Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 186 / Thursday, September 25, 1997 / Notices 50405

Dated: September 19, 1997.

Michael J. Gaines,

Chairman, U.S. Parole Commission.

[FR Doc. 97–25691 Filed 9–23–97; 3:58 pm]

BILLING CODE 4410–01–M

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND

BUDGET

Office of Federal Procurement Policy

Policy Letter on Procurement System

Education, Training and Experience

Requirements for Acquisition

Personnel

AGENCY: Executive Office of the

President, Office of Management and

Budget (OMB), Office of Federal

Procurement Policy (OFPP).

ACTION: OFPP is issuing a Policy Letter

on ‘‘Procurement System Education,

Training and Experience Requirements

for Acquisition Personnel.’’

SUMMARY: Section 37(b)(3) of the Office

of Federal Procurement Policy Act, as

amended, 41 U.S.C. § 401, et seq.,

requires the Administrator for Federal

Procurement Policy to issue policies to

promote uniform implementation of a

program to provide for improvements in

the quality of the Government’s

acquisition workforce, with due regard

for differences in program requirements

among agencies that may be appropriate

and warranted in view of the agency

mission. To the extent practicable, the

policies set forth in this Policy Letter are

comparable to those established for

acquisition personnel in the Department

of Defense (DOD) who are subject to the

Defense Acquisition Workforce

Improvement Act (Chapter 87 of title 10,

United States Code).

Pursuant to Section 37 of the OFPP

Act, the Administrator established a

working group consisting of Senior

Procurement Executives of the major

civilian agencies to make

recommendations concerning a program

to improve the quality of the non-DOD

acquisition workforce. The policies and

procedures set forth in this Policy Letter

represent the culmination of that effort.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Richard C. Loeb, Executive Secretary,

Office of Federal Procurement Policy

(telephone: 202–395–3254). The address

is Office of Federal Procurement Policy,

725 17th Street, NW, Room 9001,

Washington, DC 20503. To obtain a

copy of this Policy Letter, please call the

Executive Office of the President’s

Publication Office at (202) 395–7332.

Dated: September 12, 1997.

Steven Kelman,

Administrator.

Policy Letter No. 97–01

To the Heads of Civilian Executive

Departments and Agencies

Subject: Procurement System Education,

Training and Experience Requirements

for Acquisition Personnel

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Letter is to

implement Section 37 of the Office of

Federal Procurement Policy Act, as

amended (hereafter referred to as the

Act).

2. Authority

These policies and procedures are

issued pursuant to Section 37(b)(3) of

the Office of Federal Procurement

Policy (OFPP) Act, as amended, (41

U.S.C. 401 et seq.), which directs the

Administrator, Office of Federal

Procurement Policy, to issue policies to

promote uniform implementation of

Section 37 of the Act by executive

agencies, with due regard for differences

in program requirements among

agencies that may be appropriate and

warranted in view of the agency

mission.

3. Background

Beginning with the report of the

Commission on Government

Procurement in 1972, every major study

of the Federal acquisition process has

recommended improvements in the

management of the acquisition

workforce, because ‘‘people are the most

critical part of any effective

procurement process’’. Subsequently,

Congress directed every Federal

department and agency to develop and

maintain a procurement career

management program to ensure an

adequate professional workforce

(section 16(4) of the Act). In Section

6(d)(5) of the Act, Congress further

directed the OFPP Administrator,

through the Federal Acquisition

Institute (FAI), to foster and promote the

development of a professional

acquisition workforce Governmentwide. Pursuant to these statutory

mandates, OFPP Policy Letter 92–3

(implemented in section 1.603–1 of the

Federal Acquisition Regulation)

establishes Government-wide policies

and standards for skill-based training in

performing contracting duties and tasks.

In 1990 Congress passed the Defense

Acquisition Workforce Improvement

Act (DAWIA) which established

education, training and experience

requirements for entry and advancement

in the acquisition career field within the

Department of Defense (DOD). In 1996,

Congress amended the OFPP Act to

establish comparable education,

training, and experience requirements

for civilian agencies.

4. Applicability

This Letter applies to all executive

agencies, except those subject to the

Defense Acquisition Workforce

Improvement Act (chapter 87 of title 10,

United States Code).

