Acquisition Workforce
Training, Delegation,
and Management System
Acquisition Workforce
Training, Delegation,
and Management System
USDA Acquisition Workforce Training, Delegation
and Management System
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Purpose 1
3. Policy 1
4. Applicability 2
5. Background 2
6. Abbreviations 2
7. Definitions 3
8. Education Requirements and Procurement Training 6
9. Federal Acquisition Certifications 8
10. Appointments and Warrant Authority 9
11. Continuous Learning for Acquisition Workforce Employees 13
12. Termination/Revocation of Appointment 13
13. GS-1102 Qualification Standard Waivers 14
14. Responsibility for the Acquisition Workforce Career Management Program 15
15. Acquisition Workforce Contractor-Employees 16
16. Civil Rights 16
17. Conflict of Interest/Ethics 16
18. Agency Supplements 16
19. Authorization to Waive the Requirements of this Advisory 17
20. Inquiries 17
Appendix A Qualification Standard for General Schedule Positions A-1
Appendix B OFPP Policy Letter 05-01 B-1
Appendix C The Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Program C-1
Appendix D Contracting Officer Warrant Authority for GS-1102/GS-1105 D-1
Appendix E Contracting Officer Warrant Authority for GS-1102 E-1
Appendix F Education and Training for GS-1102 F-1
Appendix G Training for COR/COTRs or Equivalent Positions G-1
Appendix H Contracting Officer Qualification Statement H-1
Appendix I Contracting Officer Representative Qualification Statement I-1
Appendix J Format for Contracting Office Warrant Request J-1
Appendix K USDA Federal Acquisition Certification in
Contracting Application Format K-1
Appendix L Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Checklist L-1
Appendix M The Federal Acquisition Certification for
Program and Project
Managers M-1
Appendix N The Federal Acquisition Certification for
Contracting Officer Technical Representatives N-1
This Advisory establishes the following procedures for the USDA Acquisition Workforce (AW) Career Management Program:
a.
Procedures for effective career development pursuant to
Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OF
b. Departmental procedures for the selection, appointment, and termination of appointment of Contracting Officers as required by Section 1.603 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Section 401.603 of the Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR).
This AGAR Advisory does not
cancel DR 5001-1 Departmental Regulation (DR) 5001-1 “Acquisition Workforce Training, Delegation, and Tracking Systems”
dated September 30, 2003. However,
guidance within this AGAR Advisory shall supersede DR 5001-1 Departmental
Regulation (DR) 5001-1 “Acquisition
Workforce Training, Delegation, and Tracking Systems” dated September 30,
2003, on an interim basis.
Contracting activities
shall provide AW employees government-wide training for creating the skills
necessary to deliver best value supplies and services, to find the best
business solutions, and to provide strategic business advice to accomplish
agency missions
The guidance contained herein shall apply to the following acquisition workforce personnel:
a. Contracting Officers regardless of General Schedule series;
b. All positions in the GS-1102 Contracting series;
c. All positions in the GS-1105 Purchasing Series;
d. Contracting Officer Representatives/Contracting Officer Technical Representatives or equivalent positions;
e. Program and project managers as identified by the CAO;
f. Heads of Contracting Activity Designees; and
g. Any other position identified by the CAO to be an acquisition workforce position.
In 1996, Congress passed the Clinger-Cohen Act (Act), Pub. L. 104-106, to establish education, training, and experience requirements for civilian agencies that are comparable to the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) for the Department of Defense (DOD). This Advisory builds on that Act by implementing OFPP Policy Letter No. 05-01 and closely aligning civilian (non-DOD) and DOD workforce requirements.
ACM Acquisition Career Manager
AGAR Agriculture Acquisition Regulation
ACMIS Acquisition Career Management Information System
AW Acquisition Workforce
CAO Chief Acquisition Officer
CO Contracting Officer
COTR Contracting Officer Technical Representative
DAU
DAWIA Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act
DOD Department of Defense
DR Departmental Regulation
EO Executive Order
FAC-C Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting
FAC-COTR Federal Acquisition Certification for Contracting Officer
Technical Representatives
FAC-P/PM Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers
FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation
FAI Federal Acquisition Institute
FPDS-NG Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation
FSS Federal Supply Schedule
GS General Schedule
GSA General Services Administration
HCA Head of the Contracting Activity
HCAD Head of the Contracting Activity Designee
IT Information Technology
NCMA National Contract Management Association
OF
OPPM Office of Procurement and Property Management
SAP Simplified Acquisition Procedures
SPE Senior Procurement Executive
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
a.
Acquisition Workforce
b.
Acquisition Career Manager
c.
Acquisition Career Management Information System
d.
Acquisition Career Management Program. An established program within O
e. Appointing Official. A person authorized to confer warrant authority (issue a Contracting Officer warrant) consistent with the applicable requirements of the FAR, AGAR, and this Advisory.
f. Certification. An assurance that an employee has the experience, education and training plus personal factors such as business acumen, judgment, character, reputation, and ethics to perform selected duties.
g.
Chief Acquisition Officer
(1) Managing USDA’s contract activities;
(2) Overseeing the development of procurement systems;
(3) Evaluating system performance in accordance with approved criteria;
(4) Enhancing career management of the AW;
(5) Certifying to the Secretary that procurement systems meet approved criteria.
The Secretary has designated the Senior Procurement
Executive as the Deputy CAO.
h.
Continuous Learning Point (CLP)
i. Contract. See definition in FAR 2.101. A mutually binding legal agreement signed by a Contracting Officer that obligates the Government to an expenditure of funds, despite the character of the funding.
j. Contract Specialist. Federal employees in the GS-1102 series.
k.
Contracting Activity. A US
l.
Contracting Officer (CO)
m.
Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)
n.
Contracting Officer’s Technical Representatives (COTR)
o.
Contracting Officer Warrant Authority
p.
Current Certification
q.
r.
Equivalent Course.. A course used
as a substitute for one or more of the mandatory government-wide courses as
specified by FAI or
s.
Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C)
t. Federal Supply Schedule (FSS). Indefinite delivery contracts, including requirements contracts, awarded by the General Services Administration (GSA), using competitive procedures to provide supplies and services for given periods.
u. Head of the Agency or Agency Head. The Secretary of Agriculture, Deputy Secretary, or the Assistant Secretary for Administration.
v. Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA). The official delegated broad authority by the SPE to manage the contracting activity (e.g., Chief, Forest Service, USDA Agency Administrator, etc.). Unless stated otherwise, the HCA may designate, on a non-delegable basis, an employee (not a position), to act as the HCA.
w. Head of the Contracting Activity Designee (HCAD). An employee (not a position) designated by the HCA to carry out the functions of the HCA. The HCAD must meet the requirements of DR 5001-1 and be no lower in the organization than the Director of Administrative Services or an equivalent position.
x. Procurement Authority. Includes one or more of the rights to appoint contracting officers on a SF-1402, Certificate of Appointment, sign FAR determinations, or bind the government by signing contracts. Procurement authority within USDA flows from the SPE, to the HCA, to the HCAD, on to the Contracting Officer.
y. Procurement System. The integration of the procurement process, the professional development of the AW, and the management structure for carrying out the procurement function. Authority over the procurement system flows from the CAO, to the SPE, to the HCA, on to the HCAD.
z. Program Manager. The person with overall responsibility for program plans, budgets, schedules, and timely completion within cost limitations. Planning responsibilities include developing acquisition strategies and promoting full and open competition.
aa. Project Manager. The person with knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting cost, work, and contract performance.
bb. Senior
Procurement Executive (SPE). The
Agency official designated by the Secretary pursuant to Executive Order
No.12931 and the OF
cc. Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). The methods prescribed in FAR Part 13 for making purchases of supplies or services up to $100,000 or the otherwise defined simplified acquisition threshold.
dd. Unauthorized Commitments. Commitments made without authority to bind the Government.
ee. Valid Certification. Authentic documentation signed and issued by an authorized employee within a legitimate organization.
ff. Warrant. A Certificate of Appointment, SF-1402, authorizing an employee to serve in the capacity of a Contracting Officer. It also assures the public that the Contracting Officer has authority to enter into, administer, and/or terminate contracts.
8. EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCUREMENT TRAINING
Whether
warranted or unwarranted, GS-1102 employees are responsible for knowing,
understanding, and performing contract duties commensurate with their grade
level
(1)
Each HCAD shall have a cumulative
sum of 160 hours of procurement training within one year after designation by
the HCA
(a)
Attend seminars to remain current
with new procurement reforms;
(b)
Attend courses via formal
classroom training, brown-bag luncheons, on line, etc.;
(c)
Attend NCMA and other meeting
with special speakers on procurement issues; or
(d)
Attend procurement courses.
(2)
HCADs shall assure training accomplishments, including
the number of hours, are included in
Employees designated as COTRs must demonstrate an ability to perform selected pre-award and post-award administrative functions on behalf of the Contracting Officer.
Professional
business and technical competencies for COTRs are listed on the FAI website
Unwarranted Micro-purchase cardholders are
not AW members. US
9. FEDERAL ACQUISITION CERTIFICATIONS
The
Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) program establishes
mandatory core requirements for education, training, and experience for GS-1102
contracting professionals within civilian contracting activities
Upon
issuance of this Advisory, contracting officers issued new warrants must meet
the
FAC-C program requirements at an appropriate level to support their warrant
In
special situations, the SPE may waive the FAC-C training requirements for
warranting purposes by granting a non-transferable waiver when it is determined
to be in the best interest of the agency
The
CAO has determined non-GS-1102 contracting officers to be outside the scope of the
FAC-C program. Therefore, their
participation in the FAC-C program is highly advised, but not required to
obtain a new warrant.
After
completion of the requirements listed in Appendix L, employees must apply for a
FAC-C certificate (see
Appendix K) through their supervisor or other requesting official as directed by the agency. Verification of mandatory training for the
specified FAC-C request level
and a copy of any previous FAC-C certification shall be part of the submission package
to the contracting activity. The
The
issuance of the FAC-C certificate at a specific level is a one-time
process. The certificate represents
completion of government-wide standards and each Executive agency shall accept
the certificate as proof of competency for the certified level.
c.
FAC-P/PM Program
On April 25, 2007, the OFPP established guidelines for well-trained and experienced program and project managers. The guidelines help establish a partnership between program/project managers and contracting professionals. Details for the program are in Appendix M. OPPM will post the application process at www.usda.gov/procurement.
Contracting activities are
responsible for establishing and managing their COTR programs. Each activity shall administer the program in
accordance with the guidance in Appendix G.
The HCA/HCAD shall assure the COTR enters applicable training
information in
Agencies shall certify Level I COTRs no later than six
months from the date of appointment.
Level II or Level III COTRs shall meet the training and experience
requirements within three months after assuming COTR duties
COTRs who fail to meet the 40 CLP training requirement
are not considered current in the FAC-COTR program
Contracting Officers and Program managers shall determine when a COTR is required and the level necessary to administer the contract.
Specific details on the FAC-COTR
program are in Appendix N. The Office of
Federal Procurement Policy and FAI will periodically update the FAC-COTR
program
10.
APPOINTMENTS AND WARRANT
AUTHORITY
Unless authorized otherwise by the SPE in writing, the HCA and HCAD are the agency’s appointing officials for Contracting Officers. The HCA and HCAD shall determine if the appointment is consistent with applicable requirements of the AGAR, DR 5001-1, the FAR and other delegations of authority.
Appointing
officials shall issue warrants when there is an organizational need for a
Contracting Officer
Appointing
officials shall grant Level I through Level III Contracting Officer warrants in
writing on a Certificate of Appointment (SF-1402). The certificate shall state the employee’s
name (not a position); limitations on the scope of warrant authority; and be
displayed openly to the general public and agency personnel. Appointing officials shall ensure employees
nominated as Contracting Officers meet the minimum requirements of Appendix D
and Appendix E. The
The following guidance is not mandatory for non-GS-1102 employees or GS-1102 employees applying for Level I Contracting Officer warrants.
