What are these new policies from the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) regarding the Acquisition Workforce?
The first is OFPP Policy Letter 05-01 is found at http://www.fai.gov/pdfs/policy0501.pdf. This policy letter establishes new training requirements for the entire civilian acquisition workforce and new certifications in targeted acquisition career fields. It mandates the workforce’s use of a federally based training database, ACMIS. The policy letter also establishes a new position, Acquisition Career Manager (ACM), at each agency, to monitor and manage the training and certification of the acquisition workforce within their agency.
The second is Office of Management and Budget (0MB) memo 06-01 found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/procurement/acq_wk/fac_contracting_program.pdf. This memo establishes the requirements and guidance for the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C), which is a federally recognized program for the acquisition workforce that sets forth the required training, experience and education for certification of contracting professionals.
The policies are an effort to align the civilian and defense acquisition workforces. All acquisition workforce members, regardless of their agency or department, will use common core curriculum and follow common training skills currency requirements.
Does this Policy Letter affect all agencies or just my Agency?
The Office of Federal Procurement Policy Letter 05-01 applies to all of the federal executive agencies. The 0MB Memo 06-01 applies to all federal executive agencies except those that are subject to Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA).
How do I know if I’m subject to the new continuous learning requirements?
Generally, if you are a GS 1102, 1105, or any other warranted job series and hold a Contracting Officer (CO) warrant above the micro-purchase threshold, you are required to earn 80 continuous learning points of skills currency training every two years.
Generally, if you are a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), you are required to earn 40 continuous learning points of skills currency training every two years.
Each agency may also identify employees other than Contract Specialist and CORs as member of the acquisition workforce and establish training requirements for them. See your agency ACM for details.
How do I know if I’m subject to the new Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C)?
Generally, anyone receiving a warrant at their agency or department for the first time after January 01, 2007 must have a FAC-C. Please see the FAC-C section for more FAQs. CORs are not required by OFPP to hold FAC-C.
You have two years to meet the minimum training requirements, thus there is no yearly minimum requirement. A good practice is to acquire about half of your required Continuous learning Points (CLP) each year. I 102s, 1 105s and other COs warranted above the micro-purchase threshold are required to earn 80 continuous learning points of skills currency training every two years. CORs are required to earn 40 continuous learning points of skills currency training every two years.
What is the two-year time frame for the CLP requirement?
OFPP states that the first period will begin on 10/01/07 and end on 9/30/09. Some agencies may choose to implement the CLPs sooner or give credit for previous training. Please contact your agency ACM for more information.
What are examples of acceptable skills currency training and continuous learning points? How much credit can I receive for the different types of training?
Continuous learning opportunities should be used to obtain training in core competencies, maintain critical acquisition skills and obtain agency specific training.
The appendix of the FAC-C document provides a matrix sample of skills currency activities and their recommended number of hours.
If you have a specific question about a course or developmental opportunity, please see your agency ACM.
Who keeps track of my Continuous Learning Points (CLPs)?
You are responsible for regularly updating your training activities in the ACMIS system https://admin.acmis.gov. Your supervisor is responsible for verifying your compliance with the training requirements and for validating information you enter into ACMIS. For audit purposes, certificates or other documentation giving proof of training completed must be maintained by the individual. Contact your agency ACM for details.
What will happen if I don’t meet the required number of training hours every two years?
A FAC-C will be invalid if the 80 CLPs are not met every two years. COs may have their warrants suspended or revoked until the skills currency requirement is met. CORs may have their appointment suspended or rescinded until their skills currency requirement is met. Limited waivers are available; please see your agency ACM.
What are the elements of Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C)?
Achievement of the FAC-C is based on meeting education, training and experience requirements. There are three levels and a person must meet the requirements of the previous level before progressing. Below is a chart that outlines the requirements at each of the three levels. The Chart is available on FAI.gov at http://www.fai.gov/resource/conpur.asp.
Contact your agency Acquisition Career Manager (ACM) for specific directions. A list of Agency ACM’s can be found on FAI’s website on the Manage Your Career page. FAI.gov/Manage Your Career/ select the hot link contact your ACM.
I already hold a warrant. Do I need to become certified?
OFPP states that FAC-C is not mandatory for all GS-l 102s; however, acquisition workforce members issued new warrants after January 1,2007 must have FAC-C. If you wish to transfer to a new agency after that date, a condition of employment as a CO will likely be FAC-C. A new warrant is defined as a warrant issued to an employee for the first time at a department or agency. Agencies can make additional warranting requirements, so check with your agency ACM.
I have already been granted a training certification from my agency. Why do I have to get the FAC-C?
All government agencies accept the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) as evidence that you meet the core training requirements for the 1102 series. It is transferable to all civilian agencies. Agencies other than your own will not automatically recognize your agency’s certification program.
What happens if I obtain FAC-C and don’t maintain 80 CLPs every two years?
Your FAC-C will expire and you may have your warrants suspended or revoked until the skills currency requirement is met. Please contact your agency ACM for specifics related to your agency.
What happens to my current warrant if I don’t become certified?
Current warrant holders are encouraged by OFPP to obtain FAC-C. OFPP and FAI do not require current warrant holders to obtain any certification. However, agencies may be more stringent and require current warrant holders to become certified at a commensurate with their warrant authority. OFPP and FAI encourage all agencies to require a Level III for all unlimited warrant holders.
It is in every acquisition workforce member’s interest to use theft 80 CLP requirement to obtain the training to meet the FAC-C requirements and to apply for certification. If you transfer to another civilian agency on or after January 1, 2007 as a CO requiring a warrant, FAC-C is required at an appropriate level to support the warrant delegation.
I am already DoD certified (DAWIA). Do I have to do anything more?
You must have proof of your DAWIA certificate. Then you may apply for the FACC through your agency ACM. In the application, include a copy of your DAWIA certificate.
I am certified through DOD’s program. Since I left DOD, I only took the 40 hours of training every two years as required by civilian agencies rather than the 80 hours required by DOD. Does my certification still count?
Yes. If you have maintained your training requirement of 40 hours every two years while at the your civilian agency, you are considered current. You will need to increase to the new 80-hour requirement under FAC-C.
I want to be certified but I took my classes in the 1970s or 1980s. Will I have to retake the acquisition courses?
There is a fulfillment process for the acquisition workforce who may be considered “legacy” (took most of the training before 1994). Through the fulfillment process, you will be asked to demonstrate that you possess the core competencies of the new courses.
I am a contract specialist without a warrant. Am I required to use ACMIS?
Yes. All employees designated as members of the acquisition workforce must use ACMIS to track their continuous learning skills currency training every two years.
1102s and 1105s will have education, federal employment history, job series and grade, entered into ACMIS through the Office of Personnel Management’s database. Employees must update their information and training as needed.
Your agency ACMIS System Administrator and your immediate supervisor may access portions of your record. Your core training courses, CLPs, job series, grade, warrant information, and education information are visible to them.