5. Responsibility for Acquisition Career

Management Programs

Subject to the authority, direction,

and control of the head of an executive

agency, the Senior Procurement

Executive of the agency shall carry out

all powers, functions, and duties of the

head of the agency with respect to

implementation of this Letter. The

Senior Procurement Executive shall

ensure that the policies of the head of

the agency, established in accordance

with this Letter, are implemented

throughout the agency.

6. Establishment of Agency-wide

Policies and Procedures

Agency heads, after consultation with

the OFPP Administrator, shall establish

department or agency-wide policies and

procedures pursuant to the provisions of

the Act. The Senior Procurement

Executive of each affected agency shall

advise the Administrator, within 180

days from the date of this Letter, on

agency plans for issuing such policies

and procedures for the effective

management (including accessions,

education, training and career

development) of the acquisition

workforce. Agency heads, unless

otherwise advised by the OFPP

Administrator within thirty (30) days

after such notification, shall proceed

with planned implementation activities.

To the maximum extent practicable,

these acquisition workforce policies and

procedures shall be uniform in their

implementation throughout the agency.

The head of each department and

agency shall issue such policies and

procedures by May 1, 1998.

7. Workforce Coverage

For purposes of this Letter, the

acquisition workforce of an agency

includes:

a. All positions in the General

Schedule (GS–1102) Contracting Series

and non-DOD uniformed personnel in

comparable positions.

b. All Contracting Officers regardless

of General Schedule series with

authority to obligate funds above the

micropurchase threshold.
50406 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 186 / Thursday, September 25, 1997 / Notices

1Section 433(h), Title 41 U.S.C.

c. All positions in GS–1105

Purchasing Series.

d. All Contracting Officer

Representatives/Contracting Officer

Technical Representatives, or equivalent

positions.

The Administrator of the Office of

Federal Procurement Policy will consult

with the agencies in the identification of

other acquisition related positions.

8. Management Information System

Agencies are required to collect and

maintain standardized information on

implementation of the provisions of

section 37 of the Act. The Federal

Acquisition Institute will work with the

agencies and the Office of Personnel

Management to establish and prescribe

standard data elements for the purposes

of this statutory requirement. To the

maximum extent practicable, such

management information systems will

conform to the standards established by

the Office of Personnel Management for

the Central Personnel Data File. These

systems shall include a data element on

waivers under paragraph 9.g. of this

Letter.

9. Career Development

a. Career Paths—Agencies shall

identify and publish model career paths

or ‘‘road maps’’ to ensure that

contracting and other personnel

interested in pursuing careers in

contracting are knowledgeable of the

education, training, and experience

requirements for employment,

progression and advancement to the

most senior positions in the contracting

field within the agency.

b. Critical Skills—For each career

path, the critical acquisition-related

duties and tasks employees must be

competent to perform at the full

performance and senior levels shall be

established by the agencies and shall

include coverage of duties and tasks as

identified by the Director of the Federal

Acquisition Institute. OFPP Policy

Letter 92–3 established Governmentwide standards for these purposes.

c. Mandatory Education—The

education requirements for acquisition

positions are established by the OFPP

Administrator, in coordination with the

Office of Personnel Management, as

prescribed by section 37(g) of the Act.

The education requirements for GS–

1102 positions have been established in

coordination with the Office of

Personnel Management.

d. Mandatory Training and

Experience—Experience requirements

for GS–1102 positions are identified in

the OPM Contract Specialist (GS–1102)

Qualification Standard. In addition to

the following mandatory training,

agencies may require assignmentspecific training for personnel in

selected positions, as appropriate:

(1) All personnel in the GS–1102

Contracting Series and Contracting

Officers (regardless of General Schedule

Series) with authority to obligate funds

above the micropurchase threshold shall

complete the mandatory and related onthe-job training, as prescribed in OFPP

Policy Letter 92–3.

(2) All Personnel in the Purchasing

occupational series (General Schedule

Series 1105), other civilian and

uniformed personnel performing

purchasing duties, and individuals with

contracting authority at or below the

simplified acquisition threshold, or with

authority to place delivery orders at any

dollar level, shall complete training in

acquiring goods and services under FAR

Part 13 and placing delivery orders.

(3) Contracting Officer

Representatives/Contracting Officer

Technical Representatives (CORs/

COTRs)—The core training for CORs/

COTRs must cover the competencies as

contained in the FAI COR/COTR

Workbook. Agencies may consider any

training methodology to satisfy this

requirement, i.e., classroom,

correspondence, computer-based

instruction, etc.

