Veterans Affairs Acquisition Academy (VAAA)

The VA Facilities Engineering and Construction Certification (VA-FE/C) Program was established pursuant to the Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act of 2018, which communicates improving Veteran’s access to high quality and timely health care. VA’s FE/C workforce has been defined as members of an occupational series relating to construction or facilities management, or employees of the Department who award or administer contracts for major construction, minor construction, or nonrecurring maintenance more than 51% of their time. This would include VA’s acquisition workforce members to include contract specialists, contracting officers’ representatives, and/or project/program managers. An FE/C certification establishes that the employee has met the core performance thresholds within the construction or facilities engineering career field.

Contact the VA Acquisition Human Capital Management Service (AHCMS) office for more information on other elective alternatives.

1. Acquisition Fundamentals of Project and Program Management (FPM 120 (FED)

This five (5) day instructor-led course provides basic knowledge and comprehension skills which entry-level project managers (PM) in the Federal sector need to manage a small project or participate as an effective member of an integrated project team (IPT). FPM 120 (FED) focuses on the identification of project management roles, responsibilities, decision points, and key deliverables required for effective systems-acquisition management throughout all phases of a project’s lifecycle.

Successfully completing FPM 120 (FED) satisfies the prerequisite to attend the FPM 121 Acquisition Fundamentals of Project and Program Management II course.
Course type: Instructor-led training
Course length: 40 hours; 5 days OR

2a. Project Management Basics (FPM 120A)

This web-based course provides the basic knowledge and comprehension skills that entry-level program and project managers (PMs) in the Federal sector need to manage a small project or participate as an effective member of an integrated project team (IPT). The target audience for this training is entry-level project managers within the Federal civilian agencies desiring to complete the training requirements for the Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM). Using a scenario-based approach, FPM 120A covers project management roles, responsibilities, decision points, and key deliverables required for effective project management. Attendees will comprehend acquisition basics for program and project management.
Course type: Virtual, self-paced
Course length: 20 hours AND

2b. Project Management and Project Lifecycle (FPM 120B)

This web-based course prepares entry-level project managers with the fundamental knowledge, skills, and understanding required to fulfill their responsibilities as project managers. It focuses on the identification of project management roles, responsibilities, decision points, and key deliverables required for effective systems acquisition management throughout all phases of a project’s lifecycle. The target audience for this training is entry-level project managers within the Federal civilian agencies desiring to complete the training requirements for the Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM). Using a scenario-based approach, FPM 120B covers project management roles, responsibilities, decision points, and key deliverables required for effective project management. Attendees will comprehend acquisition basics for program and project management.

Successfully completing FPM 120A and 120B satisfies the prerequisite to attend the FPM 121 Acquisition Fundamentals of Project and Program Management II course.
Course Type: Virtual, self-paced
Course Length: 22 hours

Past Performance CLC 028

This self-paced module addresses the rationales behind collecting past performance information, why it should be used, and how its use improves contractor performance. This module is based on the DoD Past Performance Integrated Product Team (IPT) Guidebook entitled, A Guide to Collection and Use of Past Performance Information.
(CSOD/DAU iCatalog) – 2 CLP

Risk Management PMT 0170

This is an Online Training (OLT) course. Risk is always a concern in the DoD systems acquisition process. The acquisition process itself is designed, to a large degree, to allow risk to be managed from conception to delivery of the system. Although risk is inherent in any program, risk management ensures managers take measures to assess and handle risks. This module focuses on tools and processes that can be used to manage risk on a defense system acquisition project.
(CSOD/DAU iCatalog) – 8 CLPs

Acquisition Fundamentals of Project and Program Management II (FPM 121)

The Acquisition Fundamentals of Project and Program Management II course is the final component of the Entry-Level course series with both a one-week (full days) and two-week (half days) delivery options. Following a best practices model, it aligns FAC-P/PM competencies to the actual project/program life cycle.

FPM 121 places the project management learner in an integrated product team setting. Students participate as team members in simulating the following activities: identifying capability gaps; developing a work breakdown structure; developing high-level and system-level requirements; crafting an analysis of alternatives; developing a business case; selecting a solution; risk management; acquisition planning; systems engineering; measuring performance; and leadership.
Prerequisites: Must complete FPM 120 A and FPM 120B or FPM 120 Fed
Course Type: Instructor-led training
Course Length: 40 hours; one-week (full day) and two-week (half-day) options available

Application in Project and Program Management (FPM 231)

This four-day course will provide the foundation for effective requirements development and systems management. You will develop the necessary skills to construct an overall acquisition strategy approach in a simulated integrated project team (IPT) environment. This course will emphasize crafting an integrated approach to systems management, including developing requirements, technology and risk management, test and evaluation, and integrated logistics support.
Prerequisites: None
Course Type: Virtual Instructor-led training and In-person
Course Length: 32 hours; 4 days

Applications in Contracting (FPM 232)

