1. HHS’ Federal Acquisition Certification for Project and Program Managers (FAC-P/PM) Program: Now & Beyond
Judith L. Button,
Departmental Acquisition Career Manager
Program Management
 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Hubert H. Humphrey Building - (OS-ASFR-OGAPA)
Division of Acquisition

2. Key Objectives... The Origin of FAC-P/PM
Expected Departmental FAC-P/PM Program Outcomes
Current Certification Requirements
Application Procedures
Training Changes & Clarifications
Program Strategies - Looking Beyond
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

3. Why FAC-P/PM? Because... But Most of All… So...
Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 (SARA), Public Law
Expanded the definition and scope of acquisitions to include activities performed by project and program managers.
OFPP policy memorandum – dated April 25, 2007
Established certification requirements for project and program managers.
FAC-P/PM certification is required for PMs who are assigned to capital investments.
But Most of All…
FAC-P/PM certification requirements enable HHS’ program management efforts to meet or exceed cost, schedule, and performance goals.
So...
HHS’ Acquisition Policy Memorandum – dated June 30, 2009
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 capital investments.

4. What Does HHS Hope to Achieve with the FAC-P/PM Program?
Establish “enterprise-wide” program management practices that foster integrity as well as personal and organizational excellence.
Create a “best in class” workforce of project and program managers.
Build a culture of excellence in HHS, which encourages retention of our highly qualified professionals.
Stay off the OMB watch list!

5. The Now: Certification Requirements
Level I
Level II
Level III
Experience
At least 1 year of project management experience within the last 5 years
At least 2 years of project/program management experience within the last 5 years
At least 4 years of program management experience on federal project within the last 5 years.
Level of Responsibility
Supporting capital investments – requiring apprentice level support
Tactical capital investments – requiring journeyman level support
Major capital investments – requiring expert/senior level support
Core Training Requirements
112 Training Hours of basic project management, acquisition, leadership, EVM, and Gov’t Specifics
88 Training Hours of intermediate project management, leadership, EVM, and Gov’t Specifics
112 Training Hours of advanced project management, acquisition, leadership, EVM, and Gov’t Specifics
2 Years After being assigned to an investment
2 Years after being assigned to an investment
1 Year after being assigned to an investment
(Levels are independent of each other)

6. Application Procedures
Levels I and II are approved at the OPDIV/StaffDiv level – by the ACM and EO (or designee);
Level III applicants are subject to HHS FAC-P/PM Certification Board review and approved by the DAS/GAPA.
NIH’s Acting ACM is Kimberly Doherty
NIH’s Executive Officer is LaVerne Stringfield
NIH’s Board Members are:
Carmen Cheng and Jane Small (IT)
Clarence Dukes (Construction)

7. Clarifying Training Requirements
Since HHSU no longer supports classroom training, the FAC-P/PM Handbook – dated October 2010 streamlines training requirements and eliminates redundancy:
Non-prescriptive but provides guidelines;
Crosswalks and uses a combination of Contracting, COTR, online, and PMI training and certifications for fulfillment options; and
Clarifies that there are NO certifications that fulfill all of the competency training requirements for FAC-P/PM certification at any level (See FAC-P/PM Handbook Appendix D – Training Crosswalk).
Always seek the support of your servicing ACM!
As long as a vendor can “demonstrate” that their content maps to an overarching required competency, your servicing ACM “may consider” authorizing the vendor to deliver training for that particular course.

8. FAC-P/PM: Looking Beyond...
The FAC-P/PM Functional Advisory Board Council (spearheaded by OFPP) is considering reducing the number of required training hours for each level – to develop a baseline program for PMs across all disciplines.
There will be a revised and required capstone course targeted to PM specializations (e.g., I.T., Construction, R&D) to simulate workplace scenarios and provide practical application of learning and competencies.
OGAPA-Division of Acquisition is currently working on a centralized training strategy via a Strategic Sourcing BPA for all acquisition-related courses to leverage Department-wide cost-savings.

9. Making Strides...
The superiority of FAC-P/PM Certification is recognized government-wide and is known to enhanced career progression.
Certifications at Levels I and II are equally important as Level III because they supports the Department’s Acquisition Human Capital Plan (AHCP) succession planning initiatives.
We will seek to expand our pool of PMs beyond the traditional IT and Construction fields, to include advanced R&D programs, complex services, etc.  

10. FAQ’s
Q: How many hours do I need and how often do I need apply for re-certification?
A: Level I, II, and III certifications expire every 2 years – thus requiring 80 hours of continuous learning for recertification.
Q: Need help with cross-walking training requirements or fulfillment options?
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-COTR?
A: Yes!!!