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On this page: Overview | Three pillars | Acquisition facilitation lab | CSAW/SAW workshop details | Knowledge, innovation, and tools | Acquisition facilitation network | Contact
This page is for federal acquisition teams planning service acquisitions and looking for help with outcome-based requirements, acquisition planning, team facilitation, procurement tools, team facilitation procurement training, or facilitation community resources.
The Center supports the acquisition workforce working on large, complex, or mission-critical service acquisitions, as well as individual teams seeking targeted planning support.
Ready to request support?
Complete the COE Intake Form. After receiving your form, the Center will schedule an intake meeting to understand your requirement, timeline, team, goals, and desired outcomes.
Questions? Email csaw@gsa.gov.
Support is organized through three service pillars.
CSAWs/SAWs, customized facilitation, outcome-based acquisition support
Videos, templates, guides, training, outreach, digital tools, AI-assisted support
Community of practice, certification, quarterly meetings, newsletter, Interact.
What support is right for your team?
Use the guide below to find the support option that best fits your team’s needs.
| If your team needs to | Consider |
|---|---|
| Develop outcome-based requirements for a large, complex, or mission-critical service acquisition | CSAW/SAW workshop |
| Solve a specific acquisition planning challenge or build consensus | Customized facilitation engagement |
| Get feedback on draft requirements or acquisition planning documents | Outcome-based acquisition coaching |
| Access templates, videos, guides, or training | Knowledge, Innovation, and Tools |
| Learn facilitation techniques or connect with other practitioners | Acquisition Facilitation Network |
| Become certified to facilitate or co-facilitate CSAWs | Facilitation Network certification |
The Acquisition facilitation lab provides structured, expert-led facilitation and coaching for acquisition teams working on live requirements.
Support may include:
CSAWs and SAWs are best suited for large, complex, or mission-critical service acquisitions, especially those with an estimated lifecycle value of $50 million or more.
We can design tailored facilitation sessions to help acquisition teams solve specific problems, make key decisions, or build consensus.
These engagements are flexible and can be adapted to the team’s timeline, goals, and acquisition stage.
We provide targeted coaching and document support during acquisition planning.
Facilitated Requirements Development Workshops help acquisition teams develop outcome-based requirements for a specific service acquisition.
For civilian agencies, these workshops are called Civilian Services Acquisition Workshops, or CSAWs. For the Department of Defense, similar workshops are known as Service Acquisition Workshops, or SAWs.
CSAWs and SAWs are generally recommended for service acquisitions with an estimated lifecycle value of $50 million or more. Smaller requirements may also qualify if they are especially complex or mission-critical.
Teams should contact The Center 12 to 18 months before the desired award date, when possible. Shorter timelines may be supported depending on availability and acquisition needs.
For Department of Defense acquisitions over $500 million, teams should consult applicable DoD services acquisition guidance, including DODI 5000.74 Defense Acquisition of Services [PDF].
Complete the COE Intake Form.
After receiving the form, the Center will schedule an intake meeting to learn more about the requirement, timeline, team, goals, and desired outcomes. Based on that discussion, we recommend the best support approach, such as a CSAW/SAW, customized facilitation, or targeted outcome-based acquisition support.
If a workshop is appropriate, we will work with the agency to identify dates, participants, format, and logistics.
Workshops are designed for the full acquisition team, including program and contracting staff, requirements owners, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders as needed. The requesting agency should identify a program or project manager for the requirement. Senior sponsors may participate in the workshop or review team outputs at the conclusion. For IT acquisitions, the Center may help identify subject matter experts or coaches. The primary requirement should be service-based.
Workshops may be conducted virtually or in person.
Virtual workshops are typically held using ZoomGov and may include breakout rooms, whiteboards, polls, and shared working documents. Participants should plan to be on camera and actively engaged.
For in-person workshops, we will work with the requesting agency on space and logistics. The sponsoring agency may be asked to provide basic workshop supplies, such as sticky notes, flip charts, and markers. Participant travel expenses are the responsibility of each participant’s agency.
Each workshop is tailored to the acquisition, but most teams work through core activities such as mission and current-state analysis, acquisition strategy considerations, market research needs, performance-based requirements development, performance standards, and next steps. A standard four-day workshop typically covers performance-based acquisition fundamentals, objectives and strategy, and requirements development using the ARC Method.
A standard four-day workshop may cover:
| Day 1 | Performance-based acquisition overview, requirement background, current state analysis, mission, vision, and task areas. |
|---|---|
| Day 2 | High-level objectives, acquisition strategy discussion, market research needs, and introduction to performance-based requirements. |
| Day 3-4 | Requirements development using the ARC Method, performance standards, Acceptable Quality Levels, quality assurance concepts, source selection considerations, and closeout |
Each agenda is tailored to the team’s acquisition and goals.
