Questions and answers regarding the revised qualification standard 1102 (2023)

Questions and answers regarding the revised qualification standard 1102

Please note:These questions and answers supplement the revised qualification standard that became effective for GS-1102 contract specialist positions in non-defense agencies on January 1, 2000. The standard was developed by the Office of Federal Acquisition Policy under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 433.

Problems arising in the application of the standards should be referred to personnel specialists in your agency who will be able to seek advice and assistance from OPM and OFPP as needed.

Generel information

• Why does the GS-1102 series have a special qualification standard?See More

  The Clinger-Cohen Act, enacted in February 1996, amended the Federal Acquisition Policy Act (OFPP) to require the OFPP Administrator to establish qualification requirements, including educational requirements, for civilian agency positions in the GS-1102 series (see 41 U.S.C. 433) . Five years earlier, Congress had established requirements for 1,102 positions in defense agencies through the Defense Workforce Improvement Act (see 10 U.S.C. 1724, 1732). The Clinger-Cohen language provides that the qualification requirements established by the OFPP must be comparable to the DAWIA requirements. In June 1997, the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published a qualification standard imposing the requirements established by OFPP under Clinger-Cohen.

• In short, how does this standard differ from its predecessor?See More

  The predecessor to this standard introduced training requirements that became effective on January 1, 1998 for new hires and on January 1, 2000 for existing employees. The revised standard does not change the minimum education levels defined by the previous standard. However, it makes three changes. First, it expands the waiver authority to fill GS-13 and higher positions. The previous standard only allowed a senior purchasing manager to waive one of the two education requirements, while the revised standard allows for a waiver from any or all of the requirements. Second, the language that allowed reviews to substitute for the 24-hour requirement is removed, since qualified reviews are not specified. With the exception of college courses earned through testing programs designed to provide credit by graduation (such as the College Level Examination Program), you may not take a test to qualify in lieu of 24 hours. Third, it replaces the January 1, 1998 date found in the previous standard with a date of January 1, 2000, meaning that employees employed under the previous standard are considered "current" employees.

• When does this standard come into effect?See More

  This revised qualification standard became effective on January 1, 2000. It applies to all new hires and existing employees selected to fill GS-1102 positions in civilian agencies.

Education requirements

• Summarize the basic educational requirements of the qualification standard.See More

  To qualify for GS-5 through GS-12 positions, you must either have a bachelor's degree OR complete at least 24 semester hours of coursework in specific business-related fields. To qualify for positions in grades GS-13 and above, you must have a bachelor's degree AND at least 24 semester hours of work in specific business-related fields. 24 hours may be included in or in addition to courses taken to complete the degree.

• Does the phrase "four years of study leading to a bachelor's degree" mean that I must have a degree or just that I must enroll in a degree?See More

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  The term means that you must have a bachelor's degree awarded or approved by an accredited college or university in the United States based on 4 years of study. Simply being enrolled and working toward a degree does not meet the qualification standard. Furthermore, "honours" degrees or other degrees without a basis in the course do not meet the standard.

• Does "four-year study" mean that I should finish my studies in four years?See More

  Does not. You can earn a bachelor's degree in the period required and accepted by the college or university that awards the degree. The descriptive phrase refers to how the educational institutions characterize the program, not how long it will take you personally to complete the program.

• Should the degree be business?See More

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  Does not. A qualifying bachelor's degree can be in any field of study and can be of any type, such as Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Business Administration. However, 24 hours per semester be in a combination of the eleven fields listed in the standard.

• How can I document that I have met the education and training requirements?See More

  You should check with your local HR office to see what procedures they use. If you already had an education when you were hired, you likely included a college transcript with your application, and if so, that information is included in your personnel records. If you've completed courses since being hired, you'll likely need to provide your HR office with evidence, such as a recent transcript and a copy of your degree, if applicable. It may also be necessary to provide descriptive information about the course (eg syllabus) to ensure that the HR professional meets the 24-hour requirement. You should periodically review your personnel records to ensure information is properly recorded and work with your human resources office to update records as needed.