(1)
Warrants to new
US
(2)
Warrants to new
US
(3)
Warrants to US
(4)
Warrants to
Contracting Officers have authority to sign contracts up to their delegated warrant authority as specified on the SF-1402. They also have authority to use Government-wide purchase cards as a payment mechanism for contractual actions over the micro-purchase threshold and up to their delegated warrant authority or $1 million, whichever is less, after confirming the receipt of goods and services.
Contracting Officers shall not sign contracts, including modifications, options, estimated orders against an indefinite delivery contract, or any other agreement, that will result in the total amount of the contract exceeding their delegated warrant authority. In some situations, higher-level Contracting Officers must sign the contract when amendments or modifications to orders and contracts make the total amount of the contract exceed the Contracting Officer’s warrant limitation. Contracting Officers are not necessarily required to conduct or participate in every aspect of the contract personally. However, the Contracting Officer is the person responsible for assuring the signed document complies with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Contracting Officers are legally responsible for their signed procurement documents. Contracting Officers cannot sign “for” or over the name of another Contracting Officer, or at a level exceeding the limitations stated on his or her warrant.
Appointing Officials may grant up to an unlimited amount of warrant authority to GS-1102 personnel. Warrant authority should be limited to the level necessary to support the agency’s procurement requirements. Contracting Officers shall meet all general and specialized requirements outlined requirements in Appendix D and Appendix E prior to the issuance of a warrant.
When authorized, GS-1105 personnel have authority to purchase supplies/services, IT products, construction, and architect/engineering contract requirements using the simplified acquisition procedures with the following limitations:
(1) Purchase orders, including modifications, up to $100,000 and
(2) Delivery orders, including modifications, up to $300,000.
The contracting activity has the ultimate responsibility for determining the acceptability of intra-agency and interagency work assignments. Contracting Officers are authorized to award contracts for other agencies or government entities using the USDA Certificate of Appointment when the work assigned by their supervisor is an approved agency work project.
On occasion, the HCA/HCAD may delegate a COTR
Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO) authority, (e
Appointing officials may grant non-procurement personnel warrant authority to issue purchase orders and delivery orders up to $25,000 for commercial supplies and services, including construction. Non-procurement personnel granted procurement authority must comply with all Federal laws, rules, regulations, agency directives, FPDS reporting requirements, and other acquisition guidelines.
j. Contracting Officer Appointment Equivalencies
Employees may use ONE of the following equivalencies when they have a year or more of on-site procurement experience. Equivalent experience shall not exceed one year.
(1) Completion of a 2-year associate degree program in procurement for six months of procurement experience;
(2) Completion of a 4-year undergraduate program in procurement from an accredited college or university for one year of procurement experience; or
(3) Completion of a graduate program in procurement from an accredited college or university for one year of procurement experience.
The Contracting Officer warranting requirement does not
cover personnel carrying out transactions or executing documents listed below
(1)
Request,
Authorization, Agreement, and Certification of Training, SF-182,
(2)
Government Bills
of Lading.
(3)
Micro-purchase
credit card transactions (authorized under DR 5013-6)
(4) Cooperative agreements and grants.
11. Continuous Learning for Acquisition Workforce Employees
Contracting
Officers and GS-1105/GS-1102 employees shall obtain a minimum of 80 CLPs every
two years to remain current in the FAC-C training program
Continuous learning may include the study of new
requirements, procedures caused by changes in law, regulations, policy,
reviews, or business research
Agencies may credit employees with 60 CLPs of “general
subject” training for certifications awarded during a continuous learning
period
a. The National Contract Management Association
b.
National
c. National Association of Purchasing Management
The HCA/HCAD may terminate or revoke a Contracting Officer warrant at any time. Termination/revocation is appropriate for the following situations
a. Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations
b. Violation of the Standards of Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch. (See C.F.R. Part 2635).
c. Failure to maintain training standards after appointment.
d. Failure to maintain a satisfactory performance rating.
e. Reassignment to a position not requiring a warrant.
f. Discontinuance of the organization’s need for the appointment.
g. Separation from the organization (Automatic Termination).
a. For a specific vacant position at grade 13 and above, the GS-1102 qualification standard includes a provision that permits the SPE to waive mandatory requirements. The SPE may consider waiving the following requirements in unusual situations when a highly qualified candidate does not meet the GS-1102 standard:
(1) Mandatory procurement training as prescribed in this Advisory (Appendix L)
(2) 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree requirement
(3) 24 semester hours in specified business courses, and
(4) Experience in performing contracting duties.
b.
To meet the conditions of OF
c. The requesting HCA/HCAD shall prepare a decision memorandum for the SPE’s approval that includes the following information:
(1) A description of the position, location, grade and anticipated procurement workload/warrant level;
(2) Adherence to the Agency’s Human Capital Plan and the recruiting strategy used;
(3) Why qualified candidates are not readily available for the position;
(4) The candidate’s efforts to meet the standard and the estimated timeframe for completion;
(5) Details on how the candidate shows potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority based on demonstrated analytical and decision making capabilities, job performance, qualifying experience, etc.;
(6) The impact on the agency should the SPE not issue a waiver for the candidate; and
(7) A request that the SPE certify the candidate’s potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority based on demonstrated analytical and decision-making capabilities, job performance, and qualifying experience.
d. The requesting organization may make a job offer to the waiver candidate upon approval of the waive request.
14. Responsibility for the Acquisition Workforce Career Management Program
a.
