Entry Acquisition Management

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 I Curriculum?

Learning Tree designed and developed a comprehensive curriculum specifically based on the FAI competency standards. All the content within the Level I curriculum has been designed exclusively for the Entry Level federal acquisition workforce and has been validated by a team of former federal executives. The Federal Executive Board provided guidance and counsel throughout the curriculum development process to ensure the content addressed the unique challenges of large federal acquisitions.

The curriculum consists of the following courses:

• Course U156, Entry Project Management – Learn to develop work breakdown structures, create task estimation and task sequencing, and conduct resource allocation.
• Course U157, Entry Acquisition Management – Learn the importance of FAR Parts 10 and 12 in conducting market research and acquiring services to meet customer needs.
• Course U158, Entry Business Management for Government Applications – Learn basic budgeting laws and policies, baseline development and budget submissions.
• Course U159, Entry Leadership and Interpersonal Skills – Learn critical strategies for reporting data in written formats and through oral presentations.

Is the Learning Tree curriculum fully integrated?

Yes, by design, the Learning Tree FAC–P/PM training program was developed as a single, integrated (and comprehensive) training program, specifically aligned with the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) competency requirements for three competency levels and fully addresses the required domains: Project Management, Acquisition Management, Earned Value Management and Cost Estimates, and Leadership. This integrated and streamlined curriculum offers the following benefits:

• Fully integrated case study enables federal acquisition professionals to improve their analytical capabilities and decision-making through the implementation of a simulated federal project relevant in scope to Level I, II and III
• Competency–based content that is both specifically designed to address the challenges associated with federal projects and scalable to the relevant competency level -Entry, Journeyman and Senior/Expert.

What background knowledge and experience would help me in preparing for the FAC–P/PM Level I Certification?

Candidates are required to possess at least one (1) year of project management experience within the last five years. Project management experience includes a background of constructing a work breakdown structure; preparing project analysis documents; tailoring acquisition documents to ensure that quality, effective, efficient systems or products are delivered; analyzing and/or developing requirements; monitoring performance; assisting with quality assurance; and budget development.

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

How does this course help me to prepare to initiate procurement?

This course prepares you to develop a needs statement in accordance with FAR Part 11. You also learn to conduct market research in accordance with FAR Part 10 for a simple procurement that will meet basic user needs consistent with agency goals.

How much time is devoted to each topic?

Acquisition Management, Level I

Does this course address project selection?

Yes. This course helps you understand the process of selecting a technical approach including various selection methods. You also learn how to identify additional work needed in developing an acquisition strategy and plan for a simple procurement.

How does this course help me to develop requirements?

This course helps you understand how to write well-formed and validated user requirements and system requirements/specifications for a non-complex government project

Does this course address the source selection process?

Yes. This course helps you not only to follow a formal source selection process that is commensurate with the level of procurement action but also to conduct a source selection for a non-complex government acquisition.

Will I learn about the roles of each government individual in the acquisition process?

Yes. This course addresses the various government positions assigned to acquisition programs and how each role contributes to preparing and managing a simple government contract for products or services.

Does this course involve practical applications?

Yes. The case study utilized in this course applies the principles taught in class and provides practical application in preparing documentation for a simple procurement.

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