Judith L. Button, Departmental Acquisition Career Manager Program Management

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... • Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 (SARA), Public Law 108-136 • 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 2009-03 – 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 (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. ClarifyingTraining 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 andhow 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!!!