Federal Chief Acquisition Officers and their colleagues continue to rank workforce training as their number one priority, according to a recent Federal News Radio survey.  While that’s no surprise, there may be reason for optimism that it will actually start to take place as more forums, like federal shows that feature training, re-emerge.  Running a close second and third were finding greater efficiencies in the acquisition process and making use of new tools to make acquisitions easier.  Each of the top three areas can be potential targets for industry, depending on the specific capabilities of each company.  Firms that provide training have an obvious opportunity, but so, too, do those that can help analyze existing acquisition procedures and make recommended changes.  Helping streamline acquisition systems not only helps the CAO, but helps industry as well.  Those that have, or can show feds how to use, new tools, can also have a positive impact.  While CAO’s want to innovate and enhance their acquisition capabilities, they also acknowledge inherent challenges.  One respondent stated, “We clearly have large pockets of excellence, and large swaths which are not ready to reconsider established practices.”   Contractors that can find the “pockets” and steer clear of the “swaths” may have better outcomes.