OCTOBER 2020 ARMY DACM HOT TOPICS

Hot Topics

 

 

DACM OFFICE UPDATE

 

BACK TO BASICS (BTB)

On Sept. 2, in support of the National Defense Strategy, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)) Honorable Ellen M. Lord signed a memorandum titled “ ‘Back-to-Basics’ for the Defense Acquisition Workforce.” Back-to-Basics (BTB) restructures and slims down the existing acquisition workforce functional area framework to six consolidated functional areas: program management, contracting, life cycle logistics, engineering, test and evaluation, and business financial management/cost estimating. BTB outcomes for each functional area include achieving streamlined and restructured certification requirements, identifying prioritized credentials and providing for continuous learning. Efforts related to the BTB framework are still very much in the works and will not be implemented immediately. Full deployment of the program is Oct. 1, 2021. As details emerge, the Army Director, Acquisition Career Management (DACM) Office will keep you informed. To read the memo in our policy library, visit: https://asc.army.mil/web/usdas-back-to-basics-memo/. For more details about BTB, go to: https://asc.army.mil/web/dacm-office/back-to-basics/.

 

 

MANDATORY ANNUAL ETHICS TRAINING REMINDER

As members of the Army Acquisition Workforce (AAW), our standards of expertise, experience and ethics are high. Mandatory ethics training for the AAW is due by Dec. 31, 2020. The list of accepted ethics training modalities that meet the annual requirement includes:

All ethics training options for the AAW can be found at: https://asc.army.mil/web/dacm-ethics-rqmnt-memo/.
More information on these requirements is available at: https://asc.army.mil/web/dacm-memo-fy20-army-acq-workforce-stnds/.

 

 

SENIOR RATER POTENTIAL EVALUATION

The Senior Rater Potential Evaluation (SRPE) cycle is now upon us. Since 2015, the SRPE has been required annually for GS-12 through GS-15 and pay-band equivalent AAW professionals. Evaluations for this fiscal year cover Oct. 1, 2019, through Sept. 1. Senior raters must complete the SRPE by Dec. 31. Now is a good time to check your Individual Development Plan (IDP) supervisor in CAPPMIS and ensure that information is correct. The Army DACM Office released all annual SRPEs on Oct. 1. Employees, raters and senior raters can find policies and guidance, videos, instructional briefings and a user manual on the website at https://asc.army.mil/web/senior-rater-potential-evaluation/. If you’re brand new to the process, check out the live training tutorial within the SRPE module at: https://apps.asc.army.mil/camp/.

 

 

THE RESULTS ARE IN – SELECTEES OF THE 51C RECLASSIFICATION

(From the original article at: https://asc.army.mil/web/news-51c-reclassification-results/)

A hearty congratulations to the Soldiers selected for 51C reclassification. 51C NCOs have the vital job of not only providing procurement support for anything a unit might need, but also serving the commander as a business adviser—ensuring Soldiers get what’s needed, on time, to support the mission.

Candidates selected for reclassification learn a new craft and gain valuable, transferable skills through the training, education and professional development aspects of the military occupational specialty (MOS). The accession process is competitive but rewarding. Applicants must be at the rank of sergeant or staff sergeant, with less than 10 years of service. Those with 10 to 12 years of service may request waivers. The NCO contracting corps offers a promising career path and the opportunity to serve in a variety of locations.

The next 51C NCO reclassification panel is scheduled to convene Jan. 25-29, 2021. For instructions on how to submit a packet, or for more information about 51C reclassification programs, go to: https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/military-nco/field51/.

