FAC-C Certification Requirements
The FAC-C contains three (3) levels of certification that provides the required education, training and experience for contracting professionals. The FAC-C shall be recognized by all federal civilian agencies as evidence that an employee meets core requirements to perform contracting functions.
While training requirements for the FAC-C are closely aligned with the DAWIA training requirements, they are not identical. A current and valid Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification is considered to be equivalent to a FAC-C at the same certification level, however a FAC-C does not necessarily meet the requirements for DAWIA. Reciprocity will be determined by DoD on an individual basis.
Agency Unique Certification Requirements: Federal agencies may have unique certification requirements in addition to the Federal Acquisition Certification (FAC) requirements. Members of the civilian acquisition workforce are encouraged to consult their agency acquisition workforce policies, internal agency websites, and/or their Acquisition Career Manager for additional information.
Below are the full education, experience and training requirements for each FAC-C level as of October 1, 2019. Per the May 7, 2014 OFPP Memo, changes to the FAC-C training requirements will be maintained in the table below (printer-friendly version).
| FAC-C Requirements (Effective 10/1/2019) |
| |
Level I
|
Level II
|
Level III
|
|
Experience*
|
One (1) year of contract work experience based on the Contract Specialist (GS-1102) Qualification Standard |
Two (2) years of contract work experience based on the Contract Specialist (GS-1102) Qualification Standard |
Four (4) years of contract work experience based on the Contract Specialist (GS-1102) Qualification Standard |
|
Education**
|
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution or 24 semester hours of business-related college courses |
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution or 24 semester hours of business-related college courses |
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and 24 semester hours of business-related college courses |
|
Training***
It is strongly recommended that courses be taken in the order presented.
Instructor-led courses beginning with the prefix CON must be taken from a DAU equivalent vendor.
The identifier “(FED)” following a course code denotes a course that is specifically for the non-DoD contracting workforce
|
- CON 091 (FED) Contract Fundamentals**** (instructor-led)
- Choose 1 of the following:
- CON 100 Shaping Smart Business Arrangements (self-paced online)
- FCN 101 Contracting Basics (self-paced online)
- CON 121 Contract Planning (instructor-led or self-paced online)
- CON 124 Contract Execution (instructor-led or self-paced online)
- CON 127 Contract Management (instructor-led or self-paced online)
- FAC 023 Basic Contracting for GSA Schedules (self-paced online)
- FAC 031 Small Business Programs (self-paced online)
- CLC 056 Analyzing Contract Costs (self-paced online)
- CLC 057 Performance-Based Payment & Value of Cash Flow (self-paced online)
- CLC 058 Introduction to Contract Pricing (self-paced online)
- CON 170 (FED) Fundamentals of Cost and Price Analysis (instructor-led)
Alternative Course IDs: CON 170 – 64 (FED) or CON 170 – 80 (FED)
- FCL-CM-2500 Category Management 101 (self-paced online)
|
Before beginning Level II training, all Level I training must be completed
- CON 200 Business Decisions for Contracting (instructor-led or self-paced online)
- CON 216 Legal Considerations in Contracting (instructor-led or self-paced online)
- CLC 051 Managing Government Property in the Possession of Contractors (self-paced online)
- HBS 428 Negotiating (self-paced online)
- CON 280 (FED) Source Selection and Administration of Service Contracts (instructor-led) Prerequisites CLC 051; HBS 428; CON 200; CON 216; CON 170 (FED); CLC 056
- CON 290 (FED) Contract Administration and Negotiation Techniques in a Supply Environment (instructor-led) Prerequisites: CLC 051; HBS 428; CON 200; CON 216; CON 170 (FED), CLC 056
|
Before beginning Level III training, all Level I and II training must be completed
- CON 360 (FED) Contracting for Decision Makers (instructor-led)
Alternative Course IDs: CON 360 – 64 (FED) or CON 360 – 80 (FED)
- Select an HBS module other than HBS 428
- Choose 1 of the following:
- 32 hours of electives*****
- ACQ 265 (FED) Mission-Focused Services Acquisition
Prerequisite: CLC 013
- ACQ 315 Understanding Industry Prerequisites: CLM 005 & HBS 428
- ACQ 370 (FED) Acquisition Law
- CON 244 (FED) Construction Contracting
Prerequisites: CLC 056, CON 127, & CON 216
- CON 7000 Cost Accounting Standards. (Coming Soon!)
