CO Toolkit | FAI.GOV
Source: https://www.fai.gov/resources/co-toolkit
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:12
CO Toolkit | FAI.GOV
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The Contracting Officer Toolkit is a knowledge based, ready reference guide, developed by the Fall 2020 LEAP team in partnership with FAI. Some of the links provided may require you to register and login in order to access the material.
Policies & Guidance
Agency-Specific FAR Supplements
Handy link to agency FAR supplements such as the DFARS, GSAR, HHSAR, etc.
The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP)
OFPP, which falls under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), plays a central role in shaping the policies and practices federal agencies use to acquire the goods and services they need to carry out their responsibilities.
Policy Letter 05-01 on Developing and Managing the Acquisition Workforce from OFPP (April 15, 2005)
Establishes the government-wide framework for creating a federal acquisition workforce with the skills necessary to deliver best value supplies and services, find the best business solutions, and provide strategic business advice to accomplish agency missions.
OMB Memo on The Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Program (FAC-C) (January 20, 2006 and REVISED December 2008)
Required the FAI to develop a certification program for COs in civilian agencies that reflects common standards with the goal to standardize the education, training, and experience requirements for COs.
OFPP Memo on Revisions to the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C)(May 7, 2014)
Refreshes the OFPP’s requirements to better align the FAC-C with the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) contracting certification curriculum and to strengthen the development of civilian agency contracting professionals.
Guidance on Ethics and Procurement Integrity (PDF)
Provides general information to help recognize some of the most common ethics and procurement integrity issues that can come up during the contracting process.
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
The FAR is the primary regulation for use by all executive agencies in their acquisition of supplies and services with appropriated funds.
CO Resources & Tools
Contract-Awarded Labor Category (CALC) Tool
CALC helps federal COs find awarded prices to use in negotiations for labor contracts. It offers ceiling prices, fully burdened costs, services data, and worldwide rates.
*GSA’s eBuy Open - Access to GSA RFQ/RFP (*Requires MAX.gov access)
An interactive web platform that provides access to all electronic Requests for Quote (RFQ) /Proposal (RFP) submitted through the GSA eBuy system from FY14 forward.
*Prices Paid Portal (*Requires MAX.gov access)
The tool establishes a database that provides buying agencies with transparency into the prices paid by other agencies at the task or delivery order level.
Product Service Code (PSC) Tool
Designed to help Contracting Professionals navigate and select PSCs quickly and accurately. Use of the PSC Tool will assist the procurement communities in properly representing the good or service being purchased, and thereby improve contract and spend data quality.
Green Procurement Compilation (GPC)
GPC is a comprehensive green purchasing resource designed for federal COs. It helps identify applicable green purchasing requirements by consolidating and organizing information from Federal environmental programs in one place.
Steps to Performance Based Acquisition (SPBA)
Breaks down performance-based service acquisition into eight steps. Within the steps you will find information, references, examples, best practices and templates.
Solutions Finder
Provides visibility into the many offerings available from other agencies allowing COs to compare them side-by-side to see what makes the most sense for their specific acquisition.
Research & Pricing Tool
Helps COs find data related to acquisition and category management spend, pricing, and market research information.
Discovery Market Research Tool
A market research tool that helps COs explore GSA services contracts, vendors, and vendor contract history to determine whether a GSA contract can meet their needs.
Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS)
The official U.S. government website for COs to objectively evaluate performance; and review relevant performance and integrity information before making an award decision.
Contracting Professionals Smart Guide
Interactive guide and flowcharts encompassing all aspects of Contract Formation and Administration. Includes identifying relevant tasks, related FAR references, links to relevant FAI and DAU courses, and related online tools (if applicable).
1102 Experience Development Tool (Excel Spreadsheet)
Tool used by COs to identify and document participation in the most common 1102 job tasks, creation of documents, acquisition strategies and contract types in an effort to gain a depth and breadth of experience in the career field.
DAU Acquisition Tools and Resources
Catalog of guides, references and tools to support daily contracting officer acquisition related work.