Active Component
Staff Sgt. Madeliene R. Biltz
Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Chase
Staff Sgt. Robert M. Cordell
Staff Sgt. Jason M. David
Staff Sgt. Shanaye S. Davis
Staff Sgt. Vladislav M. Dobin
Staff Sgt. Tyler C. Eissler
Staff Sgt. Adam J. Harwood
Staff Sgt. Susette Lujardolahera
Staff Sgt. Billeto R. McGee
Staff Sgt. Andrew L. Parmelee
Staff Sgt. Douglass R. Staub
Staff Sgt. Jason M. Taylor
Sgt. Inez B. Acosta
Sgt. Grant C. Boyd
Sgt. Kouakou B. Kouadio
Sgt. Steven Leeper
Sgt. Summer L. McMahon
Sgt. Abhiram Palivela
Sgt. Matthew E. Troyer

Army Reserves
Staff Sgt. Bradley A. Jones
Staff Sgt. Kelli M. Kelley

 

 

ACQUISITION EDUCATION, TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

 

ATTENTION, COLLEGE STUDENTS: THE DOD ACQUISITION INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS OPEN 

The Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment’s Human Capital Initiatives Office is accepting applications now through Oct. 12 for the DOD College Acquisition Internship Program (DCAIP). DCAIP is a paid, 10-week internship that provides students with real-world experience in career fields within the DOD acquisition workforce. The program targets full-time second- and third-year students currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at an accredited college or university. Selected students will work full time (40 hours per week) over 10 consecutive weeks, between May and August 2021. There may also be opportunities to work over winter break and to return during the summer of 2021, determined by DOD component need, continued eligibility and student availability. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as the window for applications closes Oct. 12 or sooner, if the maximum number of applications for a particular location is reached. For additional information about program locations, salary, eligibility requirements and more, please go to: https://www.hci.mil/dodcareers/internship.html.

 

 

DEFENSE ACQUISITION UNIVERSITY NEWS

 

FY21 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES       

Normally, the new fiscal year means an abundance of new acquisition training opportunities for the workforce. However, because of reduced DOD acquisition funding and the COVID-19 pandemic, the fiscal year 2021 Defense Acquisition University (DAU) training schedule looks much different than in years past. On Aug. 27, DAU released its training schedule for the first and second quarters of fiscal year 2021. All classes scheduled through the end of 2020 are being delivered via virtual instructor-led training (VILT). While there are some resident classes currently scheduled for the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, they may be converted to VILT later in the year, depending on COVID-19 restrictions. Additionally, because of social distancing requirements in-residence classes and instructor workload in VILT offerings, classes are smaller, and there a fewer seats available for training for all services.

What does this mean? Despite the reduction in training capacity, your position’s DAWIA certification requirements have not changed and mandatory standards are still in place. In the meantime, we can take a few actions during this time of transition, before the new Back-to-Basics acquisition framework is implemented. Priority 1 students are receiving fiscal year 2021 reservations on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority 1 students are those personnel who need the course to meet the certification requirements of the position to which they are officially assigned. DAU student priority-level details can be found in Enclosure 2 of the Army DACM DAU Training Policy and Procedures at: https://asc.army.mil/web/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Final-DAU-Training-Policy-and-Procedures-signed-20191010-CAS.pdf. At this time, Priority 2 through Priority 5 students will be placed on a waitlist.

What if I need more time to complete my DAWIA certification requirements? You’re in luck, because an Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment memorandum dated April 1 extends the DAWIA certification requirement for most defense acquisition members from 24 months to 36 months. Read the supporting Army DACM memo at: https://asc.army.mil/web/usdas-and-dacm-memorandum-12-month-cert-extension-and-faq/.

What else can I do? Individual commands and organizations may want to consider requesting an out-of-cycle onsite course; however, there is no guarantee that the request will receive approval. Contact your Organization Acquisition Point of Contact (OAP) for more information on how to request an out-of-cycle onsite course. Don’t know who your OAP is? Go to https://www.milsuite.mil/book/docs/DOC-640236/. The third and fourth quarters of the fiscal year 2021 DAU training schedule will be released on Jan. 26, 2021. Submit any questions via a help request action at: https://apps.asc.army.mil/camp/index.cfm?fuseaction=support.helpRequest.

 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

DAU is currently seeking subject matter expert (SME) volunteers to support the development of a new online logistics course, LOG 0520 “Facilities and Infrastructure.” The course will focus on developing a facilities and infrastructure overview for the defense acquisition life cycle logistics workforce. The team expects to utilize a variety of material sources.