OPPM/PPD shall develop and issue policies, procedures,
training plans, and other guidance for implementation of AW mandates. As the oversight authority for USDA’s AW
programs, O
(1) Make final determinations on applicability of this Advisory;
(2) Review Contracting Officer appointments;
(3)
Assure Contracting activities urge their AW to use
(4) Review agency supplements to this Advisory
b. HCADs shall:
(1) Establish and prescribe an AW accountability system that:
(a) Sets a performance standard;
(b) Includes an adequate set of checks and balances;
(c) Includes external and internal review coverage;
(d) Involves annual appraisals; and
(e) Identifies effective and ineffective performance
(2)
Ensure supervisors and
(3)
Ensure supervisors or
(4) Review Contracting Officer requests.
(5) Sign Contracting Officer Certificates of Appointment and assure Contracting Officers properly display the Certificates.
c.
Supervisors or
(1) Recommend employees for Contracting Officer appointments.
(2) Ensure training is scheduled, conducted, and evaluated.
(3) Monitor and evaluate employees’ progress.
d. Participating Employees shall:
(2) Actively
participate with supervisors and
(3) Maintain a personal file containing training certificates and other verification of education, procurement training, and job experience.
(4) Keep
training record updated in
Contract Specialist awarding contracts for the performance of acquisition functions as outlined in OFPP Policy Letter 05-01 (Appendix B) shall assure solicited personnel meet comparable training requirements for government employees performing the same or similar functions.
The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs
and activities (including the hiring, developing, and assigning of personnel)
based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, and
where applicable, political beliefs, marital or family status, or sexual
orientation.
USDA acquisition workforce personnel must comply with existing conflict of interest regulations/laws, and file the approved forms as required. At a minimum, all individuals whose duties involve procurement and contracting shall file a financial disclosure statement.
Acquisition workforce employees must also comply with the high standards of ethical behavior to assure complete trust in the integrity of the acquisition system.
The policy provided in this Advisory
supersedes supplemental guidance issued by a contracting activity. A departure from this Advisory requires a
written request and authorization from the SPE
Supplemental instructions and
amendments to DR 5001-1 require review and concurrence by O
Unless otherwise specified, the SPE and CAO are the only individuals authorized to waive the requirements in this Advisory.
Direct all AW inquiries through agency
channels to the Division Chief/OPPM/PPD or to
-END-
Qualification
Standard for General Schedule Positions
Individual
Occupational Requirements for
GS-1102 Contract Specialist Revised Standard Effective Date: January 1, 2000
The text below is extracted verbatim from Section IV-B of the Operating Manual for Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions (p.166-167), but contains minor edits to conform to web-page requirements. This is an individual qualification standard developed by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 433. It does not apply to Department of Defense positions.
Basic
Requirements for GS-5 through GS-12
A. 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with a major in any field or;
B. At least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.
Applicants who meet the criteria for Superior Academic Achievement qualify for positions at the GS-7 level.
The following table shows the amounts of education and/or experience required to qualify for positions GS-7 thorough GS-12 covered by this standard.
GRADE EDUCATION OR SPECIALIZED
|
GS-7 |
1 full academic year of graduate education or law school or superior academic achievement |
1 year equivalent to at least GS-5 |
|
GS-9 |
2 full academic years of progressively higher level
graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D. |
1 year equivalent to at least GS-7 |
|
GS-11 |
3 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree |
1 year equivalent to at least GS-9 |
|
GS-12 and above |
(No educational equivalent) |
1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level |
|
Equivalent combinations of education and experience
are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience
are acceptable. |
||
Graduate Education. To qualify for GS-1102 positions on the basis of graduate education, graduate education in one or a combination of the following fields is required: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.
Note - For positions at GS-7 through GS-12, applicants who are qualifying based on experience must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level, that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position, in addition to meeting the basic requirements in paragraph A or B, above.
C. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position.
Basic
Requirements for GS-13 and Above
A. Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency
for progression to GS-13 or higher level contracting positions, including at
least 4-years experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year
of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to
work at the next lower level of the position, and must have provided the
knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the
position.
B. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree, that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.
C. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. This also applies to positions at the same grade in the same agency or other agencies if the specialized experience requirements are met. However, they will have to meet the basic requirements and specialized experience requirements in order to qualify for promotion to a higher grade, unless granted a waiver under Paragraph D.
D. Waiver: When filling a specific vacant position, the senior procurement executive of the selecting agency, at his or her discretion, may waive any or all of the requirements of Paragraphs A and B above if the senior procurement executive certifies that the applicant possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated analytical and decision making capabilities, job performance, and qualifying experience. With respect to each waiver granted under this Paragraph D, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. If an individual is placed in a position in an agency on the basis of a waiver, the agency may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action.
April 15, 2005
OFPP POLICY LETTER 05-01
TO THE HEADS OF CIVILIAN EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Developing and Managing the Acquisition Workforce
1. Purpose. This Policy Letter establishes the government-wide framework for creating a federal acquisition workforce with the skills necessary to deliver best value supplies and services, find the best business solutions, and provide strategic business advice to accomplish agency missions.
2. Authority. This
Policy Letter is issued pursuant to section 6(a) of the Office of Federal
3. Rescission. OFPP Policy Letters 92-3 and 97-01 are rescinded. Policy Letter 05-01 consolidates OFPP policy on acquisition workforce development.
4. Background. The
quality and effectiveness of the federal acquisition process depend on the
development of a capable and competent workforce. Congress recognized the need
for a professional workforce through the passage of the Defense Acquisition
Workforce Improvement Act (
5. Applicability. This
Letter applies to all executive agencies, except those subject to
The acquisition workforce includes individuals who perform various acquisition-related functions to support the accomplishment of an agency’s mission. The Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 (SARA) (P.L. 108-136) defines acquisition to include, among traditional contracting functions, requirements definition, measurement of contract performance, and technical and management direction. One of the principal purposes of this Letter is to include formally these individuals in the definition of the acquisition workforce so they can be trained and developed using common standards.
