Contracting and Acquisition (CP-14)

The Competitive Professional Development (CPD) Program within the Contracting and Acquisition Career Program (CP-14) emphasizes distribution of funds across a wide spectrum of training, education, and developmental activities to prepare our workforce for the challenges of today's Army mission. CPD opportunities vary from year to year and are dependent upon availability of funds, level of interest, and the needs of the CP-14 community and Army Contracting Enterprise. Opportunities are announced by the CP-14 Program Office through the Command Workforce Advocates.

Whenever a pay grade requirement (e.g. GS-11) is stated in the CP-14 catalog, the intent is to include individuals in the GS pay grade and in the equivalent pay band.

The CPD Program consists of many opportunities and activities supporting the education, development, and training of the CP-14 workforce.

1. ADT is training or education with the stated objective of obtaining an academic degree from an accredited college or university. Applications for ADT programs must be approved through the employee's command, Functional Chief Representative (FCR), Army G-3/7 DAMO-TRV, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) (ASA(M&RA)).
2. Course of study must be from an accredited institution in any of the following academic disciplines: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, and organization and management as prescribed in 10 USC 1724. Students shall coordinate with the university to receive credit for any courses they may have already taken for which the university will award transfer credit.
3. Students are required to maintain a "B" average for graduate level courses and a "C" average for undergraduate level courses. Failure to maintain this grade point average may result in removal from the course of study. The CP-14 Office will use the GoArmyEd system to verify that grade levels are being maintained.
4. The Government's interests must be protected when an employee fails to complete training for which Department of the Army (DA) pays all or part of the training expenses. If the student fails to complete training satisfactorily or does not fulfill the Agreement to Continue in Service, the guidelines of Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 410.309(c) will apply.
5. Eligibility. Must be Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level II certified; in the grade of GS-11 or higher/equivalent broad/pay bands; have served in or registered in Career Program 14 with a career status appointment, Schedule A excepted appointments without time limitation, or excepted appointments in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS).
6. Backfill salary dollars. In order to maximize the opportunity for as many CP-14 personnel as possible to participate in CPD activities, backfill salary dollars for individuals participating in ADT will NOT be provided. Expenses are limited to books and tuition.
7. ADT Program Dates. Applicants are requested to plan for at least a three-semester lead-time due to the lengthy approval process of the application package and the training requests.
8. ADT Location. Except for distance learning, applications will be considered only for accredited college/university of choice within the applicant's local commuting area. Employees will remain on their organization's TDA and the organization continues to fund the employee's salary and personal benefits.
9. For general guidance on University Training, please consult the General Information section of Chapter 3.
10. Application packets and process are located at: http://cpol.army.mil/library/train/catalog/pkt_adt.html

Developmental assignments provide activities to enhance competencies by giving employees an opportunity to perform duties in other occupational, functional, or organizational elements. The assignments enhance employee understanding of other operations, systems, and relationships. Assignment length may vary. Assignments must have well-defined learning objectives.

1. Assignment location is Office of the DASA(P), Arlington, Virginia. These assignments are open to all DA employees at the GS-12 through GS-15 level/equivalent broad/pay bands in CP-14.
2. Developmental assignments ensure that the individual receives experiential work, based on an approved training plan, in one of the Directorates in the Office of the DASA(P). An assignment may include additional travel to other locations. Assignments will enhance the individual's understanding of the Army's programs, systems, relationships, issues, interaction/integration with Federal/DOD Joint Services, and Army Policy.
3. CP-14 personnel are competitively selected and perform the duties of a staff action officer. In this capacity, the selectee will review and analyze issues to determine impacts on contracting and acquisition. He or she will participate in the development of Army policy, serve as a team member on projects, and assist in the development of policies and procedures for the Army Contracting Enterprise.
4. Assignment Dates. The number of assignments and start dates may vary depending upon the number of applicants, availability of funding, and organizational needs.
5. Authorized travel and per diem costs will be funded in accordance with the JTR.
6. Commands will not be reimbursed for salaries and personal benefits for training participants or costs incurred through temporary backfill of the vacated position

Army employees may attend conferences, workshops, or symposiums, as training when a determination has been made that the conference, workshop, or symposium is a training activity. CP-14 careerists may attend conferences after all approvals have been obtained from the applicable approving authority. For further information on the specific criteria which must be met, please refer to the PERMISS Article at: http://cpol.army.mil/library/permiss/78.html

National Contract Management Association (NCMA) World Congress. World Congress is NCMA's premiere education event for contract management, procurement, and acquisition professionals. Individuals from government and industry attend and conduct an open dialogue to exchange ideas, conquer challenges, and innovate for the future of the profession. http://www.ncmahq.org/

Two types of Management and Executive Training Programs are available to CP-14 careerists: Executive Management Education and Focused Executive Training.

Executive Management Education provides programs from premier universities or executive training institutions. The programs target senior leaders at the GS-15 level, especially those seeking SES positions.

