April
15, 2005
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 Procurement Policy (OFPP) Act, as
amended (41 U.S.C. § 405(a)), and sections 37(b)(3) and (g) of the
OFPP Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. § 433(b)(3) and (g)).
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 OFPP Policy Letters 92-3 and 97-01 are rescinded.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 (DAWIA)
(10 U.S.C. §§ 1741-46) and section 4307(a) of the Clinger-Cohen
Act (40 U.SC. §1401(3), amending section 37 of the OFPP Act (41 U.S.C.
§ 433)). These acts established education, training, and experience
requirements for entry and advancement in the acquisition career fields
for the Department of Defense (DOD) and civilian agencies respectively.
Policy Letter 92-3, dated June 24, 1992, established policies for skill-based
training in contracting and purchasing duties for all executive agencies.
Policy Letter 97-01, dated September 12, 1997, established career
management, education, and training requirements for contracting personnel
in civilian executive agencies. This Letter builds on those previous efforts
to improve the development of the acquisition workforce by more broadly
defining the acquisition workforce and more closely aligning civilian
(non-DOD) and defense acquisition workforce requirements.
5.
Applicability. This Letter applies to all executive
agencies, except those subject to DAWIA.
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,
- individuals
involved in acquisition planning and strategy,
- individuals
who participate in the process of establishing the business relationship
to obtain needed goods and services, (e.g., contracting process, those
involved in the solicitation, evaluation and award of acquisitions),
- individuals
who manage the process after business arrangements have been made to
ensure that the government’s needs are met (e.g., testing and
evaluating, managing and monitoring the manufacturing and production
activities, auditing, contract administration, performance management
and evaluation, etc.),
- individuals
who arrange disposal of any residual items after work is complete, (e.g.,
property management/disposal),
- individuals
who support the business processes of the above listed activities (e.g.,
General Counsel, finance, or other subject matter experts), and
- individuals
who directly manage those involved in any of the above activities.
At a minimum,
the acquisition workforce of an agency, for purposes of this Letter, includes:
- All positions
in the general schedule contracting series (GS-1102) and non-DOD uniformed
personnel in comparable positions.
- All Contracting
Officers (CO) regardless of general schedule series with authority to
obligate funds above the micropurchase threshold.
- All positions
in the general schedule purchasing series (GS-1105).
- Program
and project managers, as identified by the agency’s Chief Acquisition
Officer (CAO), or equivalent.
- All Contracting
Officer’s Representatives (CORs) and Contracting Officer’s
Technical Representatives (COTRs), or equivalent positions.
- Any significant
acquisition-related positions identified by the CAO, or equivalent,
using the guidance provided above.
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:
- manage
the identification and development of the acquisition workforce, including
identifying staffing needs, training requirements, and other workforce
development strategies;
- 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;
- 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;
- recommend
to the CAO a transition plan for meeting the requirements of this Letter;
- ensure
that agency policies and procedures for workforce management are consistent
with those established by OFPP, as appropriate;
- coordinate
with agency functional advisors to ensure fulfillment of requirements
of this Letter;
- recommend
to the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) waivers to the GS-1102 education
and training provisions of this Letter, as needed and in accordance
with the qualification standards; and
- 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 (DAU) regarding training and development
opportunities and other related information.
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 DAU, shall
develop a certification program that considers a variety of means, including
a fulfillment process, for assessing and certifying that the education,
training, and experience requirements for the GS-1102 series, as described
herein, have been met. The program shall be based on the DAWIA requirements
for certification at the junior, intermediate, and senior levels to reflect
the need to meet increasingly more rigorous standards for education, training,
and experience throughout the career development process. The Chief Acquisition
Officers Council (CAOC) shall approve the program. Once granted, the certification
shall be accepted by, at a minimum, all civilian executive agencies as evidence
that an employee meets the core education, training, and experience requirements
for the GS-1102 series.
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 ACMIS (see paragraph 12).
- 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 DAWIA requirements (a bachelor’s
degree AND 24 hours of business), may still be eligible for a federal
acquisition certification, but would not be considered qualified for
a position subject to DAWIA.
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.
- 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 www.dau.mil/catalog).
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 DAU to ensure that core training is comparable across the
workforce and qualifies for certification. Electives and other courses
do not generally require a course equivalency determination.
- Contracting
(GS-1102) Series Experience Requirements - Experience requirements
for GS-1102 positions are identified in the Contract Specialist (GS-1102)
Qualification Standard.
- 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 Procurement Policy may prescribe specific
continuous learning courses to ensure that training is provided to the
acquisition workforce on topics such as ethics, performance-based contracting,
strategic sourcing, or others, as needed.
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 DAWIA requirements,
accepted industry certification programs, and existing government requirements,
such as the qualification requirements established by the Chief Information
Officers Council (CIOC) for information technology project management.
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 ACMIS (see
paragraph 12) so that workforce data may be captured for future training
and development planning.
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 DAWIA
requirements and accepted industry certification programs for other acquisition-related
positions (see paragraph 5), excluding requirements for CORs and COTRs (see
paragraph 9).
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 DAU have a number of continuous
learning resources to assist agencies in this effort (see www.dau.mil
and www.fai.gov). CAOs shall require
that CORs and COTRs enter their information into ACMIS (see paragraph
12) to ensure that agency acquisition workforce information is complete.
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 Procurement Policy may prescribe specific continuous learning
courses to ensure that training is provided on topics such as ethics,
performance-based contracting, strategic sourcing, or others, as needed.
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 ACMIS implementation.
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 Procurement Policy,
pursuant to section 6(d)(5) of the OFPP Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. §
405(d)(5)). To support the management of the workforce in accordance with
this Letter, FAI shall focus on the following priorities:
- 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.
- Core
competencies and curriculum support: In partnership with DAU, FAI
shall support the identification and maintenance of core acquisition
workforce competencies and a core curriculum to develop these competencies
government-wide. FAI shall develop curriculum content, if necessary,
to support the civilian workforce needs.
- 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.
- 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.
- Manage
the AWTF: In accordance with SARA, FAI shall manage the AWTF fund.
The Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy and the Administrator
of General Services, in consultation with the FAI Board of Directors,
shall provide direction to FAI on the allocation of these resources.
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 Procurement Policy, makes
recommendations to OFPP regarding the development and execution of FAI’s
annual budget. The Board also provides general direction to FAI on the
allocation of AWTF resources, in accordance with the priorities of the
acquisition community. The Board’s charter can be found on www.fai.gov.
14.
Information Contact. Questions regarding this Policy
Letter should be directed to Lesley A. Field, Office of Federal Procurement
Policy (lfield@omb.eop.gov), or
call (202) 395-7579.
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 United States, its agencies, its officers, or any persons. It is intended
only to provide policy guidance to agencies in the exercise of their discretion
concerning federal contracting. Thus, this Policy Letter is not intended,
and should not be construed, to create any substantive or procedural basis
on which to challenge any agency action or inaction on the ground that
such action or inaction was not in accordance with this Policy Letter.
16.
Effective Date. This Policy Letter is effective April
15, 2005.
David H. Safavian
Administrator
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