To facilitate the identification of individuals included in the acquisition workforce, agencies shall consider the functions performed by those individuals. Membership in the acquisition workforce may be on a full-time, part-time, or occasional basis. For example, members of the acquisition workforce may include: individuals who are substantially involved in defining, determining, and managing requirements,
At a minimum, the acquisition workforce of an agency, for purposes of this Letter, includes:
6. Agency Responsibilities.
a. Authority - In accordance with section 16(b)(6) of the OFPP Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. § 414(b)(6)), sections 37(g)(1) and (g)(3) of the OFPP Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. §§ 433(g)(1) and (3)), and subject to the authority, direction, and control of the
head of an
executive agency, the CAO, or
equivalent, shall develop and maintain an acquisition career management program
to ensure the development of a competent, professional workforce to support the
accomplishment of agency mission. The CAO is responsible for identifying the
members of the agency’s acquisition workforce and for implementing a budget
strategy that reflects the workforce’s development needs and organizational
structure of the agency. This strategy might include identifying funding
sources, establishing a methodology for prioritizing funding needs, and
otherwise institutionalizing a process for maximizing the agency’s acquisition
workforce training budget. The CAO shall carry out the powers, functions, and
duties of the agency head with respect to implementation of this Letter. The
CAO may delegate this responsibility to a level no lower than the deputy CAO,
or equivalent, and may appoint functional advisors for each segment of the
acquisition workforce (i.e. contracting, program management, etc.) to
facilitate the management of the agency’s acquisition workforce, in accordance
with the requirements of this Letter. The CAO shall consider appointing senior
civil service managers as functional advisors to promote technical continuity
in advising the CAO on career management issues in the various disciplines.
b. Inclusion of Acquisition Workforce in Agency Human Capital Plans - The CAO, in consultation with agency acquisition career managers and functional advisors, shall provide to the agency’s Chief Human Capital Officer, or equivalent, substantial input to the agency’s human capital strategic plan regarding the acquisition workforce. This may include recruitment needs and hiring strategies, relevant agency workforce statistics, skills assessments, accession plans, workforce development initiatives, and performance incentive plans (in accordance with section 37(b)(1) of the OFPP Act, 41 U.S.C. § 433(b)(1)). Additionally, the CAO is responsible for assessing the current skills inventory of the workforce, identifying short- and long-term agency needs, and establishing plans, including recruitment and retention strategies, for obtaining the acquisition workforce resources and skills required to meet future agency mission needs.
c. Agency Acquisition Workforce Management - The CAO, or designee, shall appoint an individual with acquisition experience to lead the agency’s acquisition career management program. The Acquisition Career Manager (ACM) will be responsible for ensuring that the agency’s acquisition workforce meets the requirements of this Letter. At a minimum, the ACM shall:
1. manage the identification and development of the acquisition workforce, including identifying staffing needs, training requirements, and other workforce development strategies;
2. propose to the CAO an annual budget for the development of the acquisition workforce to fulfill the requirements of this Letter and other agency human capital objectives;
3. provide coordinated input to the CAO and Chief Human Capital Officer regarding short and long term human capital strategic planning for training, competency fulfillment, career development, accession, recruitment and retention, and other facets of human capital management affecting the acquisition workforce;
4. recommend to the CAO a transition plan for meeting the requirements of this Letter;
5. ensure that agency policies and procedures for workforce management are consistent with those established by OFPP, as appropriate;
6. coordinate with agency functional advisors to ensure fulfillment of requirements of this Letter;
7. recommend
to the Senior
8. maintain and manage consistent agency-wide data on those serving in the agency’s acquisition workforce in the acquisition career management information system (Acquisition Career Management Information System (ACMIS)) – see paragraph 12).
The CAO shall
forward the name and contact information (phone number, email, etc.) of the
person designated to perform these roles to the Federal Acquisition Institute
(FAI) at ACMinfo@fai.gov not later
than October 1, 2005, and shall update this information, as
needed, to ensure that agencies receive timely information from FAI and Defense
Acquisition University (
7. Core Competencies. The development of a highly-qualified, well-trained workforce will generally be based on a framework of core competencies that are common to defense and civilian agencies. DOD maintains core competencies that OFPP, in consultation with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) shall consider for civilian agency use in fulfilling the requirements of this Letter. OFPP, in consultation with OPM, and DOD shall also establish a process for updating these competencies, as needed, and developing specialized competencies for particular areas of focus. Agencies may require their acquisition workforce members to obtain additional competencies to fulfill agency mission needs.
8. Federal Acquisition Certifications.
a. General - OFPP’s vision for the federal acquisition workforce is the development of common certification programs that generally reflect a government-wide standard for education, training, and experience leading to the fulfillment of core competencies in a variety of acquisition-related disciplines. To promote the development of core acquisition competencies government-wide and to facilitate employee mobility, FAI, in consultation
with OPM, shall develop federal acquisition certification programs that shall be accepted by, at a minimum, all civilian executive agencies. These certifications will generally serve as one means to demonstrate that an employee meets the core education, training, and experience requirements, as appropriate, for that acquisition-related discipline (e.g., contracting, program management, etc.). Agency-specific certification programs are not transferable to other agencies.
Federal acquisition certifications shall be offered to, though not necessarily required of, the general acquisition workforce as defined in this Letter and further identified by agency CAOs. However, agencies may specify a particular type and/or level of certification when establishing quality ranking factors when it is determined that the certification is job related.
b. Federal
Acquisition Certification - Contracting (GS-1102) Series - Not later
than January 1, 2006, FAI, in partnership with
The GS-1102 federal acquisition certification is not mandatory for all GS-1102s. However, members of the workforce issued new CO warrants on or after January 1, 2007, regardless of GS series, must be certified at an appropriate level to support their warrant obligations. New CO warrants are defined as warrants issued to employees for the first time at a department or agency. This requirement does not apply to senior level officials responsible for delegating procurement authority or those whose warrants are generally used to procure emergency goods and services.
