- DFARS 252.244-7001 addresses internal reviews and training as complementary elements supporting the integrity of an effective purchasing system. Internal reviews identify recurring documentation gaps, misunderstood requirements, and areas where established procedures are not producing the intended results. Training can then be targeted to those specific risks, while subsequent reviews measure whether the training produced meaningful improvement. When leveraged together, reviews and training create a focused, evidence-based plan for strengthening the purchasing system.
What should government contractors do?
Organizations should shift from passive, check-the-box training to active, results-driven programs that help personnel understand and apply regulatory changes, management expectations, and internal procedures. Training should be reinforced through internal reviews that measure whether the intended improvement occurred, with guidance, processes, or training adjusted to where gaps remain. Contractors should also encourage questions and provide timely, well-supported answers, including support from knowledgeable strategic partners when needed. Personnel who understand the requirements, know what is expected, and have the right tools are better equipped to make compliant decisions – making effective training both a force multiplier and a risk mitigation tool.