BETA.SAM.GOV
Beta.Sam.Gov consolidates data that has been migrated from a variety of legacy systems: CFDA.gov; FBO.gov; FPDA.gov; SAM.gov; WDOL.gov and more.
System for Award Management (SAM)
SAM.GOV is the system where contractors register to do business with the U.S. government and where Contracting officials can search for entity registration and exclusion records.
FAR Smart Matrix
Searchable and filterable interactive tool to view or research information within the FAR.
DAU Subway Map
Provides COs with a generalized order of events in the acquisition contracting process to learn more about a particular activity.
Best In Class (BIC) Resource Page
The BIC designation identifies government-wide contracts that satisfy key criteria defined by the OMB. Interagency category teams have designated nearly 40 Best-in-Class contracts to reduce the amount of effort individual buyers spend finding and researching acquisition solutions.
Training
FAC-C Continuous Learning (CL)
General information and requirements to FAC-C specific Continuous Learning.
FAC-C Competencies
Listing of knowledge, skills, and abilities contracting professionals must have in order to perform their contracting duties.
FAC-C Training Courses on FAI CSOD
FAC-C specific course catalog from FAI including DAU related contracting courses.
Certifications & Leadership Development
FAC-C Certification Requirements
Provides listing of minimum core requirements needed to perform contracting functions at each level.
Contracting Professional’s Career Roadmap
Provides Contracting Professionals with a guide to getting started and advancing in the 1102 career field.
Career Opportunities in the Federal Contracting Series (GS-1102)
Informative brochure and links regarding career opportunities in federal contracting.
Leadership Excellence for Acquisition Professionals (LEAP)
A leadership development program for federal contracting professionals seeking to develop the leadership and business skills necessary to take on future government leadership roles.
Services for Agencies, Federal Leadership Development Programs
Online catalogue of Federal Government Leadership Development Programs (FedLDP). Provides a searchable electronic library of programs to foster the development of leadership skills in employees.
Communities Of Practice (CoP)
Acquisition Gateway
A workspace for acquisition professionals and federal buyers to connect with resources, tools and each other to improve acquisition government-wide.
Wifcon site (Where in Federal Contracting)
Quick access to acquisition information such as contracting laws and pending legislation, current and proposed regulations, guidance, courts and boards of contract appeals, bid protest decisions, contracting newsletters, and selected analysis of federal acquisition issues.
*Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) InReach Hub (*Requires MAX.gov access)
Comprehensive source that provides current and upcoming OFPP activities. The goal of inreach is to improve the flow of information about government-wide acquisition policies, guidance, tools and training to help COs succeed in their jobs.
AcqNotes -Defense Acquisitions Made Easy (DOD specific)
Provide the Defense Service Acquisition Community a Knowledge and Intelligence Source to Better Meet the Demands of the DoD.
FAI.GOV
An official website of the
General Services Administration
Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov
Skip to main content
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock
(
) or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
The Contracting Officer Toolkit is a knowledge based, ready reference guide, developed by the Fall 2020 LEAP team in partnership with FAI. Some of the links provided may require you to register and login in order to access the material.
Policies & Guidance
Agency-Specific FAR Supplements
Handy link to agency FAR supplements such as the DFARS, GSAR, HHSAR, etc.
The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP)
OFPP, which falls under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), plays a central role in shaping the policies and practices federal agencies use to acquire the goods and services they need to carry out their responsibilities.
Policy Letter 05-01 on Developing and Managing the Acquisition Workforce from OFPP (April 15, 2005)
Establishes the government-wide framework for creating a federal acquisition workforce with the skills necessary to deliver best value supplies and services, find the best business solutions, and provide strategic business advice to accomplish agency missions.
OMB Memo on The Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Program (FAC-C) (January 20, 2006 and REVISED December 2008)
Required the FAI to develop a certification program for COs in civilian agencies that reflects common standards with the goal to standardize the education, training, and experience requirements for COs.
OFPP Memo on Revisions to the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C)(May 7, 2014)
Refreshes the OFPP’s requirements to better align the FAC-C with the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) contracting certification curriculum and to strengthen the development of civilian agency contracting professionals.
