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HHS’ Federal Acquisition HHS’ Federal Acquisition Certification Certification

for Project and Program for Project and Program Managers (FAC-P/PM) Program:Managers (FAC-P/PM) Program:

Now & BeyondNow & Beyond

Judith L. Button, Judith L. Button, Departmental Acquisition Career ManagerDepartmental Acquisition Career Manager

Program ManagementProgram Management  U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesU.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Hubert H. Humphrey Building - (OS-ASFR-OGAPA) Hubert H. Humphrey Building - (OS-ASFR-OGAPA) Division of AcquisitionDivision of Acquisition

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Key Objectives...Key Objectives...

The Origin of FAC-P/PMThe Origin of FAC-P/PM Expected Departmental FAC-P/PM Expected Departmental FAC-P/PM

Program OutcomesProgram Outcomes Current Certification RequirementsCurrent Certification Requirements Application ProceduresApplication Procedures Training Changes & Clarifications Training Changes & Clarifications Program Strategies - Looking BeyondProgram Strategies - Looking Beyond Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

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Why FAC-P/PM?Why FAC-P/PM?

Because...Because...– Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 (SARA), Public Law 108-136Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 (SARA), Public Law 108-136

Expanded the definition and scope of acquisitions to include activities performed Expanded the definition and scope of acquisitions to include activities performed by project and program managers.by project and program managers.

– OFPP policy memorandum – dated April 25, 2007OFPP policy memorandum – dated April 25, 2007 Established certification requirements for project and program managers.Established certification requirements for project and program managers.

– FAC-P/PM certification is required for PMs who are assigned to capital FAC-P/PM certification is required for PMs who are assigned to capital investments.investments.

But Most of All…But Most of All…– FAC-P/PM certification requirements enable HHS’ program management FAC-P/PM certification requirements enable HHS’ program management

efforts to meet or exceed cost, schedule, and performance goals.efforts to meet or exceed cost, schedule, and performance goals.

So...So...– HHS’ Acquisition Policy Memorandum 2009-03 – dated June 30, 2009HHS’ Acquisition Policy Memorandum 2009-03 – dated June 30, 2009

Provided HHS Interim Acquisition Guidance for FAC-P/PM and requires Level III Provided HHS Interim Acquisition Guidance for FAC-P/PM and requires Level III certification for PMs responsible for managing Exhibit 300 or HHS 300 major certification for PMs responsible for managing Exhibit 300 or HHS 300 major capital investments.capital investments.

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What Does HHS Hope to What Does HHS Hope to Achieve with the FAC-P/PM Achieve with the FAC-P/PM Program?Program? Establish “enterprise-wide” program Establish “enterprise-wide” program

management practices that foster integrity as management practices that foster integrity as well as personal and organizational excellence.well as personal and organizational excellence.

Create a “best in class” workforce of project Create a “best in class” workforce of project and program managers.and program managers.

Build a culture of excellence in HHS, which Build a culture of excellence in HHS, which encourages retention of our highly qualified encourages retention of our highly qualified professionals.professionals.

Stay off the OMB watch list!Stay off the OMB watch list!

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The Now:The Now:Certification Certification RequirementsRequirements

Level ILevel I Level IILevel II Level IIILevel IIIExperienceExperience At least 1 year of At least 1 year of

project project managementmanagement experience within experience within the last 5 yearsthe last 5 years

At least 2 years of At least 2 years of project/program project/program managementmanagement experience within experience within the last 5 yearsthe last 5 years

At least 4 years of At least 4 years of program program managementmanagement experience on experience on federalfederal project project within the last 5 within the last 5 years.years.

Level of Level of ResponsibilitResponsibilityy

Supporting capital Supporting capital investments – investments – requiring requiring apprentice level apprentice level supportsupport

Tactical capital Tactical capital investments – investments – requiring requiring journeyman level journeyman level supportsupport

Major capital Major capital investments – investments – requiring requiring expert/senior level expert/senior level supportsupport

Core Core Training Training RequirementRequirementss

112 Training Hours 112 Training Hours of of basicbasic project project management, management, acquisition, acquisition, leadership, EVM, leadership, EVM, and Gov’t Specificsand Gov’t Specifics

88 Training Hours 88 Training Hours of of intermediateintermediate project project management, management, leadership, EVM, leadership, EVM, and Gov’t Specificsand Gov’t Specifics

112 Training Hours 112 Training Hours of of advancedadvanced project project management, management, acquisition, acquisition, leadership, EVM, leadership, EVM, and Gov’t Specificsand Gov’t Specifics

2 Years After being 2 Years After being assigned to an assigned to an investmentinvestment

2 Years after being 2 Years after being assigned to an assigned to an investmentinvestment

1 Year after being 1 Year after being assigned to an assigned to an investmentinvestment

(Levels are independent of each other)

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Application ProceduresApplication Procedures

Levels I and II are approved at the Levels I and II are approved at the OPDIV/StaffDiv level – by the ACM and EO (or OPDIV/StaffDiv level – by the ACM and EO (or designee);designee);

Level III applicants are subject to HHS Level III applicants are subject to HHS FAC-P/PM Certification Board review and FAC-P/PM Certification Board review and approved by the DAS/GAPA.approved by the DAS/GAPA.