(4) Other acquisition related

occupations—Training for these

participants in the procurement process

will be established as such occupations

are identified by the OFPP

Administrator.

e. Skills Currency—Agencies shall

establish policies that require an

equivalent of at least 40 hours of

continuing education or training every

two years for contract specialists (GS–

1102 series) and Contracting Officers

who have satisfied the mandatory and

agency/assignment-specific training for

the purpose of maintaining currency of

acquisition knowledge and skills. This

may include, but is not limited to,

agency sponsored training and

management/executive seminars,

special job and/or professional

association related projects and/or

participation in seminars/workshops, or

other appropriated developmental

activities.

f. Tuition Assistance—The head of an

executive agency may provide tuition

reimbursement in education (including

a full-time course of study leading to a

degree) in accordance with section 4107

of title 5, United States Code, for

personnel serving in acquisition

positions in the agency.

g. Waiver Authority for GS–1102

Education Requirements. The agency

Senior Procurement Executive may,

based on demonstrated analytical and

decision making capabilities, job

performance, and qualifying experience,

waive one of the two sets of education

requirements for an applicant for a GS–

13 and above position based on a

certification (see Contract Specialist

(GS–1102) Qualification Standard) that

the applicant possesses significant

potential for advancement to levels of

greater responsibility and authority.

This waiver should be utilized only in

rare and unusual circumstances, i.e.,

when there are no qualified candidates

readily available. The use of this

authority should be adequately

documented and exercised on a case-bycase basis.

h. Funding Levels—The head of an

executive agency shall set forth

separately the funding levels requested

for education and training of the

acquisition workforce in the budget

justification documents submitted in

support of the President’s budget

submitted to Congress under section

1105 of title 31, United States Code.

Funds appropriated for education and

training under this section may not be

obligated for any other purpose. 1

i. Program Evaluation—The OFPP

Administrator shall evaluate the

implementation of these provisions by

executive agencies.

10. FAI Responsibilities

The OFPP Administrator is

responsible for providing for and

directing the activities of the FAI. The

FAI is in turn responsible for a wide

range of career management support

activities associated with maintaining

the inventory of acquisition personnel

competencies for use by Federal and

private sector education and training

communities and providing specific and

general technical assistance to Federal

agencies in improving the quality of the

acquisition workforce.

As courseware (including Workbooks)

are developed and/or updated, these

products will be made available through

the FAI Homepage. The FAI Homepage

address is: http://www.gsa.gov/staff/v/

training.htm. The FAI specific

responsibilities relating to the

provisions of this Letter are to:

a. Foster and promote the

development of a professional

acquisition workforce;

b. Promote and coordinate

Government-wide research and studies

to improve the procurement process and

the laws, policies, methods, regulations,

procedures, and forms relating to

acquisition by the executive agencies;

c. Collect and analyze acquisition

workforce data from the Office of
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 186 / Thursday, September 25, 1997 / Notices 50407

Personnel Management, the heads of

executive agencies and, through

periodic surveys of individual

employees;

d. Periodically analyze acquisition

career fields to identify critical

competencies, duties, tasks, and related

academic prerequisites, skills, and

knowledge;

e. Coordinate and assist agencies in

identifying and recruiting highly

qualified candidates for acquisition

fields;

f. Develop instructional material for

acquisition personnel in coordination

with private and public acquisition

colleges and training facilities;

g. Evaluate the effectiveness of

training and career development

programs for acquisition personnel;

h. Promote the establishment and

utilization of academic programs by

colleges and universities in acquisition

fields;

i. Facilitate, to the extent requested by

agencies, interagency intern and

training programs; and

j. Perform other career management

and research functions as directed by

the Administrator.

11. Information Contact

Questions regarding this Policy Letter

should be directed to Richard C. Loeb,

Executive Secretary, Office of Federal

Procurement Policy, 202–395–3254,

facsimile, 202–395–5105. The address is

Office of Federal Procurement Policy,

725 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC

20503.

12. Judicial Review

This Policy Letter is not intended to

provide a constitutional or statutory

interpretation of any kind and it is not

intended, and should not be construed,

to create any right or benefit,

substantive or procedural, enforceable at

law by a party against the United States,

its agencies, its officers, or any persons.

