SUBJ: CONTRACTING CAREER OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM A. PROFESSIONAL CAREER INFORMATION AND FEDERAL ACQUISITION CERTIFICATION IN CONTRACTING (FAC-C) PROGRAM, DHSINST 064-04-003 B. TRAINING AND EDUCATION MANUAL, COMDTINST M1500.10B (SERIES) C. CG PERSONNEL MANUAL, COMDTINST M1000.6A (SERIES) 1. THIS MSG ANNOUNCES THE CONTRACTING CAREER OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (CCOP), A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM INTENDED TO PROVIDE MILITARY RETIREMENT- ELIGIBLE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FAC-C LEVEL II CERTIFICATION AS OUTLINED IN REFERENCE A. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO CG-91 AT COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, DC, WHERE THEY WILL WORK UNDER THE MENTORSHIP OF CERTIFIED CONTRACTING OFFICERS TO COMPLETE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS THAT COMBINE RESIDENT TRAINING, ONLINE TRAINING, FORMAL ON-THE-JOB-TRAINING, AND REAL WORK EXPERIENCE. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM AND WILL NOT BE ASSIGNED TAD DURING THE PROGRAM, EXCEPT TO MEET TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. 2. THE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A CAREER GROWTH OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COAST GUARD'S CURRENT AND FORECASTED SHORTFALLS IN QUALIFIED CONTRACTING PROFESSIONALS, AND PROVIDE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR POST-MILITARY CAREERS FOR QUALIFIED MEMBERS OF THE COAST GUARD WHO HAVE ALREADY DECIDED TO RETIRE FROM THE MILITARY BY SUMMER 2012. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO SUBMIT THEIR MILITARY RETIREMENT LETTERS WITHIN A YEAR OF REPORTING ON BOARD CG-91, SO THAT UPON COMPLETION THEY MAY COMPETE FOR COAST GUARD CIVILIAN CONTRACTING POSITIONS. WHILE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF A JOB OFFER UPON PROGRAM COMPLETION, THE COMBINATION OF FAC-C LEVEL II CERTIFICATION, THE LARGE NUMBER OF CONTRACTING VACANCIES COAST GUARD-WIDE, AND THE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN FORMAL CONTRACTING AT CGHQ, SHOULD PROVIDE FUTURE JOB PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROGRAM GRADUATES. 3. CCOP PARTICIPANTS WHO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM, BUT ELECT NOT TO RETIRE, WILL BE REQUIRED TO SERVE ONE MONTH OF OBLIGATED SERVICE FOR EACH MONTH OF PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND SHOULD EXPECT ASSIGNMENT TO AN ACTIVE DUTY CONTRACTING BILLET. 4. THE CCOP IS AN ACTIVE DUTY PROGRAM THAT WILL COMPLEMENT EXISTING CONTRACTING WORKFORCE INITIATIVES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE, SUCH AS THE COAST GUARD CAREER ENTRY-LEVEL OPPORTUNITY (CEO) PROGRAM. 5. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: A. F(AND)S CWOS AND SK E7S ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY; HOWEVER, ANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CURRENTLY FILLING OR HAVE FILLED ROLES IN CONTRACTING, ADMINISTRATION, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, OR CONTRACTING OFFICER'S TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVES (COTRS) AS WELL AS PERSONNEL IN OTHER RATINGS, PAY GRADES, AND SPECIALTIES MAY BE ELIGIBLE BASED ON EDUCATION AND CAREER EXPERIENCES. THE PROGRAM IS LIMITED TO THOSE WITH THE RANK OF CWO OR BELOW. B. APPLICANTS MUST BE TOUR COMPLETE IN 2010. C. APPLICANTS MUST BE RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE BY 2012 AND HAVE BETWEEN 17 TO 27 YEARS TIME IN SERVICE WITH A MINIMUM OF 36 MONTHS CG TIME IN SERVICE REMAINING AT THE TIME OF THE SELECTION PANEL. D. APPLICANTS MUST POSSESS A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE OR HAVE AT LEAST 24 SEMESTER HOURS AMONG ACCOUNTING, BUSINESS FINANCE, CONTRACTS, ECONOMICS, INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT, LAW, ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT, PURCHASING, AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS. 6. SELECTION TIMELINE: A. 30MAY09: APPLICATION PACKAGES ARE DUE TO THE PSC PANEL COORDINATOR, YN1 RHONE. B. 13-14JUL09: JOINT OFFICER/ENLISTED CCOP SELECTION PANEL WILL CONVENE. THE PANEL WILL SELECT PARTICIPANTS ON A MOST QUALIFIED BASIS WHILE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE. THE RESULTS OF THE PANEL WILL BE RELEASED WITHIN A WEEK OF THE PANEL'S CONVENING. 7. APPLICATION PACKAGE MUST CONTAIN: A. A MEMO FROM THE MEMBER INDICATING THAT THEY MEET THE PREREQUISITES, UNDERSTAND THE OBLIGATED SERVICE REQUIREMENTS, AND DETAILING WHY THEY DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. B. A COMMAND ENDORSEMENT. C. OFFICIAL COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT DEMONSTRATING PROOF OF BACCALAUREATE DEGREE OR AT LEAST 24 SEMESTER HOURS AMONG ACCOUNTING, BUSINESS FINANCE, CONTRACTS, ECONOMICS, INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT, LAW, ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT, PURCHASING AND QUANTITATIVE. D. PROFESSIONAL RESUME DEMONSTRATING EXPERIENCE IN CONTRACTING, PURCHASING, ADMINISTRATION, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, AND/OR AS A COTR. E. A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM THEIR SERVICING CHIEF OF CONTRACTING OFFICE (COCO). THOSE APPLICANTS NOT CO-LOCATED WITH A COCO OFFICE MUST CALL THE PROGRAM POC NOTED BELOW TO SET UP ALTERNATIVE MEANS FOR ACHIEVING A RECOMMENDATION. F. INCOMPLETE PACKAGES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED BY THE SELECTION PANEL. 8. APPLICANT PACKAGES SHOULD BE SCANNED WITH APPROPRIATE SIGNATURES AND E-MAILED TO YN1 RHONE AT DERRICK.L.RHONE(AT)USCG.MIL. IF A MEMBER IS AT A COMMAND WITHOUT SCANNING ABILITY, THE PACKAGE MUST BE MAILED VIA FEDEX, OR USPS CERTIFIED MAIL TO ENSURE RECEIPT BY THE DEADLINE. MEMBERS WHO SCAN AND E-MAIL THEIR PACKAGES WILL GET AN E-MAIL RETURNED TO THEM INFORMING THEM THAT EPM-1 RECEIVED THEIR PACKAGE. IF REQUIRED, MAIL TO: PSC-EPM-1 ROOM 900 ATTN: PANEL COORDINATOR, YN1 D. RHONE 4200 WILSON BLVD, SUITE 1100 ARLINGTON, VA 20598-7200 9. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE FOLLOWING POC'S: A. CCOP PROGRAM MANAGER: MR. WILLIAM YEAGER, 202-475-3763 B. PSC PANEL COORDINATOR: YN1 D. RHONE, 202-493-1247 C. PSC-EPM: CWO MITZIE ROBINSON 202-493-1288 D. PSC-OPM: LCDR RAHSHAAN ENGRUM 202-493-1646 E. F(AND)S SPECIALTY FORCE MANAGER: CWO4 RUSTY HUYCK 202-475-5752 F. SK RATING FORCE MASTER CHIEF: SKCM MARK FERGUSON 202-475-5750 10. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.