OMB POLICY STATEMENTS
OMB Sets New Competency And Training Requirements For Contracting Officers
"The Office of Management and Budget has instituted new competency and training requirements for contracting officer technical representatives, those acquisition employees who assist with contract administration and support acquisition management.

OMB's Office of Federal Procurement Policy recently issued a memorandum to chief acquisition officers delineating the requirements, which are mandatory for all civilian agencies and include a minimum of 40 hours of training. The memo recommends courses such as Market Research and Ethics Training for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. The goal, according to the memo, is to ensure that all contracting officer technical representatives possess certain competencies.

The certification requirements come in response to recommendations by the Federal Acquisition Institute and the Merit Systems Protection Board in reports on the skills necessary for technical contracting experts to properly perform. This is the third acquisition certification program OFPP has developed; the first two programs established training requirements for contracting officers and program and project managers."