Senior/Expert Business Management for Government Applications

What is FAC-P/PM Certification?

The quality and effectiveness of the federal acquisition process depends on the development of a capable and competent workforce. Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Letter 05-01 Section 8(c) charged the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) to develop-and the Chief Acquisition Officers Council (CAOC) to approve-a Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM) with the expressed intent to improve the competence of the federal acquisition workforce.

What is the Learning Tree FAC-P/PM Level III Curriculum?

Learning Tree designed and developed a comprehensive curriculum specifically based on the FAI competency standards. All the content within the Level III curriculum has been designed exclusively for the Senior/Expert federal acquisition workforce and has been validated by a team of former federal executives. This advisory board provided guidance and counsel throughout the curriculum development process to ensure the content addressed the unique challenges of complex federal acquisitions.

The curriculum consists of the following courses:

• Course U152, Senior/Expert Program Management-Learn to simplify the complexity of the Integrated Master Plan, Integrated Master Schedule, and Systems Engineering Lifecycle.
• Course U153, Senior/Expert Acquisition Management-Learn to evaluate complex acquisitions, identify potential performance issues, and establish a process to mitigate risk.
• Course U154, Senior/Expert Business Management for Government Applications-Learn to reduce program complexity by instituting advanced measurements of technical performance, schedule performance, and cost performance.
• Course U155, Senior/Expert Leadership and Interpersonal Skills-Learn to develop advanced leadership skills to facilitate organizational change and lead successful negotiations with internal and external stakeholders.

What is this course about?

In this course, you gain the senior/expert acquisition knowledge and skills to advance towards becoming Level III FAC-P/PM certified.

Through peer collaboration, expert facilitation and a complex acquisition simulation, you develop the critical acumen, terminology, tools and techniques to effectively manage large, complex acquisitions. You also create a personal strategy and implementation plan to improve your project performance and consider specific recommendations for acquisition reform within your organization and agency.

What background knowledge and experience would help me in obtaining FAC-P/PM Level III Certification?

Candidates are required to possess at least four years of program and project management experience within the federal sector. This experience should include managing and evaluating agency acquisition investment performance, developing and managing a program budget, building and presenting a successful business case, reporting program results, strategic planning, and communicating strategy with internal and external stakeholders.

Confirm your specific certification requirements with your agency's Acquisition Career Manager or Chief Acquisition Officer, as they vary between agencies.

The GAO has released a Cost Guide. Will this be discussed in the course?

Yes. The GAO Cost Estimating Best Practices guide is discussed throughout this course to establish the standard by which all programs will be measured. This Learning Tree course covers all applicable best practices as defined by GAO.

Will this course educate me on the regulatory issues of EVM?

Yes. This senior/expert course translates the EVM legal and regulatory framework. This course discusses the Governments Performance Results Act (GPRA), Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA V), Clinger-Cohen, ANSI/EIA-748 standards and several other OMB policies dictating the appropriate application of EVM.

How much time is devoted to each topic?

Is this course lecture-based?

No, this course is not lecture-based. Learning Tree has invested extensively in an acquisition simulation that extends through all four courses of the Senior/Expert FAC-P/PM program.

Participants are immersed in this complex acquisition simulation and oversee, evaluate and critique an EVM program linked to risk management. Participants gain the necessary skills to use advanced project management skills with extensive EVM and cost estimating capabilities.

Federal officials are talking a lot about fiscal discipline and transparency. How does this course address these themes?

Establishing a disciplined and strategic approach to implementing EVM on all programs will offer transparency if reported accurately. The advanced EVM techniques taught in this course provide you a view into the most formal and comprehensive strategies to controlling cost and driving performance. Further, the reporting techniques offered in this course provide agency executives the most accurate insights on improving program performance.

How will my skills and competence improve after investing in this course?

Participants who complete this course increase their ability to effectively perform the following key aspects related to successful acquisition management:

• Appreciate EVM as an essential program management discipline
• Direct and manage EVM across the program
• Coordinate strategies to implement EVM systems on contracts
• Use EVM to integrate program cost, technical, and schedule performance management and measurement
• Oversee and maintain the program cost estimating process
• Institute and oversee EVM baselines
• Interpret EVM performance trends
• Identify and implement corrective actions
• Manage the Integrated Baseline Review (IBR) process
• Evaluate and employ EVM analysis software
• Maintain sound financial plans and support budget planning

What other related Learning Tree courses will help me maintain certification?

To maintain the mandated 80 continuous learning points (CLP) every two years, Learning Tree offers a comprehensive library of complementary courses in the areas of Management and Communication, Business Analysis, Project Management, SharePoint, and many other management and technology-related fields to maintain your Clinger-Cohen competencies. For additional information on these and other Learning Tree courses, please visit our Web site: http://www.learningtree.com.