Teams leave with practical work products and a clearer path forward. The primary output is typically a Requirements Roadmap Worksheet [DOCX - 2 MB] or CSAW - ARC Requirement Roadmap [XLSX - 26 KB], which supports development of the PWS and solicitation package. Teams make progress on:
By the end of the workshop, teams should have a shared understanding of the remaining work needed to complete the acquisition package.
CSAWs and SAWs are led by federal employees who are certified or pursuing certification as CSAW Facilitators or CSAW Co-Facilitators. Facilitation team members sign a nondisclosure agreement and provide it to the agency contracting officer, as appropriate.
There is currently no cost for the facilitated workshop itself. For in-person workshops, the sponsoring agency may be asked to provide basic workshop supplies, such as sticky notes, flip charts, and markers. Participant travel expenses are the responsibility of each participant’s agency.
Participants who attend at least 95% of a four-day workshop may receive 32 Continuous Learning Points, or 8 CLPs per day for shorter engagements. Participants must have an active DAU or FAI CSOD account to receive CLPs.
For CLP questions, reach out to the Office of Acquisition Solutions Development’s Warrant Management Service Center using the Ask IWM Governance form.
The Center may provide follow-up coaching or facilitation depending on team needs, capacity, and timeline. To request additional support, contact csaw@gsa.gov.
Knowledge, Innovation, and Tools, or KIT, provides resources, training, and digital tools to help acquisition teams apply outcome-based and performance-based acquisition practices.
KIT’s offerings are organized into three areas:
Foundational skills training through webinars, conferences, and partnerships. Includes routine webinars and customized training to meet customer needs.
Performance-based acquisition and IPT facilitation tools that support requirements development and acquisition planning efforts.
Expert advice for performance-based requirement development efforts, including with emerging tools and AI-assisted support.
Explore videos, templates, and guides that support independent and facilitated acquisition planning.
| Videos | Guides and templates |
|---|---|
The Acquisition Facilitation Network is an interagency community of practice for federal professionals interested in improving acquisition outcomes through process facilitation.
Process facilitation uses a clear purpose, defined objectives, and guided activities to help teams accomplish specific outcomes within the time available.
The network gives practitioners opportunities to connect, learn new techniques, share best practices, demonstrate facilitation methods, discuss challenges, and stay informed about facilitation efforts across government.
Members may have opportunities to:
To join the network, subscribe to the quarterly newsletter, or ask questions about certification, email csaw@gsa.gov.
Quarterly meetings are interactive and help acquisition workforce members and project managers apply facilitation skills in Integrated Project Team management and leadership. Meetings may include examples, training, practice activities, and discussion of how facilitation techniques can improve acquisition outcomes.
The Center also shares facilitation techniques, performance-based acquisition updates, and resources through a quarterly newsletter and the CSAW Interact Community. The Interact Community serves as a document library with step-by-step instructions for facilitation techniques, best practices, and examples of how facilitation can be applied across the federal contracting lifecycle.
Certification supports federal professionals who want to build and apply facilitation skills in acquisition settings. Federal acquisition professionals may pursue certification as a CSAW facilitator or co-facilitator.
Two certifications are currently available:
The certification process includes training, observation, facilitation or co-facilitation experience, and a capstone panel. The process is about 175 hours, though the total may vary based on prior training.
Certified facilitators generally have acquisition experience and the ability to bridge program and contracting perspectives. They may include current or former contracting officers, contracting specialists, project managers, or other acquisition professionals.
The program looks for facilitators and co-facilitators who can work effectively with groups, ask thoughtful questions, adapt in real time, and apply acquisition knowledge across program and contracting perspectives.
Candidates pursuing certification generally complete the following steps:
Program-approved facilitation training is typically 24 to 32 hours in a virtual or classroom format. The training is not required to join the Facilitation Network or observe workshops, but it is required for certification and for fully participating as a co-facilitator.
To maintain certification, certified facilitators must facilitate or co-facilitate two CSAWs within a two-year period. These workshops may be conducted within the facilitator’s own agency.
For information about approved facilitation training options, email csaw@gsa.gov.
Network members may have opportunities to observe, co-facilitate, or facilitate CSAWs. Observers should generally plan to attend the full workshop, along with preparation and debrief sessions. Co-facilitators may lead selected modules, support breakout activities, and help teams work through challenges.
To request acquisition support, complete the COE Intake Form.
Use the intake form to request a CSAW or SAW workshop, customized facilitation, outcome-based acquisition coaching, or help determining the right support option. After you submit the intake form, the Center will review your request, recommend the best support options, and coordinate next steps if appropriate.
For questions about workshops, facilitation support, the Facilitation Network, certification, or the quarterly newsletter, email csaw@gsa.gov.
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Rates for Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories and possessions are set by the Department of Defense.
Rates for foreign countries are set by the Department of State.
Rates are available between 10/1/2024 and 09/30/2027.
The End Date of your trip can not occur before the Start Date.
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When a military installation or Government - related facility(whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and / or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality.
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