NIH’s Acting ACM is Kimberly DohertyNIH’s Acting ACM is Kimberly Doherty NIH’s Executive Officer is LaVerne StringfieldNIH’s Executive Officer is LaVerne Stringfield NIH’s Board Members are:NIH’s Board Members are:

– Carmen Cheng and Jane Small (IT)Carmen Cheng and Jane Small (IT)– Clarence Dukes (Construction)Clarence Dukes (Construction)

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ClarifyingClarifyingTraining RequirementsTraining Requirements Since HHSU no longer supports classroom training, the Since HHSU no longer supports classroom training, the

FAC-P/PM Handbook – dated October 2010 streamlines training FAC-P/PM Handbook – dated October 2010 streamlines training requirements and eliminates redundancy:requirements and eliminates redundancy:

– Non-prescriptive but provides guidelines;Non-prescriptive but provides guidelines;

– Crosswalks and uses a combination of Contracting, COTR, online, Crosswalks and uses a combination of Contracting, COTR, online, and PMI training and certifications for fulfillment options; andand PMI training and certifications for fulfillment options; and

– Clarifies that there are NO certifications that fulfill Clarifies that there are NO certifications that fulfill allall of the of the competency training requirements for FAC-P/PM certification at any competency training requirements for FAC-P/PM certification at any level (See FAC-P/PM Handbook Appendix D – Training Crosswalk). level (See FAC-P/PM Handbook Appendix D – Training Crosswalk).

Always seek the support of your servicing ACM!Always seek the support of your servicing ACM!

– As long as a vendor can “demonstrate” that their content maps to As long as a vendor can “demonstrate” that their content maps to an overarching required competency, your servicing ACM “may an overarching required competency, your servicing ACM “may consider” authorizing the vendor to deliver training for that consider” authorizing the vendor to deliver training for that particular course.particular course.

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FAC-P/PM:FAC-P/PM:Looking Beyond...Looking Beyond... The FAC-P/PM Functional Advisory Board Council The FAC-P/PM Functional Advisory Board Council

(spearheaded by OFPP) is considering reducing the (spearheaded by OFPP) is considering reducing the number of required training hours for each level – to number of required training hours for each level – to develop a baseline program for PMs across all develop a baseline program for PMs across all disciplines. disciplines.

There will be a revised and required capstone course There will be a revised and required capstone course targeted to PM specializations (e.g., I.T., Construction, targeted to PM specializations (e.g., I.T., Construction, R&D) to simulate workplace scenarios and provide R&D) to simulate workplace scenarios and provide practical application of learning and competencies.practical application of learning and competencies.

OGAPA-Division of Acquisition is currently working on OGAPA-Division of Acquisition is currently working on a centralized training strategy via a Strategic Sourcing a centralized training strategy via a Strategic Sourcing BPA for all acquisition-related courses to leverage BPA for all acquisition-related courses to leverage Department-wide cost-savings.Department-wide cost-savings.

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Making Strides...Making Strides...

The superiority of FAC-P/PM Certification is The superiority of FAC-P/PM Certification is recognized government-wide and is known to recognized government-wide and is known to enhanced career progressionenhanced career progression..

Certifications at Levels I and II are equally Certifications at Levels I and II are equally important as Level III because they supports important as Level III because they supports the Department’s Acquisition Human Capital the Department’s Acquisition Human Capital Plan (AHCP) succession planning initiatives.Plan (AHCP) succession planning initiatives.

We will seek to expand our pool of PMs beyond We will seek to expand our pool of PMs beyond the traditional IT and Construction fields, to the traditional IT and Construction fields, to include advanced R&D programs, complex include advanced R&D programs, complex services, etc.services, etc.    

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FAQ’sFAQ’s

Q: How many hours do I need Q: How many hours do I need andand how often do I need how often do I need apply for re-certification?apply for re-certification?– A: Level I, II, and III certifications expire every 2 years – thus A: Level I, II, and III certifications expire every 2 years – thus

requiring 80 hours of continuous learning for recertification.requiring 80 hours of continuous learning for recertification.

Q: Need help with cross-walking training requirements or Q: Need help with cross-walking training requirements or fulfillment options? fulfillment options? – A: Refer to the FAC-P/PM Handbook – Appendix D A: Refer to the FAC-P/PM Handbook – Appendix D and your

servicing ACM.

Q: Need guidance on which Level to apply for? – A: Work with your ACM to assess your experience and

training and apply for the level that makes the most sense.

Q: Can FAC-P/PM courses help me to maintain my FAC-Q: Can FAC-P/PM courses help me to maintain my FAC-COTR? COTR? – A: Yes!!!A: Yes!!!