• When educational requirements AND 24-hour work hours must be met for GS-13 and above positions, can I count courses as part of my education to meet the 24-hour requirement?See More

  Yes, the course could count towards both the degree requirement and the 24-hour requirement at the same time. For example, if you have obtained a vocational degree, you should have completed enough credits in the required fields to meet the 24-hour requirement. However, if your degree is in another field, such as sociology, you may need to take some additional courses in the areas listed in the qualification standard to meet the 24-hour requirement.

• The qualification standard identifies eleven fields for 24-hour teaching. Does this mean that a qualifying course must have a course number that identifies one of the fields (for example, an "Economics" course might be "ECN 401")?See More

  Answering this question requires first understanding the purpose of the 24-hour course requirement, which is to provide a person with a minimum of business knowledge. This is particularly important because the contract specialist's primary function is to negotiate and execute business relationships on behalf of the government. The eleven fields listed in the standard are identical to those specified by Congress in DAWIA and were likely selected because they encompass the types of knowledge and skills required for procurement workforce members to perform this function.

  Colleges and universities do not use the standard eleven-field course numbering convention. For example, an institution identifies its accounting curriculum as "AMIS" courses, which stands for "Accounting and Management Information Systems." Therefore, it is neither practical nor reasonable to limit the interpretation of the word "field" to institutional programs that use exactly the same language. Instead, it is appropriate to consider the identified fields as general subject areas. If the course content is likely to fit into the general subject area represented by one of the fields, it should qualify under the 24-hour requirement. An HR professional or anyone in your organization crediting the 24 hours taken may need to review the curriculum when the content is not clear from the course title to the field. Consider these examples: a sociology course in statistics; public administration course on quantitative techniques; course in the psychology of organizational behavior. If the content of these courses is comparable to or perhaps recognized by the academic institution as a substitute for courses that clearly rest within the fields indicated, you should receive credit toward the 24-hour requirement. It is your responsibility to provide supporting descriptive information if it is for course credit.

• Can I credit shopping courses towards the 24-hour requirement?See More

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  Not unless the college actually gives you credit according to its curriculum. Education and training are separate components of the agency's career development programs. Education courses are designed to build job-specific knowledge and skills, supplementing and complementing the general level of knowledge and skills acquired through formal university education. The 24-hour requirement should be met through courses taken at colleges and universities. A college may recognize certain on-the-job training courses or teach a course that has been determined to be "equivalent" to a prescribed training course. In such cases, you can fulfill education and training requirements at the same time. However, unless the college specifically awards you course credit, your courses will not count toward the 24-hour requirement. This is at the faculty's discretion and you are not automatically eligible for credit.

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"Grandfather" - Exemption provisions

• I am currently working as 1102 in a civilian agency. Am I "grandfathered" into civilian agency positions based on a certain number of years of experience (meaning the conditions don't apply to me)?See More

  Qualification Standard 1102 has some legacy functions for the existing workforce, although none of these functions are tied to a prescribed number of years of experience. Each 1102, regardless of grade, is considered to meet the standard for the position and grade that was filled as of January 1, 2000, and is qualified for positions in other civil agencies in the same class without meeting education and training requirements. In addition, 1102 may be promoted through the grade of GS-12 without meeting qualification requirements. There is no grandfathering provision that allows experience to substitute for education to qualify for promotions to GS-13 and above.

• Do existing federal employees in other series, such as GS-1105, have to meet educational requirements to move into the 1102 field?See More

  Yes. Standard 1102 applies to any position in a civilian 1102 agency and must be met by individuals participating in the non-government series or from other series within the government. If you are a current 1105, you must meet the educational requirements for lateral or advancement to the 1102 series.

• What this sentence means: "Employees occupying GS-1102 positions in grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified in GS-12" ?See More

  This statement is found in the "exceptions" section for GS-5 through GS-12. In short, it exempts employees hired before January 1, 2000 from the education requirements for any position up to GS-12. If you meet neither the degree nor the 24 hour requirement, you can still be promoted through GS-12. All persons employed since January 1, 1998 should meet the vocational training requirements since they were employed under the previous standard. However, many 1102 service officers hired before January 1, 1998 do not have the training required now, and the exemption applies to these employees. In addition, in the event that an individual was inadvertently employed in the 1102 series between January 1998 and January 2000 who did not actually meet the earlier standard, that employee would be covered by the exemption.

