Journeyman Leadership and Interpersonal Skills

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 II Curriculum?

Learning Tree designed and developed a comprehensive curriculum specifically based on the FAI competency standards. All the content within the Level II curriculum has been designed exclusively for the Journeyman 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 U160, Journeyman Project/Program Management- Learn to develop an IMP and IMS for complex government projects and acquire proven techniques to lead and manage contractors.
• Course U161, Journeyman Acquisition Management - Learn the formulation of a comprehensive contracting strategy that addresses mission need, concept selection, requirements development and technology development.
• Course U162, Journeyman Business Management for Government Applications - Learn to conduct comprehensive program cost estimation, funding multiyear complex projects and establishing and validating the program baseline and the integrated performance baseline.
• Course U163, Journeyman Leadership and Interpersonal Skills - Learn how to better align programs with agency leadership, goals and objectives to improve prospects for funding.

Is the Learning Tree curriculum fully integrated?

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 II Certification?

Candidates are required to possess at least two (2) years of project or program management experience within the last five years. Experience should include performing market research, developing documents for risk and opportunity management, developing and applying technical processes and technical management processes, performing or participating in source selection, preparing acquisition strategies, managing performance-based service agreements, developing and managing a project budget, writing a business case, and strategic planning.

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

Is a single leadership model proposed for government acquisition professionals?

No. All significant contemporary leadership models are presented. However, the transformational leadership model is highlighted with practical steps the astute government leader will follow to ensure successful change.

How much time is devoted to each topic?

Is the Clinger-Cohen Act addressed in this course?

Yes. In addition, a practical methodology-project portfolio management-is presented as a proven approach for the implementation of Clinger-Cohen requirements.

What practical financial tools are presented to support the prioritization of agency programs?

The Net Present Value tool is presented in detail since OMB requires this approach for the financial justification of agency programs. Activities are conducted to demonstrate the application of this technique to programs justified by their improved productivity.

What organizational concepts are discussed in this course?

Organizational approaches presented include functional organizations, matrix organizations and projectized organizations. For each approach, the pros and cons are discussed in regards to their support of acquisition initiatives. Both government and contractor organizations are discussed.

Does the negotiation chapter contain hands-on activities?

Yes. Both one-on-one and team negotiations are included. The team negotiation is a realistic example of the claims resolution process between government and contractor personnel.

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

To help you 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