This three-day course will provide you with discussion of the mission, purpose, vision, and goals of Federal contracting, discusses the Federal Acquisition Regulation System (FAR) and acquisition lifecycle, and reviews the various roles and responsibilities of the acquisition team. You will explore leadership and management processes associated with successful acquisition planning. This course will also cover elements of planning for source selection, and the key aspects of evaluating proposals, bids, and offers. You will come away from this course with a thorough understanding of planning contract administration and monitoring contractor performance.
Prerequisites: None
Course Type: Virtual Instructor-led training and In-person
Course Length: 24 hours; 3 days

Applications in Business, Cost, and Financial Management (FPM 233)

This three-day course is designed to explore key competencies for project managers relating to business and financial management. You will develop application and analysis skills for estimating cost by using cost-related information to manage project financials and assemble a viable business case. This course will teach earned value management (EVM) skills as a tool for tracking contractor performance, managing risk, and adjusting project strategy. You will be able to apply your skills managing the operational business dynamics within the scope of Federal projects.
Prerequisites: None
Course Type: Virtual Instructor-led training and In-person
Course Length: 24 hours; 3 days

Applied Leadership in Projects and Programs (FPM 234)

This two-day course will provide you with skills in forming and leading integrated teaming arrangements. You will learn effective communication strategies to build alliances, focus decision making, and resolve interpersonal and organizational conflict. This course will teach you the critical thinking skills needed to process and synthesize information to arrive at new levels of insight regarding project risks, stakeholder engagement, and the political backdrop that affects projects and programs. Additionally, you will gain skills to lead a team, find solutions for issues that pose risk to project performance, and take responsibility and accountability.
Prerequisites: None
Course Type: Virtual Instructor-led training and In-person
Course Length: 16 hours; 2 days

Progressive Concepts in Program Management (FPM 331)

This four-day course will provide you with the technical knowledge and abilities required to orchestrate more complex projects collectively as programs. You will synthesize requirements into viable acquisition strategies and evaluate those strategies as programs evolve. This course will cover technology management processes with the goal of implementing a balanced system design, as well as how to track asset developer technical progress and reporting. At the end of this course, you will have gained viable approaches to product support and supply chain management that increase system readiness, maintain affordability, and reduce the logistics footprint.
Course Type: Virtual Instructor-led training and In-person
Course Length: 32 hours; 4 days

Progressive Contracting Strategies for Programs (FPM 332)

This three-day course will provide you with the knowledge and ability to integrate, evaluate, and lead program strategy into a viable approach for program procurement. You will evaluate acquisition planning actions, adjust those plans according to policy and program risk, and orchestrate source selection of a complex program. This course will teach you how exit criteria is developed and defended and how to balance stakeholder expectations. This course will emphasize the acquisition of services that support agency technical and business management requirements. After this course, you will understand how to facilitate a negotiated baseline of performance between the operational users and corresponding commercial and organic support providers.
Course Type: Virtual Instructor-led training and In-person
Course Length: 24 hours; 3 days

Progressive Business, Cost, and Financial Management (FPM 333)

This three-day course advances the experienced project manager into the business enterprise tasks of leading complex projects and larger, collective programs. You will evaluate for merit and evoke risk management strategies resulting in program-level adjustments to financial plans and cost benefit analyses. Earned value management (EVM) metrics are evaluated, followed by program adjustment decisions based on EVM data. This course will emphasize managing cost and financial risks within the broader context of a Total Life-Cycle Systems Management (TLCSM) approach to program management. You will understand how to present and defend a business case before program stakeholders, manage funds, and other key competencies for project managers.
Course Type: Virtual Instructor-led training and In-person
Course Length: 24 hours; 3 days

Progressive Leadership in Program Management (FPM 334)

This two-day course will expand your interpersonal and mentoring skills required in complex programs. You will gain awareness of how modeling responsible and accountable behaviors relates to effective and efficient use of program resources. This course will teach you how to develop stakeholder relationships through critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. You will gain global awareness of the linkage between organizational vision and objectives through plan execution.
Course Type: Virtual Instructor-led training and In-person
Course Length: 16 hours; 2 days

VA’s Facilities Engineering and Construction (VA-FE/C) certification program will accept coursework from American Society of Safety Engineers, National Fire Protection Association, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration as accredited coursework that will satisfy the required VA-FE/C certification electives. Administrations and Staff Offices may add to this list and further designate appropriate “required elective” courses that meet mission needs.

Contact the VA AHCMS office for more information on other elective alternatives.

The Veterans Affairs Acquisition Academy does not provide certification. Certification is not automatic after training. Students seeking any FE/C certification must initiate their request in Corner Stone on Demand to complete their certification request through the Acquisition Human Capital Management Service. The FE/C Program virtual guide provides a quick reference for those individuals interested in or pursing certification. Contact the VA AHCMS office for more information on other elective alternatives.