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Dispensation provision

• Who is a "senior purchasing manager" as stated in the standard?See More

  For purposes of this qualification standard, a "senior procurement manager" is the most senior official responsible for the procurement function of an agency (eg, policy, procedures, workforce, etc.). This person is usually located in the agency's main office. This individual may be different from the individual designated as the "senior procurement executive" under the OFPP Act (41 U.S.C. 414(3)) and as defined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation, who is a political appointee in some agencies. OFPP established the requirements of this standard with the intention that highercareerpurchasing officers would have waiver powers.

• Can the Senior Procurement Manager delegate waiver authority to my contracting office so that waivers can be issued locally?See More

  Does not. The power to waive cannot be delegated. A contracting office wishing to hire an applicant requiring a waiver will likely need to provide a rationale to the Senior Procurement Officer to assist in the waiver decision, but only the Senior Procurement Officer can grant the waiver.

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• Can I waive the qualification requirements for positions in grades GS-5 through GS-12?See More

  Does not. All new entrants to the GS-1102 career field in grades 5 through 12 must meet eligibility requirements. The request cannot be waived. However, if you are already 1102 below the GS-12 grade as of January 1, 2000, the standard's "exception language" allows you to advance through GS-12 even if you do not have the education specified in the standard.

• Do I need a waiver for promotions up to GS-12?See More

  Does not. A waiver is not required for promotions below GS-13 because all promotion candidates would either meet the standard or qualify for an "exception" at the lower grades. Exceptions exist only for requirements relating to positions GS-13 and above.

• I do not meet the educational requirements for the position GS-13 and above. Do I need a dispensation to apply for a job?See More

  Does not. The employment agency's senior purchasing manager must only approve the exemption if the agency so wisheschooseto fill the position. If the job advertisement states that there is a possibility of exemption, you can apply for that position. The personnel office forwards your application for review together with other applications, noting that one or more applicants may need a waiver.

• How will job postings inform potential candidates of the option to opt out?See More

  Recruitment agencies draw information from the relevant qualification standards when creating job vacancies. In the case of 1102 positions, if the agency has decided for a specific vacant position that it will take a position on applicants who require a dispensation, it will be stated in the job posting that applicants who do not meet the qualification requirements may be considered for a dispensation in accordance with the standard. At the agency's option, the waiver may apply to any or all of the education, training, or experience requirements as specified in the job posting.

• Can I get a waiver and "carry it with me" every time I look for a job?See More

  Does not. Dispensation is the prerogative of the employment agency and is granted based on the unique circumstances of the employment action. There are no "general" exemptions.

• If I receive a waiver for a GS-13 position, do I need a new waiver for a promotion to GS-14, even if it is in the same agency?See More

  Yes. Waivers are specific to the act of selection, so any selection for a future promotion will require another waiver if you still do not meet the eligibility requirements.

• Do I need a dispensation from the site?See More

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  The answer depends on the circumstances. "Lateral" is reassignment to a position in the same class. If you meet the entry requirements, you can of course transfer to positions in your own agency or other agencies without exemption. If you do not meet the entry requirements, the rules vary by degree and circumstances as described here. There is no waiver provision that applies to grades GS-5 through GS-12, only grades GS-13 and above. Under GS-13, the standard's language about "exceptions" gives you equal status in any agencyIand then continue to be eligible for promotions through GS-12. For grades GS-13 and above, the "exception language" gives you lateral access to positions in your agency or other agenciesin the class you have had since 1 January 2000without dispensation. These "exceptions" are "best-effort" functions given to the existing workforce.