It is intended only to provide policy

guidance to agencies in the exercise of

their discretion concerning Federal

contracting. Thus, this Policy Letter is

not intended, and should not be

construed, to create any substantive or

procedural basis on which to challenge

any agency action or inaction on the

ground that such action or inaction was

not in accordance with this Policy

Letter.

13. Effective Date

This Policy Letter is effective 30 days

after the date of issuance.

Steven Kelman,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 97–25393 Filed 9–24–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3110–01–P

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY

Sunshine Act Meeting

TYPE: Quarterly Meeting.

AGENCY: National Council on Disability.

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the

schedule and proposed agenda of the

forthcoming quarterly meeting of the

National Council on Disability. Notice

of this meeting is required under

Section 522b(e)(1) of the Government in

the Sunshine Act, (P.L. 94–409).

DATES: November 3–5, 1997, 8:30 a.m. to

5:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Sheraton City Centre Hotel,

1143 New Hampshire Avenue, NW.,

Washington, DC 20037; 202–775–0800.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark S.

Quigley, Public Affairs Specialist,

National Council on Disability, 1331 F

Street NW, Suite 1050, Washington,

D.C. 20004–1007; 202–272–2004

(Voice), 202–272–2074 (TTY), 202–272–

2022 (Fax).

AGENCY MISSION: The National Council

on Disability is an independent federal

agency composed of 15 members

appointed by the President of the

United States and confirmed by the U.S.

Senate. Its overall purpose is to promote

policies, programs, practices, and

procedures that guarantee equal

opportunity for all people with

disabilities, regardless of the nature of

severity of the disability; and to

empower people with disabilities to

achieve economic self-sufficiency,

independent living, and inclusion and

integration into all aspects of society.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Those needing

interpreters or other accommodations

should notify the National Council on

Disability prior to this meeting.

ENVIRONMENTAL ILLNESS: People with

environmental illness must reduce their

exposure to volatile chemical

substances in order to attend this

meeting. In order to reduce such

exposure, we ask that you not wear

perfumes or scents at the meeting. We

also ask that you smoke only in

designated areas and the privacy of our

room. Smoking is prohibited in the

meeting room and surrounding area.

OPEN MEETING: This quarterly meeting of

the National Council on Disability will

be open to the public.

AGENDA: The proposed agenda includes:.

Reports from the Chairperson and the

Executive Director

Committee Meetings and Committee

Reports

Strategic Planning—Closed Work

Session for Members and Staff

Return-to-work Initiative

Disability Date Collection

Unfinished Business

New Business

Announcements

Adjournment

Records will be kept of all National

Council on Disability proceedings and

will be available after the meeting for

public inspection at the National

Council on Disability.

Signed in Washington, DC, on September

23, 1997.

Ethel D. Briggs,

Executive Director.

[FR Doc. 97–25612 Filed 9–23–97; 12:38

p.m.]

BILLING CODE 6820–MA–M

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Advisory Panel for Anthropological,

Geographic Sciences; Notice of

Meetings

In accordance with the Federal

Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–

463, as amended), the National Science

Foundation (NSF) announces the

following six meetings.

Name: Advisory Panel for Anthropological

and Geographic Sciences (#1757).

1. Date & Time: October 17, 1997 8:30

a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Place: National Science Foundation,

Stafford Place, 4201 Wilson Boulevard Room

970, Arlington, Va 22230.

Contact Person: Dr. John E. Yellen,

Program Director for Archaeology, National

Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard,

Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (703) 306–

1759.

Agenda: To review and evaluate

Archaeometry proposals as part of the

selection process for awards.

2. Date & Time: November 9, 1997 8:30

a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Place: National Science Foundation,

Stafford Place, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room

970, Arlington, VA 22230.

Contact Person: Dr. John E. Yellen,

Program Director for Archaeology, National

Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard,

Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone: (703) 306–

1759

Agenda: To review and evaluate

Archaeometry proposals as part of the

selection process for awards.

3. Date & Time: November 18–19, 1997;

8:00 a.m.–500 p.m.

Place: National Science Foundation,

Stafford Place, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room

970, Arlington, VA 22230.

Contact Person: Dr. Dennis O’Rourke,

Program Director for Physical Anthropology,

National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson

Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230. Telephone:

(703) 306–1758.

Agenda: To review and evaluate Physical

Anthropology proposals as part of the

selection process for awards.

4. Date & Time: November 23–24, 1997;

8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.