VETS First" Mandatory Training for GS-1102s, FAC-C, FAC-COR, and FAC-P/PM Certification Holders

Message From VA’s Chief Acquisition Officer (CAO)

Ms. Karen Brazell

Hello,

Since the VA Acquisition Workforce Mandatory Training Stand Down began over 45 days ago, 38% (5,084) of the 13,123 VA FAC certification holders have completed the training.  The importance of this training cannot be understated.  As acquisition professionals and our uniqueness as VA employees, it is critical we have a mastery of the Veterans First Contracting program to ensure we both serve Veterans to our fullest, and we comply with the law.  To further highlight the importance of this training, I:

• Extended the VA Acquisition Workforce Mandatory Training Stand Down to December 31, 2019;
• Mandated completion of the training a prerequisite for registering and attending the Acquisition Workforce Innovation Symposium (December 17-18, 2019);
• Am requiring all VA Acquisition Workforce with an active Federal Acquisition Certification (P/PMs, Contracting Professionals and CORs) to complete this mandatory training.  If you have an active FAC-COR, please register and complete this training as soon as possible, there are about 8,000 active FAC-CORs and only about 25% have completed this mandatory training; and
• In an effort to ensure employees have the time and resources needed to complete the training, on a periodic basis I will be providing VA Senior Leaders and the Heads of Contracting Activity with a list of employees who have not completed the training.

I heard from many of you that registration for the course was not clearly communicated, so here are the specific details and registration information:

Step 1:  Students should register in FAITAS at:  https://faitas.army.mil.

Step 2:  Once in FAITAS, students should search for FCL-VA-0034 Applying the Veterans First Contracting Program.

Step 3:  After FAITAS registration, students will receive an e-mail from VAAA Contracting Professional School with their Blackboard log-in information and access to the course the next business day.  If you do not see the email instructions, please check your “Other” mailbox.

Step 4:  Once in the course, students must complete all six modules and earn 100% on each module’s assessment in order to receive credit for taking this course.

Please note it can take up to 10 days after completion for training certificates to be available in FAITAS. However, students receive an immediate completion acknowledgement in Blackboard at the completion of the module 6 assessment. 

Contact Information:  For questions regarding registration, course access, and/or the mandatory requirement, please contact the VAAA Distance Learning Inbox at: VADLI@va.gov.

The VA is committed to building, enabling, and sustaining a knowledgeable Acquisition Workforce who executes various acquisition activities supporting the VA’s daily business and acquisition needs.  I plan to send a weekly update to provide status information, the next update will be November 22^th.  Thank you for continually improving the service and support we provide our Nation’s Veterans!