1. Do you think the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) is an important and influential organization today?

2. Do you think NCMA's CPCM (certified professional contract manager) is worthwhile?

1. Yes

2. No

@Don Mansfield Why is it important? Whom does it influence?

1. Yes for importance but no for influential.

2. No

It stays important because it is a source of information to members. This is particularly true for those in the private sector. Conferences generally have a variety of presentations ranging from mediocre to good. Same with the magazine.

On 4/1/2026 at 9:06 PM, Vern Edwards said:

@Don Mansfield Why is it important? Whom does it influence?

I think they have been successful in getting the Federal Government to pay attention to the Contract Management Standard. DoD based its Contracting Competency Model on the CMS. I believe DAU tests students on the contents of the CMS. The RFO drafters are trying to organize information within parts using the CMS as a model (i.e., Preaward, Award, Postaward). I think it’s just a matter of time for the Federal Government to outsource credentialing of Contracting professionals to NCMA. They also are joining forces with World CC, which will spread their influence globally.

Thanks, Don.

1. Yes. Important because it's a source of information to members, etc. Could have more of an influence, but if Agencies aren't willing to provide NCMA membership (like before February 2025), that fades.

2. No

I tend to think of myself as a good Contracting Officer, and I have never held or plan to have a NCMA membership. Now, there is always room for improvement in anyone, and in fact you should improve yourself everyday. But, there needs to be some type of ROI on any investment you make. If I can succed at my job without an NCMA membership or four letters at the end of my name, why should I spend my own money on it when I can use that same amount of money every year on more broad topics that make me a much more well-rounded acquisition professional?

Regular annual NCMA membership is $170/year.

What do you get for that? Contract Management magazine? A chance to attend a "World Congress" for an additional amount? A chance to attend monthly meetings? A chance to take a test and put CPCM after your name?

Think of the books you could buy with $170.00.

Contracting officers have to understand, write, decide, price and manage contracts, and understand others who do. So...

• A Manual of Style for Contract Drafting, 5th ed. (2024), by Kenneth A. Abrams. 668 pages. $132.00.

• Garner's Guideline for Drafting & Editing Contracts (2019), by Bryan Garner. 559 pages. $83.00.

• Garner's Dictionary of Legal Usage, 3d ed. (2011), by Bryan Garner. 1,022 pages. $81.00.

• Decision Analysis for Management Judgement, 6th ed. (2026), by Goodwin & Wright. 496 pages. $41.00.

• Contracting and Contract Law in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (2022), by Ebers et al. , eds. $58.95 (paperback).

• Project Planning, Scheduling, and Control, 6th ed. (2022), by James Lewis, 528 pages. $41.73.

• Cost Estimation: Methods and Tools , 2d ed, (2026), by Mislick and Nussbaum, 400 pages. $125.00.

I could go on...

Those would be useful to starting and maintaining a career.

But, then, I'm an NCMA member. I'm just not sure why.

@Vern Edwards I usually find interesting sessions to attend at World Congress. They generally have a variety of topics and sessions I’m interested in so I’m able to justify attending. But it’s not cheap at $1300 - 1400 plus food, lodging and airfare for three days.

17 minutes ago, formerfed said:

@Vern Edwards I usually find interesting sessions to attend at World Congress. They generally have a variety of topics and sessions I’m interested in so I’m able to justify attending. But it’s not cheap at $1300 - 1400 plus food, lodging and airfare for three days.

If you present, conference is free.

Yes. A review of the regular attendees and speakers would support this conclusion (senior acquisition leaders from government and industry).

No. At least not for those within the government.

2 hours ago, Jamaal Valentine said:

Yes. A review of the regular attendees and speakers would support this conclusion (senior acquisition leaders from government and industry).

@Jamaal Valentine In my 50+ years of experience, most senior acquisition leaders tend to serve up generalities and platitudes when addressing a formal audience.

4 hours ago, Don Mansfield said:

If you present, conference is free.

True and I’ve done that several times. But there’s still air fare, hotel, and food. The problem is the majority of attendees either aren’t interested in presenting or don’t have the experience or expertise.

1 hour ago, formerfed said:

The problem is the majority of attendees either aren’t interested in presenting or don’t have the experience or expertise.

@formerfed

I agree, which is why I question the value of World Congresses. But the best way to get experience is to get experience.

The only way to get experience and expertise in parachuting is to jump out of an airplane.

Conquer your fear.

1. Yes. Based on Don's response rearding involvement in CMS.

1.a. To me personally no.

2. Tough one. CPCM is a professional designation that validates professionalization. Yet it does not seem to bring value say like Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) where one might be evaluated in an RFP for having a specific professional certification. I say this from personal experience where I have seen CISSP referenced in responses to RFP's but not CPCM, at least can not recollect it. Added it seems CPCM right now lends nothing to say how one migyht be valued by the Federal government with regard to position or pay.

Ancedotal comments - I once received a four letter certification from NCMA, CACM I think. My intent was to gradually scale up to CPCM but when they did away with CACM I was disenchanted and did not pursue CPCM. If they can essentially take it away is it really valuable.

The best value for me with regard to NCMA was in my early years via an active NCMA chapter that included some very bright minds of the acquisiton community. Some that I met became valuable mentors of one sort or another over my years as an acquisition professional.