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Buy through us
Explore buy through us
Category management
Government property for sale or lease
Personal property (tangible goods)
Real property (real estate and buildings) for public use
Real property sales
Vehicle sales
Products and services
Human capital
Industrial products and services
Office management
Professional services
Security and protection
Transportation and logistics services
Purchasing programs
Assisted acquisition
Commercial platforms
Federal strategic sourcing initiative
Fleet management
HCaTS and HCaTS SB
OASIS and OASIS SB
Requisition programs
State and local programs
Emergency acquisition basic ordering agreements
Shared services
Payroll services
Support services for CABs
Sell to government
Explore sell to government
Step 1: Learn about government contracting
Ways you can sell to government
How to access contract opportunities
Conduct market research
Step 2: Compete for a contract
Register your business
Certify as a small business
Become a schedule holder
Market your business
Research active solicitations
Respond to a solicitation
What to expect during the award process
Step 3: Manage your contract
Comply with contractual requirements
Handle contract modifications
Monitor past performance evaluations
Real estate
Explore real estate
Design and construction
3D-4D building information modeling
Computer-aided design standards
Engineering
Project management information system
Prospectus thresholds
Facilities management
Security
Tenant services
Water quality management
Our properties
Owned and leased properties
Regional buildings
Renting property
Real estate services
GSA lease inventory
Real property disposal
Reimbursable services (RWA)
For businesses seeking opportunities
For workers in federal buildings
Voice of the customer
Workplace optimization
Commercial coworking
Federal coworking
Space Match
Explore historic buildings
Policy and regulations
Explore policy and regulations
Acquisition management policy
Aviation management policy
Information technology policy
Real property management policy
Relocation management policy
Travel management policy
Vehicle management policy
Regulations
Federal acquisition regulations
Federal management regulations
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Federal identity, credentials, and access management
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About us
Explore about us
Background and history
Overview
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Get an internship
Launch your career
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Discover special hiring paths
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Events, training, and request a speaker
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  6. Civilian Services Acquisition Workshops
  7. Learn More About CSAWs

Learn More About CSAWs

csaw logo

What is a CSAW?

A Civilian Services Acquisition Workshop, or CSAW, is a facilitated requirements development workshop built around a specific acquisition and your multi-functional integrated project team, or IPT. The workshop walks the complete team through the Steps to Performance Based Acquisition , or PBA, process from beginning to end.

What is the purpose of a CSAW?

Develop the vision, mission, high-level objectives, performance requirements, measurable standards and performance-based strategies for the agency project and a roadmap to complete it.

What is the focus of a CSAW?

The primary focus of the CSAW is to get all members of the acquisition team or IPT contributing and working together to accomplish the necessary work. CSAWs focus on getting actual work product started , giving the team the tools to continue the process through to completion, and building a team commitment to continuing to work together.

What are the objectives of a CSAW?

  • Understand the Performance-Based Acquisition, or PBA, process and the Steps to PBA
  • Explore the tools, resources, techniques, innovations and best practices to successfully execute this requirement
  • Collaborate as a team through facilitated activities to develop draft documentation for this requirement
  • Develop a high-level roadmap for successful implementation of this performance-based acquisition
  • Gain consensus on critical decisions and the path ahead

What defines good-fit customer requirements for a CSAW?

  • Preponderance is a SERVICES requirement for which there is a clear need/plan to procure
  • Full commitment from Agency Leadership + Contracting Office & Program Office
  • Total Lifecycle Value >= $50M (or requirement is significantly complex) 
    • Average total lifecycle value of previous requirements is approximately $100-200M
  • Workshop is most effective for acquisition teams that have sufficient lead time (18 months to 2 years)

Check out this video on CSAWs: Civilian Services Acquisition Workshops

Check out this video on breaking barriers to acquisition: Civilian Services Acquisition Workshops

Check out this video on improving requirement outcomes with facilitated workshops: PILCast Episode #52

  • Workshops bring the right team of people together based on pre-workshop engagement with executive sponsor(s) and project manager
  • The highly structured, facilitated workshop is built around the specific needs of the team while walking them through all the steps in the PBA process
  • Teams collaborate to develop the mission, vision, high-level objectives, and team success factors
  • Teams identify market research needs, high-level risks, key stakeholders, and a high-level communications strategy
  • Teams will identify and refine performance requirements with associated performance standards, AQLs, and quality assurance approach
  • Teams work together on each step in the PBA process and document the additional actions that will need to be taken after the workshop to complete each step
  • Throughout the workshop, teams will gain consensus on their work products and path ahead

  • Reduced lead times and better team dynamics
  • Greater participation and accelerated team performance
  • Clarity of purpose that is shared among all members
  • Better overall project management
  • Better performance outcomes
  • A high-level roadmap for working together to accomplish the project
  • Increased stakeholder buy-in the end product

For the SAW to be effective, all members of the acquisition team or IPT need to attend. However, the program manager, contracting officer, and contracting officer’s representatives, or CORs MUST attend the complete workshop. The following key members of the acquisition team should attend:

  • Program / Project Manager
  • Contracting Officer and Specialist
  • Contracting Officer’s Representative
  • Technical Representatives / SMEs
  • ‘Customer’ Representatives such as Requirements Owners / Key-Users)
  • Oversight/Management Personnel Representatives such as quality assurance specialist(s), inspector(s))
  • Senior Leadership to kickoff CSAW and possibly attend on the last day
  • OPTIONAL: Small business representative(s), if applicable
  • OPTIONAL: Legal Counsel, if there are known legal complexities requiring significant input and participation
  • OPTIONAL: Budget / Finance Office Representative, when needed

The duration of a CSAW is generally four (4) days for a virtual workshop, though more complex acquisitions may require follow-on sessions. Attendees will need to be present for all 4 days to fully participate in the workshop’s facilitated team activities, as well as to receive CLPs.

  1. Complete intake form [DOCX - 90 KB] and send to csaw@gsa.gov
  2. Set up a 30 min video meeting 
    • Purpose: Learn more about you and your team, discuss the workshop format and requirements, discuss next steps and what we need from your team, and look at potential dates for a workshop. The workshops are built around a specific requirement and its acquisition team. Attendees should include the POC, the program/project manager, the contracting officer, the COR and ideally, the project sponsor.
  3. Decide on date for workshop
  4. Schedule separate 1 hour interviews with the following:
    • The project sponsor, or senior leader, if available
    • The Contracting Office including CO & CS, supervisory CO optional, but welcome
    • The Program Manager and team
    • Purpose: During these interviews, we will work to understand your requirements in more detail and from different perspectives, identify areas of focus for the workshop, and discuss logistics and workshop participation.
  5. Conduct CSAW workshop
  6. Send CSAW participants workshop documentation and CLPs

CSAWs are facilitated workshops built around a specific acquisition and their acquisition team or integrated project team, or IPT. The workshop walks the team through the performance-based acquisition process.

If you are interested in becoming a certified CSAW facilitator or co-facilitator, please review the below One- Pager and CSAW Facilitator Certification Memo on requirements:

  • Facilitation One- Pager [PDF - 186 KB]
  • CSAW Facilitator Certification Memo [PDF - 252 KB]

  • CSAW Overview slide deck [PDF - 2 MB]- January 2024
  • CSAW White Paper [PDF - 471 KB]
  • CSAW One pager [PDF - 2 MB]
  • CSAW Webinar: The ARC Method Presentation Deck [PDF - 1 MB]
  • Requirements Roadmap Worksheet Template [DOCX - 318 KB]
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Last updated: Mar 28, 2025
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