News for the Acquisition Workforce

Acquisition workforce professionals holding a FAC-C (Professional), FAC-COR, or FAC-P/PM certification have a remaining 69 days (until April 30, 2024) to obtain the required continuous learning (CL) points to maintain their current certifications. 

FAC certification holders should: 

• Log into FAI CSOD to view your current CL progress on your Continuous Learning Individual Progress (CLIP) dashboard.
• Not sure how to log into FAI CSOD? Contact the DAU help desk for FAI CSOD login assistance.
• Forgot your FAI CSOD password? Follow these instructions.
• Need additional CLPs? Browse and/or search for current CL training opportunities available, highlighted in today's newsletter and in FAI CSOD.
• Check your CLIP dashboard to ensure all completed activities are reflected accurately. If you identify discrepancies, check with your agency representative or the DAU help desk.
• Enter your external training requests; don't wait!
• Develop a training plan with your supervisor.

Your agency will continue to communicate additional CL opportunities, including experiential and other types of CL activities, as well as agency-specific guidance related to CL requirements for agency FAC learning and agency-specific certification programs.

For more information on CL requirements, visit FAI.gov.

If you need further assistance, please contact your agency acquisition career manager and/or small agency representative.

Tune in to our latest video on our YouTube page, where Christine Harada, Senior Advisor for the Office of Federal Procurement Policy at the Office of Management and Budget, discusses the Better Contracting Initiative, a four-pronged initiative to ensure that the federal government is getting better terms and prices when purchasing goods and services, as well as a few resources to help make your job easier.  

FAI welcomes Tiffany Scott as the new program analyst. She has over 16 years of experience in financial operations and program management between active military and federal civil service and will be supporting FAI's budget, overseeing its spend plan development and execution, managing the acquisition workforce training fund, and monitoring FAI's project portfolio. Prior to joining FAI, Tiffany worked for the United States Agency for Global Media—Voice of America as an executive officer, where she managed financial operations, human resources, and procurement actions for the Eurasia Division. Welcome, Tiffany!

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy invites you to participate in the AcqCelerate Savings Challenge. Share your proven strategies that have leveraged acquisition data for lower prices and better terms, optimized contract requirements, secured better value from sole source and other high-risk contracts, and used technology to make procurement processes and analyses more efficient. Share your proven strategy to be a champion of fiscal innovation in federal acquisition, which is driving the Better Contracting Initiative. To participate in this challenge, click here.

Acquisition workforce members from across the federal government are making amazing contributions to the acquisition community every day, and FAI wants you to know about them! Check out this quarter’s spotlight featuring Heidi Hubbell, from the Architect of the Capitol. Learn more about Heidi and her work!

The Leadership Excellence for Acquisition Professionals Program prepares GS-12 to GS-14 federal employees in acquisitions to become better leaders. It focuses on self-awareness, engaging others, leading change, and achieving results. Participants will learn to make values-based decisions, build strong partnerships, drive positive impact, and demonstrate enhanced leadership attributes. Experienced instructors will teach proven techniques and facilitate engaging conversations. Participants will also work in teams to receive peer coaching and feedback on workplace challenges. The program requires a time commitment of three to five hours per week. Application deadline is Feb. 23, 2024.

ACQ 265 - Mission-Focused Services Acquisition (April 1–April 4 or April 8–April 11)

ACQ 315 - Understanding Industry (Business Acumen) (April 1–April 5)

FCN 550 - Cybersecurity - Supply Chain Risk Management (two-day) (April 4–April 5)

FPM 121 - Acquisition Fundamentals of Project and Program Management II (April 8–April 12)

FQN 070 - Cost and Price Analysis (April 8–April 12)

FQN 475 - Advanced Simplified Acquisition Procedures (five-day) (April 15–April 19)

FFM 403 - Federal Appropriations Law for Contracting Professionals (three-day) (April 15–April 17)

FQN 432 - Information Technology Acquisition (three-day) (April 15–April 17)

CON 2420V - Architect-Engineer Indirect Rates (April 15–April 18)

FQN 200 - Administration of Cost-Reimbursement Contracts (April 15–April 19)

SBP 202V - Intermediate Small Business Programs, Part B (April 15–April 19)

PIL Boot Camp–The Next Level: Want to take your innovation game to the next level? Learn nine additional innovative procurement techniques and the finer points of those taught in PIL Boot Camp in this six-hour class! (PIL Boot Camp is a prerequisite for PIL Boot Camp–The Next Level).

FCL-A-2222: April 18, 2024, 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. E.T.

FCL-A-2223: May 7, 2024, 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. E.T.

PIL Boot Camp Classes (Virtual):

FCL-A-9053: April 16, 2024, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. E.T.

FCL-A-9071: May 9, 2024, 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. E.T.

PIL Coaching Clinic

FCL-A-9059: April 24, 2024, 8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m. E.T.

Discover FAI's latest breakthrough: the CFQN 001 Category Management Credential (Federal), unveiled on Feb. 13, 2024. Designed to empower professionals with the essential skills for effective category management, this credential offers a comprehensive curriculum meticulously crafted to cover key concepts, principles, and functions integral to category management. Dive into eight expertly curated courses, each providing invaluable insights and practical knowledge essential for success in the field. Cap off your learning journey with a rigorous capstone assessment. With an expected completion time of just nine hours, this introductory-level program ensures a time-efficient path to mastery. Elevate your expertise and propel your career forward with FAI's CFQN 001 Credential. Enroll today and seize the opportunity to unlock your full potential in category management.