CAOs shall
establish agency-specific requirements for tying warrant levels to
certification levels based on agency needs. However, agencies are encouraged to
require a senior level certification for any employee issued an unlimited
Contracting Officer’s warrant on or after January 1, 2007. The SPE of a
civilian agency may waive this requirement in writing, on a case-by-case basis,
if granting a waiver is in best interest of the agency. This authority may not
be delegated, and the use of this authority shall be adequately documented.
This waiver is not transferable to another agency. The CAO shall ensure that an
employee’s warrant information is entered and maintained in
1. Contracting
(GS-1102) Series Education Requirements - The Contract Specialist
(GS-1102) Qualification Standard, established in consultation with OPM,
establishes the education requirements for civilian GS-1102s (see www.opm.gov).
This Policy Letter does not change the education requirements for the civilian
GS-1102 series, and the certification program shall be developed to reflect any
differences between civilian and defense education requirements. For example, a
GS-7 civilian contract specialist (1102) who meets the education requirement in
the qualification standard (a bachelor’s degree OR 24 hours of business
classes) but does not meet the
The SPE of a civilian agency may waive the education and training requirements
for an applicant for a GS-13 position and above based on that person’s
demonstrated analytical and decision making capabilities, job performance, and
qualifying experience. This authority may not be delegated. In accordance with
the Contract Specialist (GS-1102) Qualification Standard, this waiver must be
based on a certification by the SPE that the applicant possesses significant
potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority.
The use of this authority shall be adequately documented and exercised on a
case-by-case basis, as needed, to ensure that the best candidate for a position
is selected. This waiver is not transferable to another agency and does not
apply toward the requirements for federal acquisition certification.
2. Contracting
(GS-1102) Series Training Requirements - One of the principal purposes
of this Letter is to establish uniform core training requirements for the
civilian and defense acquisition workforce. Not later than October 1, 2005,
civilian agencies shall prospectively follow the training requirements established
by DOD, in consultation with OFPP, as part of their acquisition workforce
development program (see Attachment 1) http://www.whitehouse.gov/goodbye/005d0c33e796692dd11f5ef59f0151322307fca1.html). Employees are
not required to retake classes, but shall follow the DOD training requirements
when considering additional core training, if needed, or continuous learning.
The SPE of a civilian agency may waive the training requirements for an
applicant for a GS-13 position and above based on that person’s demonstrated
analytical and decision making capabilities, job performance, and qualifying
experience. (Please see paragraph 8(b)(1) above for additional information on
the SPE waiver authority.)
To ensure consistent quality of the training provided to the acquisition
workforce, civilian agencies shall follow the course equivalency determinations
accepted by
3. Contracting (GS-1102) Series Experience Requirements - Experience requirements for GS-1102 positions are identified in the Contract Specialist (GS-1102) Qualification Standard.
4. Contracting
(GS-1102) Series Continuous Learning Requirements – GS-1102s,
including all warranted Contracting Officers regardless of series, shall earn
80 continuous learning points every two years to maintain the GS-1102 federal
acquisition certification. Civilian agencies shall generally follow the
guidance provided by DOD on how these points can be earned (see www.dau.mil),
and are encouraged to use continuous learning opportunities to assist individuals
in obtaining core acquisition competencies, maintaining critical acquisition
skills, and acquiring agency-specific training. The Administrator for Federal
c. Federal
Acquisition Certification - Program and Project Managers - A
cross-agency and cross-functional working group will be formed to assist FAI in
developing recommendations for the establishment of certification programs for
program and project managers that are guided by the general competencies,
experience, and training associated with the
FAI shall work with the CAOC, the CIOC, the Chief Financial Officers Council, the Chief Human Capital Officers Council, and other organizations with subject matter expertise, as appropriate, to ensure that these certification programs reflect the needs and priorities of the community and meet the general requirements of this Letter. FAI shall develop these recommendations not later than October 1, 2006.
Not later than,
January 1, 2007, agency CAOs shall identify program and project managers who
will be subject to the requirements of this Letter, and shall establish
appropriate timeframes and policies for applying the certification program
requirements. (For example, agencies may choose to require certification for
individuals working on certain critical agency projects or programs, those of a
certain dollar threshold, or other high visibility programs and projects.)
Individuals identified by the CAO as subject to this Letter shall ensure that
the appropriate information is included in
d. Federal
Acquisition Certification - Other Acquisition-Related Positions - At
the direction of the FAI Board of Directors, FAI shall develop additional
recommendations for certification programs that are guided by the general
competencies, experience, and training associated with the
9. Contracting
Officer’s Representatives (CORs) and Contracting Officer’s Technical
Representatives (COTRs). The CAO is responsible for
developing basic and refresher training requirements to ensure CORs and COTRs
are adequately trained for the functions they perform in the acquisition
workforce. FAI and
CAOs shall
establish agency requirements for continuous learning for CORs and COTRs.
Agencies are encouraged to require, at a minimum, 40 continuous learning
points every two years for CORs and COTRs. Additionally, the Administrator for
Federal
10. Tuition Assistance. Each executive agency must recognize, in its strategic planning and budgeting activities, the importance of developing its acquisition workforce. OMB Circular A-11 provides guidance concerning classification of education and training obligations within budget documentation. To the extent that funding is available, agencies may provide tuition reimbursement at accredited institutions for education, including a full-time course of study leading to a degree, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. § 4107 (as authorized by section 37(h)(2) of the OFPP Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. 433(h)(2)), for personnel serving in acquisition positions in the agency.
11. Acquisition Workforce Training Fund. In accordance with section 37(h)(3)(A) of the OFPP Act (41 U.S.C. § 433(h)(3)(A)), as amended by the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-136), the Administrator of General Services shall establish an acquisition workforce training fund (AWTF) to support the training of the acquisition workforce of the executive agencies other than the DOD. Agencies administering contracts specified in section 37(h)(3)(B) of the OFPP Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. § 433(h)(3)(B)) shall credit 5 percent of the fees collected under these contracts to the AWTF at the end of each quarter of the fiscal year and in accordance with the instructions issued by the Administrator of General Services. The fund shall be managed by FAI in accordance with section 37(h)(3)(A) of the OFPP Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. §433(h)(3)(A)). OFPP and the FAI Board of Directors (see paragraph 13(b)) shall provide direction to FAI on the allocation of these resources to ensure equitable training opportunities for all civilian agencies.
