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.

Effective Nov. 1, 2026, CON 7300V: Price Analysis becomes a mandatory course for civilian agency professionals pursuing FAC-C (Professional) certification. The update strengthens foundational pricing skills and maintains reciprocity with Department of War contracting standards. Professionals who have not received approval of their certification package by Oct. 31 will need to complete the course.

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.