Last week, our Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL) team hosted two PIL Boot Camps for Industry. Like the pilot launch last year, our sessions this year were a great success! During the two interactive one‑day workshops, 171 industry participants, nominated by 17 industry associations, representing 139 diverse companies, joined the PIL team to learn about the innovative procurement techniques that foster a culture of procurement excellence where smart risk‑taking and innovation assure the Department of Homeland Security mission success.
By participating in our PIL Boot Camps, industry partners learned about the same nine key innovation techniques we teach to our acquisition professionals. We listened during the day too, and gained some valuable insights from our participants. I am always excited when we provide opportunities like this to spend meaningful time with industry, because it strengthens our shared understanding of the procurement process and helps us deliver improved outcomes for the homeland mission.
I want to thank the PIL team for hosting the workshops, the industry associations for nominating attendees, and also our esteemed colleagues, Ms. Lesley Field and Mr. Mathew Blum from the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, for providing their valuable insights as guest speakers.
Learn more about the PIL and find the Boot Camp workbook and the Fiscal Year 2018 Yearbook at www.DHS.gov/PIL.