Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C)

The Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) is the federal government's mandatory certification program for civilian agency contracting officers and contracting professionals, establishing the education, training, and experience requirements they must meet to legally award and administer government contracts.

What is FAC-C?

FAC-C is administered by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) and establishes standardized competency requirements across civilian federal agencies. It replaced and unified earlier agency-specific contracting certification programs. The certification operates at three levels: FAC-C Level I (entry-level), Level II (journeyman), and Level III (senior/expert). Each level requires a combination of college-level acquisition coursework, on-the-job experience, and continuous learning. Contracting officers who have not met FAC-C requirements for their position cannot legally hold a warrant, the authority to bind the government on contracts. The FAC-C Program Manager Track (FAC-C PM) is a related credential for non-contracting-officer professionals who work closely with contracts in a program management capacity. FAC-C was significantly revised in 2022 to a competency-based framework aligned with the Federal Acquisition Certification Professional Development Program, moving away from the prescriptive course-list approach toward demonstration of actual competencies. For contractors, working with FAC-C certified contracting officers means working with professionals held to federal standards of competency and ethics.

Why FAC-C matters for government contractors

Contractors deal with FAC-C certified contracting officers on nearly every federal civilian agency contract. Understanding that the government's contracting officer must hold FAC-C credentials, and that those credentials require demonstrated knowledge of the FAR, ethics, and source selection, helps contractors calibrate the sophistication and authority of their government counterparts.

Example

A contracting officer at the Department of Energy holds a FAC-C Level III certification, which means she has extensive experience in complex contract actions and is authorized to handle high-dollar, complex procurements. When a contractor's proposal team prepares their response to her solicitation, they know they are dealing with a senior acquisition professional who will scrutinize technical, management, and cost proposals with substantial expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between FAC-C and DAWIA?

FAC-C applies to civilian federal agency contracting professionals, while DAWIA certification (administered through DAU) applies to DoD acquisition workforce members. Both serve the same purpose, ensuring contracting personnel meet minimum competency standards, but are administered by different bodies with different requirements.

Does FAC-C certification give a contracting officer unlimited authority?

No. FAC-C establishes the training and experience requirements to receive a contracting officer's warrant, but the warrant itself specifies dollar thresholds and types of actions the individual is authorized to execute. A Level III FAC-C officer may hold an unlimited warrant or one capped at a specific dollar amount depending on agency policy.

Are contractor employees eligible for FAC-C?

FAC-C is a federal government employee certification program. Private sector contractor employees do not receive FAC-C certifications. However, contractor-side professionals can pursue the CFCM (Certified Federal Contracts Manager) through NCMA, which covers similar federal contracting knowledge from the industry perspective.

How often must FAC-C holders maintain their certification?

FAC-C holders must complete 80 continuous learning points every two years to maintain their certification. The continuing learning requirements ensure that certified professionals stay current with FAR changes, new acquisition policies, and evolving procurement practices.