The life cycle logistics competencies will serve as a foundation to inform the development of course terminal and enabling learning objectives. DAU anticipates this new asynchronous course will take students approximately 3-4 hours to complete. To review the competencies, go to: https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/Doc/CFcompetencys/LCLCompetencies.pdf.

DAU is getting underway with initial requirements determination, scoping, learning objective development and planning, and SME support could begin right away. Target completion and deployment date is the end of fiscal year 2021. DAU is mindful of the time constraints on potential volunteers so, keeping that in mind, course development team leads would work directly with the individual SME to understand and work around availability. Please direct questions and submit your name, email address, phone number and number of volunteers directly to Bill Kobren at Bill.Kobren@dau.edu and Susan E. Clark at susan.e.clark.civ@mail.mil. Thank you for your support in the training and development of our acquisition workforce!

 

 

DACM POLICY

 

ARMY ACQUISITION WORKFORCE STANDARD PROGRAM MANAGEMENT POSITION NOMENCLATURE

An updated program management position nomenclature policy was signed by the Army DACM on Sept. 23. The policy updates position classification for the program management occupational series 0340 and provides the series definition and titling instructions for dual-grade interval positions at GS-13 and above. A reference chart is also included and shows the grade or rank, selection authority and standard nomenclature for program management leader positions. For more details, go to: https://asc.army.mil/web/aaw-standard-pos-nomenclature-pol/.

 

 

UPDATED ORGANIZATION ACQUISITION POINT OF CONTACT POLICY

On Sept. 17, the Army DACM signed an updated policy outlining designation and tenure of Organization Acquisition Points of Contact (OAP)s, delineating lead and subordinate OAP roles and responsibilities. The memo establishes authority to the OAPs, as they provide organization-level advice and the necessary support to develop and sustain a highly qualified and capable professional in the AAW. For details about the OAP policy, go to: https://asc.army.mil/web/oap-policy-new-pdf/.

 

 

CONTRACTING 1102 POSITION – EXCEPTION TO DODI 5000.66 EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Effective Aug. 2, a memorandum signed by Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Honorable Ellen M. Lord, provides an exception that allows hiring of contracting professionals who have not completed at least 24 business-related semester credit hours (or equivalent) but who are otherwise qualified. For more details, go to: https://asc.army.mil/web/waiver-req-24-sem-hours-con/.

Army G-1 will issue implementation guidelines shortly. As soon as that is published, we will notify all command representatives. Details are still being worked out on how to handle updating position requirements documents, open announcements, etc.

 

 

IN OTHER NEWS

 

VOICE YOUR OPINION WITH THE 2020 FEDERAL EMPLOYEE VIEWPOINT SURVEY

The 2020 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) is open! If you meet the eligibility requirements (full time or part time, permanent, nonpolitical, nonseasonal, appropriated fund employees, onboarded with the Army as of October 2019), you will receive an invitation by email to complete the survey. We are encouraging maximum participation for the 2020 FEVS. You should see an email in your inbox with the subject line of “[Non-DoD Source] The 2020 OPM FEVS: Empowering Employees. Inspiring Change,” and the sender’s name on the FEVS email is EVAR@OPM.GOV.

Please note that the survey is anonymous and employees can choose to skip questions on the FEVS if they do not feel comfortable answering them. For additional information, watch the FEVS video at https://www.dvidshub.net/video/766354/2020-army-fevs-participation-campaign or refer to the Office of Personnel Management’s survey page at https://feedback.opm.gov. The FEVS survey is open until Oct. 27, and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

 

ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY (AUSA) ANNUAL MEETING AND EXPO

USAASC will host a virtual exhibition booth at the 2020 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 13-15. Come and join us to learn more about training and leadership opportunities, education programs and more. Register at https://meetings.ausa.org/annual/Attendee_Registration.cfm.

Explore the Army’s latest equipment, products and technology in a virtual environment. These networking opportunities give conference attendees multiple channels for direct communication, including live chat and scheduling meetings at the click of a button. A ‘matchmaking’ platform will suggest connections based on common interests between attendees and exhibitors, facilitating new and efficient pathways to meaningful connections.

For more information about this event, go to: https://meetings.ausa.org/annual/.

 

 

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