- CON 370 Advanced Contract Pricing (only available through DAU and not offered through outside vendors)
Prerequisite: CON 270
|
* Experience. The requirements for experience are generally based upon the Contract Specialist (GS-1102) Qualifications Standard. Experience may be time spent on the job in a contracting-related job assignment, either in the private or public sector, which reflects the accumulation of knowledge, skills and abilities during years of progressively responsible work assignments. There is no exception to the experience requirement and candidates must provide evidence of their experience to their certifying official. Experience can be tracked using the 1102 Experience Development Tool. Satisfaction of experience requirements from one certification level may be applied to the satisfaction of experience requirements of a higher certification level.
** Education. While the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) of a civilian agency may waive the education and training requirements for an applicant for a GS-13 position and above, this waiver is not transferable to another agency and does not apply toward the requirements for the FAC-C. For more information on the education requirement, visit OPM’s Classification and Qualification page.
***Training. Fulfillment may be used by contracting professionals with significant experience as an alternative way to meet the training requirements for certification. Fulfillment should be used when appropriate and in compliance with agency policy. The fulfillment process is based on documentation that demonstrates how a workforce member met or accomplished each of the performance outcomes and learning objectives in a specific course. This may be based on contracting experience, alternative training, or another type of certification in the area of contracting and procurement by another organization or other developmental activities. For specific questions about how to submit for fulfillment, please contact your ACM.
****CON 090 & FCN 190 are being phased out by courseware vendors during the period 10/1/2019 through 6/30/2020. Certificates from either course will be acceptable for FAC-C Level I until 9/30/2021. FAI also maintains a list of previously retired legacy courses and their expiration dates.
***** 32 Hours of Electives. The 32 hours of electives may be one course or a series of courses. Each course should be at least eight hours in length and can be classroom, online, or a combination of the two. Topics must be related to acquisition and may include general business courses such as statistics or budgeting. Topics of subject areas may also be in a technical area related to the individual’s specific work, such as IT. Agencies have the option of specifying the courses their workforce members must take to meet the 32 hours of electives.
Back to Top
FAC-C-Digital Services - Digital IT Acquisition Program (DITAP)
FAC-C DIGITAL SERVICES (FAC-C DS) - The FAC-C Digital Services specialization was launched on May 15, 2018. Information on this specialization can be found at the following links:
- OFPP Memorandum: Establishment of Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Core-Plus Specialization in Digital Services (FAC-C-DS), dated 5/18/18
- TechFAR Hub Digital IT Acquisition Professional Training Program Info The TechFAR Hub includes all the information on the DITAP program, including the competencies and performance outcomes, the validated vendors who are authorized to teach the DITAP program; vendors who have open seating in the DITAP program, information for training institutions interested in offering the DITAP program, and contact information for the U.S. Digital Services representatives who are overseeing the DITAP program.
Back to Top
Continuous Learning Requirements
To maintain a FAC-C, contracting professionals are required to earn 80 continuous learning points (CLPs) every two years, which begins on the date they were certified. For contracting professionals holding a FAC-C-DS, 20 of the 80 CLPs must come from expanding their knowledge of acquiring Digital Services. The FAI Continuous Learning Opportunities page contains guidance from OFPP, training courses and other suggested methods of earning CLPs.
Back to Top
Contracting Competencies
The FAC-C Program is built on competencies that refer to the knowledge, skills, and abilities contracting professionals must have in order to perform their contracting duties.
Back to Top
FAC-C Policy Documents
Below are links to OMB and OFPP guidance on the FAC-C program.
May 7, 2014 Memo on Revisions to the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) from OFPP
January 20, 2006 Memo on The Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Program (FAC-C) from OMB, REVISED December 2008
January 20, 2006 Memo on The Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Program (FAC-C) from OMB
April 15, 2005 Policy Letter 05-01 on Developing and Managing the Acquisition Workforce from OFPP
Back to Top
Contracting Functional Advisory Board (CON FAB)
The Federal Contracting Career Field has a Functional Advisory Board (FAB) as a collaborative, federal-wide working group charged with shaping the management policies and practices of the Federal Acquisition Certification program which is chartered by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. The Contracting FAB Charter establishes the Contracting FAB (CON FAB) to perform continuous review, evaluation, and update of the contracting career field within Federal civilian agencies.
Click here to view the CON FAB meeting minutes, briefings and presentations, and other related documents. Please note: This information is password protected. To access this information you must have a Max.gov userid and password and be a registered user of the FedPM Community of Practice.
Back to Top