The AWTF supplements, but does not replace, existing agency training budgets, and agencies should continue to budget separately for the training and education of their acquisition workforce. In accordance with section 37(h)(1)(A) of the OFPP Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. § 433 (h)(1)(A)), agency heads shall set forth separately the funding levels requested for education and training of the acquisition workforce in the agency’s annual budget request to OMB.
12. Management Information Systems. In accordance with section 37(d) of the OFPP Act, as amended, (41 U.S.C. § 433(d)) each executive agency must collect, maintain, and utilize information to ensure effective management of the acquisition workforce. FAI maintains an acquisition career management information system (ACMIS) that can assist agencies in managing their workforce and help members of the workforce manage their individual education, training, and experience information. Civilian agencies may populate ACMIS through existing agency learning management systems or may populate ACMIS directly. However, all civilian agencies shall ensure that ACMIS has complete and current information on the members of the acquisition workforce as described below.
Not later than October 1, 2006, each civilian agency shall have complete, current records in ACMIS for, at a minimum, the following:
· All positions in the general schedule contracting Series (GS-1102) and non-DOD uniformed personnel in comparable positions;
· All Contracting Officers regardless of general schedule series with authority to obligate funds above the micropurchase threshold;
· All positions in the general schedule purchasing series (GS-1105).
Not later than April 1, 2007, each civilian agency shall have complete, current records in ACMIS for program and project managers, including CORs and COTRs, who have been identified by the CAO as members of the acquisition workforce. Information on employees in other acquisition-related disciplines can be entered, as appropriate, but not later than one year after the certification program for that discipline has been developed.
The Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI), developed by OPM to manage human resources information government-wide, will work in concert with ACMIS by providing general workforce data and information. ACMIS will use the EHRI information, agency learning management systems information, if applicable, and additional information provided by employees and supervisors to capture more specific data on the acquisition workforce. Additionally, ACMIS will provide detailed reports to assist agencies in short- and long-term workforce planning.
As soon as
practicable, FAI will prepare guidance for agencies on
13. The Federal Acquisition Institute.
a. Roles
and Responsibilities – FAI fosters and promotes the development of a
professional acquisition workforce and is responsible for performing a wide
range of activities supporting management of the acquisition workforce as
directed by the Administrator for Federal
1. Establish performance measures. Not later than April 1, 2006, and in consultation with the CAOC and other organizations, as appropriate, FAI shall establish general performance measures that agencies may use in assessing their acquisition workforce development programs.
2. Core
competencies and curriculum support: In partnership with
3. Establish career development programs. To assist the workforce in obtaining the necessary competencies and skills, FAI shall establish career development programs. These may include developing a rotational program among agencies, managing a government-wide intern program for agencies that don't have their own, developing mentoring programs, or identifying other career enrichment experiences. The FAI Board of Directors will assist FAI in prioritizing the development of these programs.
4. Establish the federal acquisition certification programs: FAI shall develop and administer, with agency involvement, the federal acquisition certification programs. Certification program requirements for the GS-1102 series shall be submitted to the CAOC for approval not later than January 1, 2006. Recommendations for the requirements for the program and project management certification shall be submitted to the CAOC, and other organizations, as appropriate, not later than October 1, 2006. The Board shall direct FAI to prepare recommendations for other certification programs as needed.
5. Manage
the AWTF: In accordance with SARA, FAI shall manage the AWTF fund. The
Administrator for Federal
b. FAI Board of Directors - In FY 2004, OFPP established a Board of Directors to assist FAI in its efforts to support the acquisition workforce. The Board provides general direction to FAI to ensure fulfillment of FAI’s statutory requirements and the requirements of this Letter.
The Board, which
reports to the Administrator for Federal
14. Information
Contact. Questions regarding this Policy Letter
should be directed to Lesley A. Field, Office of Federal
15. Judicial
Review. This Policy Letter is not intended to provide a constitutional
or statutory interpretation of any kind and it is not intended, and should not
be construed, to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law by a party against the
16. Effective Date. This Policy Letter is effective April 15, 2005.
David H. Safavian
Administration
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
FOR MANAGEMENT
January 20, 2006
MEMORANDUM FOR CHIEF ACQUISITION OFFICERS AND SENIOR PROCUREMENT EXECUTIVES
FROM: Clay Johnson III
Deputy Director for Management
SUBJECT: The Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Program
In April 2005, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) published Policy Letter 05-01, Developing and Managing the Acquisition Workforce, which required the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) to develop, and the Chief Acquisition Officers Council (CAOC) to approve, a certification program for contracting professionals in civilian agencies that reflects common standards. The goal of the certification program is to standardize the education, training, and experience requirements for contracting professionals, which will improve workforce competencies and increase career opportunities. The attached Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Program was approved by the CAOC in December 2005.
The program mirrors, as closely as possible, the requirements that the Department of Defense established for its contracting workforce under the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act. The program will be administered by each civilian agency, and FAI will conduct periodic reviews to ensure that the program is being managed consistently. The certification shall be accepted by, at minimum, all civilian agencies as evidence that an employee meets the core education, training, and experience requirements to be a contracting professional (generally the GS-1102 series).
A well-trained acquisition workforce is critical to ensuring that agencies accomplish their mission goals. Investment in the development of the federal acquisition workforce will improve our ability to meet mission needs and continue being effective stewards of taxpayer dollars. If you have questions regarding the implementation of the program, please call Lesley Field on the OFPP staff at (202) 395-7579.
Attachment
cc: Chief Human Capital Officers
Attachment
The Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting
Program
1. Purpose. The purpose of the Federal Acquisition
Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) program is to establish core requirements
for education, training, and experience for contracting professionals in
civilian agencies.
