14 FAH-3 H-100
Acquisition Career Management Handbook scope
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 OFPP’s 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 Department’s Acquisition Career Manager (ACM) responsible for ensuring that the Department’s 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 agency’s 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 agency’s 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 officer’s 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 Officer’s 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