Contracting

Defense Acquisition Credentials provide the knowledge and associated skills needed to perform job-centric, niche, and/or emerging functions in the defense acquisition environment. They are intended to enhance specific skills and improve performance in the workplace. Whether you manage capability requirements, acquire services/systems, or sustain capabilities, earning credentials can build your competence, confidence, and value to your organization and the DOD.

WarU Credentials Program: Click Here to Search Credentials

• • DAWIA Certification Training, Events, Tools, Blogs and Development Recommendations
  • PAM: The ODASA(P)’s interactive Knowledge Management portal, Procurement.Army.Mil (PAM), serves as an official Army-wide source for acquisition policy, templates, learning tools and certified training.
  • DoD Contracting Competency Model Narrative: The DoD Contracting Competency Model describes contract management in terms of the processes created through the integration and interaction of job tasks and competencies, and the purposes they serve. The common and repeated use of this model will create a contracting standard across the DoD.
  • Elimination of the 24-Semester Credit Business Hour Qualification Requirement from Contracting Positions: Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)) Memorandum: Provides an exception to permit hiring of contracting professionals who have not completed at least 24 semester credit hours (or equivalent) of study from an accredited institution of higher education in business-related courses, but who are otherwise qualified. Signed Sept. 3, 2020.
  • Restructuring of the Certification Program for the Contracting Functional Area: The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)) issued the reference (a) memorandum to initiate a phased implementation of a Back-to-Basics (BtB) talent management framework and new governance structure for the Defense Acquisition Workforce beginning Oct. 1, 2020, with full deployment on Oct. 1, 2021. The BtB initiative transformed how the workforce is managed and trained to better align the acquisition and delivery of goods and services to support the Warfighter.
  • Transition Plan for the DoD Contracting Professional Certification Program informs the Contracting Functional Area community of the transition plan of the new DoD Contracting Professional Certification Program.
  • Virtual Contracting Enterprise
  • Army Warranting Program (CAC login required): This page provides valuable resources, from sample questions to help prepare for the various types of review boards, to the most current version of the Army Warranting Program Guide, as well as other tools that can assist as you grow your Army procurement career.
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Procurement Policy Alerts (CAC login required): This page is your go-to resources for alert notifications on the latest policy, training and information.
  • Contracting Subway Map: Provides a generalized order of events in the acquisition contracting process.
  • Contracting Validation for Foreign Local Nationals Policy and Procedures
  • Requirements for Individuals Selected for Centralized Selection List Acquisition Key Billets, Centralized Selection Board Positions and Command Sergeant Major Positions
  • Officers in the Army Acquisition Workforce: Officers ensure the delivery of quality capabilities, providing the right product or service to the right place, at the right time to ensure the Army is equipped for the 21st century.
  • Noncommissioned Officers in the Army Acquisition Workforce: Noncommissioned officers (NCOs) with the 51C MOS perform the vital tasks of providing procurement support for anything a unit might need and serving the commander as a business adviser, ensuring they get what’s needed, on time, to support the mission.
  • Army Warranting Program Guide, December 2021
  • DoD Contracting Professional Certification Requirements
  • WarU Contracting Blog
  • Restructured Contracting Certification Courses: Effective Oct. 1, 2024, the WarU training courses required for DOD contracting certification at the professional level will undergo structural adjustments for delivery over a shorter timeframe. There is little to no impact on course objectives, content or training hours. These adjustments were mainly made in response to two factors: 1) Senior leaders expressing a need for in-person contracting training and 2) Student, supervisor and faculty feedback regarding improving the balance between work and class schedules. Exact details about specific changes and courses involved can be viewed on https://www.waru.edu/blogs/exciting-changes-con-certification-courses-fy25
  • WarU Web Event Playlists 
  • Contracting Functional Area Workforce Development and Continuous Learning Recommendations for 2025
  • Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul (RFO) Learning Cycle
  • CON 7300V Memorandum: Contracting Functional Area Certification Change for Fiscal Year 2027

Policy Memoranda:

• Fiscal Year 2022 Senior Rater Potential Evaluation: Approved Exception to Policy for Contracting Functional Area
• Fulfillment of Defense Acquisition University Courses through Completion of the Naval Postgraduate School Academic Programs
• Army Acquisition Tuition Assistance Program – applies to AAW civilians and Military Occupational Specialty 51 Contracting (51C) Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs)
• Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Modernization Memorandum
• Reciprocity Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (Professional) and the Department of Defense Contracting Professional Certification
• Contracting Workforce Development and Continuous Learning
• Hiring and Designation of Army Contracting Personnel
• Mandatory Use of the Army Talent Management and Career Mapping Tool(CAC required)
• Memorandum for Army Small Business Professionals: Small Business Professional Credential

Stay Informed!

Subscribe to the ODASA(P) Army Contracting Workforce Newsletter
Check out Policy Alerts on procurement.army.mil PAM knowledge Management Portal lists policy and regulation, procurement systems, and other useful reference links!