1. Senior Executive Fellows (SEF) Program. The SEF is an intensive executive education program designed for exceptionally promising managers. This program addresses the needs of managers who are setting strategy, evaluating program choices, and managing relationships with the external political environment. The curriculum will provide them with skills required for leadership in the development of public policies and programs. SEF is designed to help promising senior officials prepare for promotion to Senior Executive Service and focuses on OPM's Executive Core Qualifications. The program is 4 weeks in duration. GS-15 or high potential GS-14. John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138.
   http://ksgexecprogram.harvard.edu/
2. Leadership for a Democratic Society (LDS). LDS is an executive leadership-development opportunity that challenges students to reach beyond their past experiences to embrace a broader support of the Government and the unique roles they serve in support of the Government and its populace. This is a 4-week program. Target student is GS-15.
   https://leadership.opm.gov/programs.aspx?c=5

Focused Executive Training concentrates on specific functional and multi-disciplinary topics that will help contracting and acquisition professionals accomplish their organizational mission and grow professionally. The listing of sources and subjects offered is representative. Specific course titles, dates, and application procedures will be posted on the school's website.

1. The Federal Executive Institute (FEI), Charlottesville, VA. Team Development: Team Building and Team Leadership; Collaborative Leadership: Working with Others; Supervisor Development I: Fundamentals; Supervisory Development II: Learning to Lead; Management Development: Leading from the Middle; and Management Development: Leading Organizations.
   https://leadership.opm.gov/index.aspx
2. John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138. Leadership Decision Making: Optimizing Organizational Performance.
   http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/
3. Darden Executive Education, Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22906-6550. Power and Leadership: Getting Below the Surface; Managing Individual and Organizational Change; True Leadership: Leading with Meaning; Leading Teams for Growth and Change; Management Essentials for Developing Leaders; Strategic Analysis and Decision Making; Strategic Thinking and Action; Negotiating Success: A Learning Laboratory; U.S. Army Understanding Industry Course; and the U.S. Army Advanced Program in Acquisition Excellence.
   http://www.darden.virginia.edu/web/Executive-Education
4. Eckerd College Center, Leadership Development Institute, 4200 54th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, Leadership Development Program (LDP); Maximizing Your Leadership Potential (MLP); Lasting Leadership (LLP); and Mastering Conflict Dynamics (MCD).
   http://www.eckerd.edu/ldi
5. United States Office of Personnel Management: Eastern Management Development Center, Shepherdstown, WV 25443. Offerings similar to those of the Federal Executive Institute, listed in 2a. above.
   https://leadership.opm.gov/facilities.aspx?f=50

Christine E. Rimestad
Office of the Deputy Assistant. Secretary of the Army (Procurement)
Workforce Development Directorate/Career Program 14
2800 Crystal Drive, 3rd floor
Arlington, VA 22202
Work: (703) 697-1079
Email: christine.e.rimestad.civ@mail.mil

The Civilian Education System (CES) is the foundation of the Army's leader development program for all Army Civilians, providing progressive and sequential education courses throughout their careers. CES is centrally funded by HQDA G-37/Training Directorate for most permanent Army Civilians, including but not limited to general schedule (GS), non-appropriated fund (NAF), local national (LN) and wage grade (WG) employees. CES leadership courses, or designated equivalent courses, are required for all Army Civilians. Employees should include attendance at the CES course for which they are eligible in their Individual Development Plans (IDP).

Employees are eligible to attend the CES course that is targeted at their grade level. GS-01 through GS-09 employees are eligible to attend the CES Basic Course; GS-10 through GS-12 employees are eligible to attend the CES Intermediate Course; and GS-13 through GS-15 employees are eligible to attend the CES Advanced Course. NOTE: All Army Civilians who were hired after 30 September 2006 are required to take the Foundation Course prior to enrolling in either of the CES courses.

Employees are eligible to attend the CES course that is targeted at their grade level. GS-01 through GS-09 employees are eligible to attend the CES Basic Course; GS-10 through GS-12 employees are eligible to attend the CES Intermediate Course; and GS-13 through GS-15 employees are eligible to attend the CES Advanced Course. NOTE: All Army Civilians who were hired after 30 September 2006 are required to take the Foundation Course prior to enrolling in either of the CES courses.

More information on CES courses, as well as instructions on how to enroll can be found on the Civilian Training and Leader Development website at http://www.civiliantraining.army.mil/Pages/Homepage.aspx

• Academic Degree Training (ADT) Checklist - Employees requesting ACTEDS funds to obtain an academic degree (training or education with the stated objective of getting an academic degree) must provide the information found in the "ADT Checklist" below.
• Career Program ACTEDS Plans - Information about career management training, education, and development is provided in the individual ACTEDS plans. Individual plans may be found using the ACTEDS link below.
• Course Checklist - Employees requesting ACTEDS funds for training-with-industry programs, developmental assignments, short-term training opportunities (120 days for less) and non-academic degree programs must provide the information found in the "Course Checklist" below.