2. Authority. This certification program is issued pursuant
to section 6(a) of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Act, as
amended (41 U.S.C. § 405(a)), 6(c)(5) of the OFPP Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. §
405(c)(5)), sections 37(b)(3) and (g) of the OFPP Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. §
433(b)(3) and (g)), and OFPP Policy Letter 05-01, paragraph 8(b).
Based on
these authorities, all executive agencies, except those subject to the Defense
Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (
3. Background. OFPP Policy Letter 05-01 established a
requirement for federal acquisition certification programs. Section 8(b) of this Letter required the
Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) to develop, and the Chief Acquisition
Officers Council (CAOC) to approve, a FAC-C program. The FAC-C program was approved by the CAOC in
December 2005.
4. Applicability. The FAC-C program applies
to all executive agencies, except those subject to
The
federal certification in contracting is not mandatory for all GS-1102s;
however, members of the workforce issued new Contracting Officer (CO) warrants
on or after January 1, 2007, regardless of GS series, must be certified at an
appropriate level to support their warrant obligations, pursuant to agency
policy. New CO warrants are defined in
Policy Letter 05-01 as warrants issued to employees for the first time at a
department or agency. This requirement
does not apply to: • senior level officials responsible for delegating
procurement authority; • non-1102s whose warrants are generally used to
procure emergency goods and services; or • non-1102s whose warrants are so
limited as to be outside the scope of this program, as determined by the Chief
Acquisition Officer (CAO).
Agencies
have discretion to make additional warranting requirements, and employees
should review carefully agency warranting policy. CAOs shall establish agency-specific
requirements for tying warrant levels to certification levels based on agency
needs. However, agencies are encouraged
to require a senior level certification for any employee issued an unlimited
Contracting Officer’s warrant on or after January 1, 2007. All agency warranting programs
should
be updated to reflect the need for a minimum of 80 continuous learning points
every two years (see paragraph 6.e.).
The SPE
of a civilian agency may waive the requirement for obtaining a certification
for warranting purposes in writing, on a case-by-case basis, if granting a
waiver is in the best interest of the agency.
This authority may not be delegated, and the use of this authority shall
be adequately documented. This waiver is
not transferable to another agency.
The
certification program is available to all members of the federal acquisition
workforce and the volume of requests may be significant when the program
begins. For agency planning purposes,
priority for consideration will be as follows:
• all warranted
• all warranted
• other GS-1102s;
• other eligible
individuals.
5. Certification Program Oversight and
Administration. The FAI Board of
Directors, in consultation with FAI, the Interagency Acquisition Career
Management Council (I
FAI shall administer the program through issuance of guidance, processes, and information dissemination, principally through its website. Additionally, FAI shall periodically review agencies’ implementation to ensure that the program remains rigorous and that the standards for certification for education, training, experience, and continuous learning are consistently applied by all civilian agencies.
FAI shall conduct periodic agency audits to validate that the standards for the certification program are being met. Audit checks may include:
• verifying that the agency maintains FAC-C applications;
• auditing an individual’s records for documentation that they attended the training reported on the FAC-C application;
• verifying that a rigorous fulfillment process is being
followed by the agency and that this process is aligned with the Department of
Defense (DOD)
• after January 1, 2007, verifying that new warrant holders are appropriately certified in accordance with agency-specific policy.
The certification process, including verification and assessment of applications, will be managed by each agency. Authority for overseeing the agency FAC-C program, resolving disputes, and granting certifications shall be at the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) level. The SPE may delegate, in writing, certain functions to a level no lower than the Acquisition Career Manager (ACM), as needed, to ensure effective and efficient management of the program. The SPE may not delegate the waiver function as defined in the GS-1102 Qualification Standard.
The ACM, appointed by the CAO under Policy Letter 05-01, or designee, is responsible for administering the agency certification program, including developing a communications strategy, in accordance with this and any subsequent guidance provided by OFPP or FAI. The ACM shall also serve on the Interagency Acquisition Career Management Committee (IACMC), which is run by FAI, to ensure that workforce development policies and opportunities meet the needs of the acquisition workforce.
6. General Information on Core Competencies and the FAC-C Requirements for Education, Training, Experience, and Continuous Learning.
a. Competencies - Although DOD and OFPP retain responsibility for managing their respective workforces, the establishment of core competencies will ensure that the acquisition community develops common skills. The objective of the FAC-C is to align the core competencies and training requirements across the acquisition workforce, and the current competencies for the GS-1102 workforce shall be maintained on the FAI website, www.fai.gov. However, these core competencies will periodically be updated, expanded, or otherwise modified to meet the current and future acquisition workforce requirements, and specialized competencies may be developed to support emerging trends in the government’s acquisition practices. OFPP, Dodd, and OPM shall establish a competency management process to ensure that the core competencies remain relevant and current and are integrated into the curriculum, as appropriate.
b. Education - This program does not change
the education requirement in the Qualification Standard for Contract Specialist
(GS-1102). The civilian (non-DOD) and
DOD education requirements for the GS-1102 series differ at grades 5 through 12
(or equivalent). In accordance with the
Qualification Standard, available on www.opm.gov, persons in
civilian (non-DOD) GS-1102 positions grades 5 through 12 are required to have,
from an accredited institution, either 24-semester hours of business related
education OR a baccalaureate degree.
Persons seeking positions subject to
Civilian agency employees in GS-1102
positions will be considered to have met the standard, including the education
requirement, for positions they occupied on January 1, 2000. FAC-C Appendix 1 provides guidance on the
subject areas and types of classes that meet the education requirement, and
agencies shall use this guidance to ensure consistent interpretation of the
standard. FAI and the Defense
Acquisition University (
Education waivers granted by an agency, in accordance with the Qualification Standard, are not transferable to other agencies and do not satisfy the education requirement for a FAC-C. An
employee must meet the appropriate education requirements to be certified.
c. Training -
In accordance with OFPP Policy Letter 05-01, civilian agencies shall follow the
training curriculum established by DOD (see paragraph 7). Core courses must be provided by