WHAT’S NEW
CONTRACTING PROFESSIONALS – FEDERAL ACQUISITION CERTIFICATION FOR CONTRACTING (FAC-C) UPDATE
Good News! Recently, the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) aligned the Federal Acquisition Certification for Contracting (FAC-C) to more closely mirror updated DAWIA certification following Back-to-Basics implementation. This solves the challenge contracting officers have had over the last 50 years of moving between Defense Department and civilian agency contracting shops. Now, all contracting officers will be under one umbrella.
Effective Feb. 1, this new construct also requires non-DOD contracting officers to pass a professional certification exam. Whereas none existed before, this new requirement brings more expertise and esteem to the position through a standardized, independently administered assessment of contracting professionals’ competencies, which validates their initial readiness.
Keep a look out for a future memo from the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense (OSD) formalizing reciprocity between FAI’s FAC-C certification and DOD’s DAWIA certification constructs. We also will include a supplemental section to that memo detailing procedures for Army Acquisition Workforce members to submit for reciprocity.
FY23-24 CONTINUOUS LEARNING POINTS AND CREDENTIALING GUIDANCE FOR THE BUSINESS – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONAL AREA
On Jan. 10, the Army Acquisition Functional Leader (AAFL) for the Business – Financial Management (BUS-FM) functional area, John Daniels, signed a memorandum titled “Recommended Credentials and Continuous Learning Points for the Business – Financial Management Acquisition Functional Area.” The memo provides recommended FY23-24 Continuous Learning Point (CLP) and Credentialing guidance to the Army’s BUS-FM workforce. This guidance is effective for the current two-year continuous learning cycle, which runs from Oct. 1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2024. These training opportunities may also be found in your Individual Development Plan (IDP) within your CAPPMIS profile at
https://apps.asc.army.mil/camp/.
For more information about these recommended credentialing programs, courses and how to apply, visit DAU’s iCatalog page on
https://icatalog.dau.edu/.
To review the BUS-FM Civilian Career Model visit
https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/civilian/career-models/.
ATTENTION PRODUCT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS IN THE LIFE CYCLE LOGISTICS (LCL) ACQUISITION FUNCTIONAL AREA
Between March and December 2023, new training sessions will be available for Life Cycle Logistics acquisition professionals who have previously earned their Advanced (formerly known as Level III) LCL DAWIA certification. Hosted by DAU, these webinars, collectively dubbed “Product Support Delta Course v2023,” delve into changes that have occurred between the old DoDI 5000.02 and the new version, DoDI 5000.91 Product Support Management for the Adaptive Acquisition Framework. Each live, interactive webinar lesson is 90 minutes and concludes with an open Q&A session.
To find out more, visit the DAU Events page and scroll down to the red “View Event” button contained within the “Product Support Delta Course v2023” section. Once the list of dated events appears on your screen, click on the name of the course you wish to attend located underneath the “Event Title” column. Questions regarding these events must be directed to Events@dau.edu.
ACQUISITION EDUCATION, TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS: ACQUISITION TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Interested in pursuing a master’s or bachelor’s degree?
Want to take a college course or two?
The Army Director, Acquisition Career Management (DACM) Office funds tuition costs, including laboratory and technology fees, within specified funding limits (see announcement for details) to those accepted into the Acquisition Tuition Assistance Program (ATAP). Applications are being accepted now through Feb. 24.
Applications are now being accepted for the ATAP. Tuition assistance is available for eligible Army Acquisition Workforce (AAW) civilians and Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 51 Contracting (51C) noncommissioned officers (NCOs). ATAP provides funding to those wanting to take individual acquisition/business-related courses or acquisition/business-related courses in a declared major toward either a bachelor’s or master’s degree at an accredited college or university of your choice during off-duty time. Book, graduation, registration and general fees, course materials and travel expenses are not funded by the ATAP.
More information about the ATAP, as well as a copy of the ATAP announcement, can be obtained from the DACM website at
https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/programs/acquisition-tuition-assistance-program/. It is highly recommended that you print out a copy of the ATAP announcement, read it thoroughly and have it available as you prepare your application. All applications must be submitted online using the Army Acquisition Professional Development System (AAPDS) within the Career Acquisition Personnel and Position Management Information System (CAPPMIS), which is located at: https://apps.asc.army.mil/camp/.
