[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 48, Volume 5] [Revised as of October 1, 2006] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 48CFR801.690-4] [Page 151-152] TITLE 48--FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM CHAPTER 8--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PART 801_VETERANS AFFAIRS ACQUISITION REGULATIONS SYSTEM--Table of Contents Subpart 801.6_Career Development, Contracting Activity, and Responsibilities Sec. 801.690-4 Selection. (a) Contracting officers (CO) shall be appointed only in those instances where a valid organizational need for certified personnel can be demonstrated. Such factors to be considered in making these assessments include complexity of work, volume of actions and organizational structure. (b) Requests for appointment of contracting officers will be made in writing. Request for appointments at the Senior and Intermediate Level will be signed by the HCA and forwarded to the Acquisition Training Officer (90) for processing. The request for appointment will include at a minimum a justification of need, and a qualification statement for the candidate. Requests for appointment of HCAs as contracting officers will be made at one level above the head of the contracting activity. (c) The COCB and HCAs (limited to Basic Level) will evaluate candidates for CO certifications based on training, experience, and performance, and consideration of academic education, in addition to meeting standards of ethical conduct and avoiding conflicts of interest. Minimum qualifications of contracting officers are based on a combination of training, experience, and performance with consideration of relevant academic credit or degrees earned. The following minimum requirements are established for designation of contracting officers: (1) Basic level. (i) Training--Forty hours of basic acquisition or small purchase training that can be accomplished on the job or in formalized courses of instruction. If on-the-job training is conducted, it must be documented for the record and include a brief description of the duties and responsibilities that comprised that training. (ii) Experience. Three years of progressive assignments in an acquisition related field within the last five years and demonstrated broad technical ability related to acquisition. (iii) Performance--Satisfactory rating. (iv) Education (desired)--High school diploma. (2) Intermediate level--(i) Training--(A) ATP Level I--Basic Acquisition. (B) ATP Level II--Advanced Contract Administration. (C) ATP Level III--Cost and Price Analysis. ATP courses may include tests or other assessments to indicate what information has been learned by the student. An assessment will then be made to determine if additional formal or on-the-job training is needed. (ii) Experience. Two years of progressive work assignments in an acquisition related field leading to broader technical ability within the last five years. (iii) Performance. Satisfactory rating. (iv) Education (desired). Associate degree. (3) Senior level--(i) Training--(A) ATP Level I--Fundamentals of Acquisition. (B) ATP Level II--Advanced Contract Administration. (C) ATP Level III--Cost and Price Analysis. (D) ATP Level IV--Contract Negotiation. ATP courses may include tests or other assessments to indicate what information has been learned by the student. An assessment will then be made to determine if additional formal or on-the-job training is needed. (ii) Experience. Three years of progressive assignments in an acquisition related field within the last five years and demonstrated broad technical ability related to acquisition. (iii) Performance. Satisfactory rating. (iv) Education (desired). Bachelor degree. [[Page 152]] (d) Other training courses may be substituted for the prescribed core curriculum provided that the training meets equivalent content and difficulty per course. Recommending officials must fully document and justify equivalent courses when recommending candidates for appointment as contracting officers. The COCB will review and determine if equivalent courses may be appropriately substituted. HCAs are responsible for providing their subordinates with advice and assistance necessary to complete required training. (e) Candidates who achieve additional academic credit beyond the desired education level may be eligible to receive credit toward experience for this additional academic credit. Substitutions of this nature must be fully justified and documented by the recommending official and forwarded to the COCB for evaluation and appropriate action. Candidates will receive a maximum credit of 1 year of experience when substitutions are approved for the Intermediate and Senior Level. A maximum credit of 6 months may be approved by the HCA for the Basic Level. (f) Candidates who do not meet the minimum qualifications established in this section, may be granted interim appointments in accordance with 801.690-7. (g) The Privacy Act of 1974 applies to the information collected during the selection and appointment of contracting officers. [52 FR 24011, June 26, 1987, as amended at 54 FR 31965, Aug. 3, 1989; 63 FR 69218, Dec. 16, 1998]