14 FAH-3 H-110 INTRODUCTION TO ACQUISITION CAREER MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK

Start Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Last Modified: Saturday, May 2, 2020

End Date: Friday, December 31, 9999

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14 FAH-3 H-100
Acquisition Career Management Handbook scope

14 FAH-3 H-110

INtroduction to acquisition career management handbook

(CT:AQM-17; 04-19-2019)
(Office of Origin: A/OPE)

14 FAH-3 H-111 OBJECTIVES and Purpose of Acquisition Management Program

(CT:AQM-9; 05-19-2017)

The purpose of this handbook is to implement the Department of State Acquisition Career Management Program. The objectives of the program are to promote the proficiency and facilitate the career development of the Department of State acquisition professionals. This is accomplished using a multi-faceted program built on an assessment of employee skills, implementation of individual development plans covering competency-based training supplemented by on-the-job training, and adherence to minimum standards of education, training, and experience for acquisition positions

14 FAH-3 H-112 SCOPE OF Acquisition Career Management PROGRAM

(CT:AQM-9; 05-19-2017)

a. The acquisition career management program applies to all permanent, full-time, direct-hire employees who are U.S. citizens serving under career or career-conditional appointments in:

(1) The Civil Service general schedule contracting series (GS-1102);

(2) All positions in the general schedule 1105 purchasing series; and

(3) The Foreign Service with contracting warrants (whose acquisition career management program is outlined in 14 FAH-3 H-340.

b. The program does not apply to:

(1) Federal assistance (grants and cooperative agreements), which is governed by Grants Policy Directives issued by the Procurement Executive (A/OPE); and

(2) The process of obtaining commercially available training for individuals using Form SF-182, Request, Authorization, Agreement and Certification of Training handled by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI).

14 FAH-3 H-113 Authorities

(CT:AQM-17; 04-19-2019)

The authorities for each U.S. Government agency to maintain an acquisition career management program are as follows:

(1) 41 U.S.C. 1201, established a Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) to:

(a) Foster and promote the development of a professional acquisition workforce U.S. Government-wide;

(b) Periodically analyze acquisition career fields to identify critical competencies, duties, tasks, and related academic prerequisites, skills, and knowledge; and

(c) Evaluate the effectiveness of training and career development programs for acquisition personnel;

(2) 41 U.S.C. 1702 (b) (3) (G) requires developing and maintaining an acquisition career management program;

(3) 41 U.S.C. 1703, Acquisition Workforce;

(4) 41 U.S.C. 1704(e) requires each civilian agency to collect and maintain standardized information to ensure effective management of the acquisition workforce training;

(5) Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) September 3, 2013 Memorandum, Increasing Efficiencies in the Training, Development, and Management of the Acquisition Workforce, provides:

(a) Increased use of the Federal Acquisition Institute Training Application System (FAITAS), an integrated and government-wide acquisition workforce career management system, which allows agencies to better manage their acquisition workforce members and training programs; and

(b) All positions in the general schedule contracting series (GS-1102) and Contracting Officers regardless of general schedule series with authority to obligate funds above the micro-purchase threshold must have at minimum accurate and complete records in FAITAS.

(6) Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Policy Letter 05-01, Developing and Managing the Acquisition Workforce; and

(7) OFPP Policy Memo, May 7, 2014, Revisions to the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) refreshes OFPPs requirements for the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C).

14 FAH-3 H-114 Responsibilities for the Acquisition Management Program

(CT:AQM-9; 05-19-2017)

a. The Director, Policy Division, Office of the Procurement Executive (A/OPE/PD) is the Departments Acquisition Career Manager (ACM) responsible for ensuring that the Departments acquisition workforce meets the requirements of the April 15, 2005, Policy Letter 05-01 on Developing and Managing the Acquisition Workforce from OFPP and related guidance (see 1 FAM 212.2-1).

b. This is the individual appointed by the Chief Acquisition Officer (CAO) to lead the agencys acquisition career management program.

c. The ACM duties as described in the OFPP Policy Letter 05-01, include:

(1) Managing the identification and development of the acquisition workforce, including identifying staffing needs, training requirements, and other workforce development strategies;

(2) Ensuring that agency policies and procedures for workforce management are consistent with those established by OFPP, as appropriate; and

(3) Maintaining and managing the consistent agency-wide data on those serving in the agencys acquisition workforce.

14 FAH-3 H-115 Acronyms

(CT:AQM-17; 04-19-2019)

ACM Acquisition Career Manager

A/OPE/AQM Office of Acquisition Management

A/OPE Office of the Procurement Executive

COR Contracting officers representative

CLP Continuous Learning Point

DAU Defense Acquisition University

DOD Department of Defense

DOSAR Department of State Acquisition Regulation

FAC-C Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Program

FAC-COR Federal Acquisition Certification Contracting Officers Representative

FAC-P/PM Federal Acquisition Certification Program and Project Managers

FAH Foreign Affairs Handbook

FAI Federal Acquisition Institute

FAITAS Federal Acquisition Institute Training Application System

FAM Foreign Affairs Manual

FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation

FSI Foreign Service Institute

GS General Schedule

GSA General Services Administration

GSO General services officer

HCA Head of the contracting activity

NFATC George P Schultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center

OBO Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations

OFPP Office of Federal Procurement Policy

OJT On-the-job training

OPM Office of Personnel Management

RPSO Regional Procurement Support Office

SF Standard Form

U.S.C. United States Code

14 FAH-3 H-116 SUMMARY OF Acquisition CAREER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FEATURES

(CT:AQM-17; 04-19-2019)

a. The remaining chapters in this 14 FAH-3 handbook address the following components of the Acquisition Career Management Program.

(1) 14 FAH-3 H-200 covers model acquisition career paths and the critical acquisition-related duties and tasks employees must be competent to perform;

(2) 14 FAH-3 H-300 covers mandatory education and training, including:

(a) Classroom training,

(b) On-the-job training requirements leading to certification for three levels of acquisition professionals;

(3) 14 FAH-3 H-324 covers the procedures for waiver of formal education or training requirements; and

(4) 14 FAH-3 H-500 covers the Federal Acquisition Institute Training Application System (FAITAS).

b. The requirements for domestic contracting officers and overseas contracting officers are significantly different. Those differences are reflected in this handbook.

14 FAH-3 H-117 THROUGH H-119 UNASSIGNED

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