Detailed instructions for completing the application are contained in the ATAP announcement on the website above. Please submit all questions through Ask an Acquisition Career Manager at:
https://apps.asc.army.mil/camp/index.cfm?fuseaction=support.helpRequest
JAZZ UP YOUR CAREER WITH FY24/25 CENTRALIZED SELECTION BOARDS AND FY25 CENTRALIZED SELECTION LIST OPPORTUNITIES
OPENING SOON – Starting on Feb. 22, the application window opens for opportunities to both the fiscal year 2024/25 Army Acquisition Centralized Selection Boards (CSB) and the FY25 Centralized Selection List (CSL) positions. The Army Acquisition Professional Development System (AAPDS) now enables those who are interested and eligible to “opt-in” to CSB/CSL opportunities using a single portal and one application packet. This streamlined process makes applying even easier and streamlined. As you’re applying within the AAPDS tab in CAPPMIS, keep an eye out for and select the “opt-in” check boxes if you intend on applying to both the CSB and the CSL opportunities.
The purpose of the centralized selection process is to identify a pool of high performing and high potential civilian acquisition professionals to lead and manage acquisition programs to meet the mission and vision of the Army acquisition enterprise. Best-qualified individuals will be selected for specifically identified acquisition command and acquisition positions.
For additional CSB details, go to https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/prod-dir or contact Kelly Terry at Kelly.l.terry2.civ@army.mil.
For additional CSL details, go to https://asc.army.mil/web/centralized-selection-list/ or contact Adam Polite at adam.b.polite.civ@army.mil.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
THREE CHEERS FOR THE FY23 LEAD PROGRAM SELECTEES
The FY23 Leadership Excellence and Acquisition Development program selectees are:
| Traci B. Williams | PEO CS&CSS | Assistant program manager, PAWS |
| LaTrish M. Jones | PEO AVN | Assistant program manager, Modernization |
Start dates have yet to be negotiated but will occur in Spring 2023. The LEAD program offers expanded training through a series of education, leader development and broadening assignments to build skills required for positions of greater responsibility. The FY23 course is expected to begin in Spring 2023 and will continue over 24 months.
The DACM Office spotlighted William “Cody” Swinford, who is currently going through the LEAD program, in the April 2022 issue of DACM News (https://asc.army.mil/web/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/April_2022_DACM-_Newsletter-FINAL.pdf). Since publication, Mr. Swinford has moved into Phase III of the program and is serving as an assistant program manager working directed energy efforts in the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) in Huntsville, Alabama, supporting the Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office. To those about to go through the program, and those considering it in the future, Swinford says, “I have received some of the most exciting work of my career and am personally discovering my sweet spot when it comes to work. My advice to those considering the program is to build your network and find a mentor willing to invest and provide career advice. I have a great one.”
MILITARY NEWS: ACS FOR OFFICERS
The Army DACM Office is pleased to announce the Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS) application window for the (ACS 24-01) winter moving cycle of FY24 is now open. The ACS program allows active-duty Army acquisition officers a chance to pursue advanced degrees in STEM, acquisition or business-related disciplines at civilian universities on a full-time, fully funded basis. ACS also unlocks enhanced skills and acquisition experience through top tier university programs. This opportunity is currently open for the winter moving cycle and will close on Feb. 24, with a program start window of Oct. 1, 2024 through March 30, 2025. Reach out to your Acquisition Management Branch (AMB) career manager to see if you are a good fit for this opportunity. The AMB point of contact for ACS is Lt. Col. Quammie Semper on quammie.j.semper.mil@army.mil. Visit the ACS webpage to learn more about the application process and eligibility on https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/programs/advanced-civil-schooling/.
ATTENTION 51C NCOs
MOS 51C NCOs can utilize funding through the Acquisition Tuition Assistance Program to pursue approved courses toward either a bachelor’s or master’s degree. The Army DACM Office is accepting applications for ATAP now through Feb. 24.
This is your chance to take individual acquisition/business related courses or acquisition/business-related courses in a declared major toward either a bachelor’s or master’s degree at an accredited college or university of your choice during off-duty time. The Army DACM Office is the sponsor of the ATAP and will fund tuition costs, including laboratory and technology fees, within specified funding limits (see announcement for details). Book, graduation, registration and general fees, course materials and travel expenses are not funded by the ATAP. For more information and to apply, visit https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/programs/acquisition-tuition-assistance-program/.
