Challenge
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction (OALC), Office of Acquisition and Logistics (OAL), Acquisition Program Support (APS) required professional services to assist with the execution, implementation, and maintenance of the Acquisition Program Management Framework (APMF) across the entire VA. VA has established APMF as a centralized capability for the management of major programs across the VA enterprise. To deliver on its mission, VA initiated an enterprise level review of its Acquisition and Program Management (A&PM) practices to identify critical gaps and develop an iterative, progressive approach for maturing its A&PM capabilities. As part of this review and subsequent activities, VA identified a critical need to address immediate demands that accelerated the need for the APMF rollout. Specifically, VA required the execution and implementation of the APMF strategic communications plans and organizational change management plans, as well as APMF guidance for both new and existing programs that will be engaged in the APMF process.
Solution
The Atlas Research project team, including prime partner Deloitte, supports the continued execution of an enterprise governance model that enables the effective implementation of subordinate functions by which programs are identified and “on-boarded” into the APMF across the administrations and staff offices. The project team also executes the communications plan which includes parallel and vertical communication channels, and demonstrates transitional readiness to continue the management of existing APMF work streams. Specifically, Atlas supports the following tasks:
- Task 1: Strategic Communications Support. Atlas assists in the formulation of the APMF Communications Plan by developing strategic communications messaging documents to identified APMF stakeholders and providing targeted communications support for specific organizations both pre- and post-APMF implementation communication activities. Deliverables include: stakeholder analysis/repository; email campaigns; newsletter articles; roadshow support; APMF document repositories; and communications document development. The team also develops documents relevant to the strategic communication of APMF to VA senior managers and senior stakeholders.
- Task 2: Program Management Support. The Atlas team assists in drafting, process, or updates to VA acquisition documentation, including acquisition strategy and acquisition plan and pre-milestone documentation through project start to retirement, using VA documentation as a requirements baseline. We assist in the continuous analysis of the APMF framework for each targeted program, and when required participate in cross-functional teams on government projects or programs, supporting the VA acquisition processes. Deliverables include: program management office development and implementation; program management planning, execution, and monitoring; organizational framework modification; project charters, operating rules, and conventions; roles and responsibilities; and APMF program collateral for APMF implementation.
Result
Through these efforts, Atlas is assisting VA in accelerating the APMF rollout through execution and implementation of the APMF strategic communications plans, organizational change management plans, and APMF guidance for both new and existing programs that are engaged in the APMF process.