  Assume you were promoted to grade GS-13 or higher after December 31, 1999 by virtue of a waiver. The need for a waiver for a subsequent ancillary contract in this circumstance depends on whether you change agency. Ifanother agencywishes to place you in one of its GS-13 or higher positions, that agency must approve a waiver to provide you with assistance. Ifyour own agency(the person who gave you the dispensation for the position you now hold) wants to move you to another position in the agency, he can do so without processing a new dispensation, even if it is a geographical move. For example, if you are promoted to a GS-13 Contracts Specialist position at NIH-Bethesda MD based on a waiver, you may be selected for a lateral GS-13 Procurement Analyst position at CDC-Atlanta GA without a senior HHS Procurement Executive -grant another waiver (since both organizations are within HHS). However, you could not transfer from an NIH position to a GS-13 contract specialist position at EPA unless another waiver was granted by EPA's senior acquisition manager.

• Are there established criteria for issuing exemptions?See More

  Does not. The waiver authority was created to allow flexibility to meet the unique circumstances facing each agency, but waivers are expected to be the exception, not the rule. Waivers will be considered on a case-by-case basis within the agency and granted in the exceptional cases where the best candidate for a particular job does not meet some of the standard's requirements. For example, an agency can take advantage of this authorization when recruiting for hard-to-fill positions or positions that are difficult to attract qualified candidates. Another case may be when a good performer is on the career ladder but does not meet the requirements for promotion. Recruitment is the agency's responsibility, and the decision to waive qualification requirements is made by the agency's senior purchasing manager. Because you do not need a waiver to be considered for a position, and provided the posting indicates that waivers may be considered, hiring officials will review your qualifications and evaluate you against other applicants. If the hiring official considers you to be the best candidate for the position, they will likely request a waiver to allow you to be selected.

• Must the applicant specifically request a waiver when applying for a position where the job advertisement states that waivers can be taken into account?See More

  Submitting an application entails a request for exemption when the applicant does not meet the requirements of the standard. Although the standard specifically identifies the senior procurement officer as having the authority and responsibility for the waiver, the likely practice would be for the selecting official to prepare and submit an explanatory document to the senior procurement officer linking the applicant's experience and characteristics to the performance. requirements for the work being performed. met. The board is obliged to document its decision to issue a dispensation.

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The relationship between the position of a civilian agency and a defense agency

• I am a civilian agency 1102. Can I qualify for a position in the Department of Defense?See More

  The qualification standard does not apply to positions in defense agencies; instead, the applicable requirements are set out in DAWIA. However, there is comparability between both sets of requirements. DoD positions up to the GS-13 level require either a bachelor's degree OR 24 semester hours in certain fields, which is the same requirement established by Standard 1102 for civilian agency positions up to the GS-12 level. The DoD also created a "competitor corps" to fill GS-14 and above positions, with GS-13s eligible for membership. The entry corps requires a bachelor's degree in 24 semesters, as standard 1102 requires for GS-13 and above positions. If you meet DAWIA's educational requirements, you may qualify for a job in the Ministry of Defence. If you do not meet the educational requirements but have at least ten years of procurement experience since October 1991, DAWIA is your grandfather and you may qualify for a job in the Department of Defense. If you do not meet the educational or experience requirements to be a grandfather, you are not qualified for a job in the Department of Defense, although you can be grandfathered for positions in civilian agencies below the qualification standard. However, DAWIA allows the Ministry of Defense to waive the requirement for your employment.

• I am Defense Agency 1102. Can I qualify for a civilian agency position?See More

  Like anyone applying for a position in a civilian agency, you must generally meet the educational requirements of the standard for the position you are applying for in order to qualify. Let's assume you don't meet the educational requirements. If you were an 1102 as of January 1, 2000, the standard allows you to receive a lateral or promotion to a civilian agency position in grades GS-5 through GS-12. At grade GS-13 and above, you could only move to a position in the same grade that you held as of January 1, 2000. For promotions to civilian agency positions at grade GS-13 and above, you are not eligible if you do not meet the educational requirements; therefore, you will only be able to receive such a promotion if the recruitment agency has given you a dispensation. Your "DoD principalship" does not apply to positions in civilian agencies and does not give you access to promotions outside of the DoD. When you are appointed to a position in a civilian agency, you are subject to the qualification standard for future promotions in the civilian agency. If you transfer to a civilian agent position under GS-12, you will be eligible for promotions through GS-12 even if you do not meet the educational requirements. For promotions to grade GS-13 and above, you must obtain a waiver if you do not meet the educational requirements.

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