Celebrating 50 Years of FAI

On July 14, 1976, the Federal Procurement Institute was established, laying the foundation for today’s Federal Acquisition Institute. For 50 years, FAI has supported, strengthened and advanced the federal acquisition workforce.

The Chief Acquisition Officers Council is accepting nominations for the 2026 Acquisition and Program Management Excellence Awards. Help recognize federal acquisition and program management professionals and teams whose work delivered measurable results, strengthened mission outcomes and improved value for taxpayers.

Dr. Kevin Rhodes, Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy and Chair of the FAR Council, explains how Executive Order 14402 shifts federal contracting from paying for effort to achieving defined outcomes through fixed-price contracts with performance-based considerations. Watch this FAI-WarU fireside chat to understand the policy’s goals, the importance of well-defined requirements, and what the change means for acquisition professionals. Then explore the Fixed-Price Contracts Program – EO 14402 Playlist for related training and tools.

The RFO Learning Cycle connects policy to real-world execution, guiding the workforce from awareness to application while capturing practitioner insights to improve outcomes. Explore targeted resources, training, and tools for every stage of the cycle—your feedback helps strengthen implementation across the acquisition workforce.