ART - JOPP - Staff Assistance Visit: Bridging the Gap between HQ and Contracting Officers 2005

The article discusses the Staff Assistance Visit (SAV) program implemented by the Department of State's Procurement Executive since 1995. The SAV program aims to improve relationships between headquarters and field offices, provide hands-on expertise to improve operations, and assist contracting officers in overcoming challenges. The program was adopted from the Department of Navy's Military Sealift Command program and has quickly gained popularity. The SAV program is particularly important for the Department of State as its overseas contracting officers are not career contract specialists and may have limited training in contracting. The SAV program is voluntary and initiated by the contracting officers themselves. The program involves preparation, on-site visits, and the provision of recommendations for improvement. The article also mentions that the SAV program includes a process of approving a slate of posts and creating a SAV team for regional visits. The article highlights the benefits of the SAV program and its application to other practitioners.