Guidance on Ethics and Procurement Integrity (PDF)
Provides general information to help recognize some of the most common ethics and procurement integrity issues that can come up during the contracting process.
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
The FAR is the primary regulation for use by all executive agencies in their acquisition of supplies and services with appropriated funds.
CO Resources & Tools
Contract-Awarded Labor Category (CALC) Tool
CALC helps federal COs find awarded prices to use in negotiations for labor contracts. It offers ceiling prices, fully burdened costs, services data, and worldwide rates.
*GSA’s eBuy Open - Access to GSA RFQ/RFP (*Requires MAX.gov access)
An interactive web platform that provides access to all electronic Requests for Quote (RFQ) /Proposal (RFP) submitted through the GSA eBuy system from FY14 forward.
*Prices Paid Portal (*Requires MAX.gov access)
The tool establishes a database that provides buying agencies with transparency into the prices paid by other agencies at the task or delivery order level.
Product Service Code (PSC) Tool
Designed to help Contracting Professionals navigate and select PSCs quickly and accurately. Use of the PSC Tool will assist the procurement communities in properly representing the good or service being purchased, and thereby improve contract and spend data quality.
Green Procurement Compilation (GPC)
GPC is a comprehensive green purchasing resource designed for federal COs. It helps identify applicable green purchasing requirements by consolidating and organizing information from Federal environmental programs in one place.
Steps to Performance Based Acquisition (SPBA)
Breaks down performance-based service acquisition into eight steps. Within the steps you will find information, references, examples, best practices and templates.
Solutions Finder
Provides visibility into the many offerings available from other agencies allowing COs to compare them side-by-side to see what makes the most sense for their specific acquisition.
Research & Pricing Tool
Helps COs find data related to acquisition and category management spend, pricing, and market research information.
Discovery Market Research Tool
A market research tool that helps COs explore GSA services contracts, vendors, and vendor contract history to determine whether a GSA contract can meet their needs.
Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS)
The official U.S. government website for COs to objectively evaluate performance; and review relevant performance and integrity information before making an award decision.
Contracting Professionals Smart Guide
Interactive guide and flowcharts encompassing all aspects of Contract Formation and Administration. Includes identifying relevant tasks, related FAR references, links to relevant FAI and DAU courses, and related online tools (if applicable).
1102 Experience Development Tool (Excel Spreadsheet)
Tool used by COs to identify and document participation in the most common 1102 job tasks, creation of documents, acquisition strategies and contract types in an effort to gain a depth and breadth of experience in the career field.
DAU Acquisition Tools and Resources
Catalog of guides, references and tools to support daily contracting officer acquisition related work.
BETA.SAM.GOV
Beta.Sam.Gov consolidates data that has been migrated from a variety of legacy systems: CFDA.gov; FBO.gov; FPDA.gov; SAM.gov; WDOL.gov and more.
System for Award Management (SAM)
SAM.GOV is the system where contractors register to do business with the U.S. government and where Contracting officials can search for entity registration and exclusion records.
FAR Smart Matrix
Searchable and filterable interactive tool to view or research information within the FAR.
DAU Subway Map
Provides COs with a generalized order of events in the acquisition contracting process to learn more about a particular activity.
Best In Class (BIC) Resource Page
The BIC designation identifies government-wide contracts that satisfy key criteria defined by the OMB. Interagency category teams have designated nearly 40 Best-in-Class contracts to reduce the amount of effort individual buyers spend finding and researching acquisition solutions.
Training
FAC-C Continuous Learning (CL)
General information and requirements to FAC-C specific Continuous Learning.
FAC-C Competencies
Listing of knowledge, skills, and abilities contracting professionals must have in order to perform their contracting duties.
FAC-C Training Courses on FAI CSOD
FAC-C specific course catalog from FAI including DAU related contracting courses.
Certifications & Leadership Development
FAC-C Certification Requirements
Provides listing of minimum core requirements needed to perform contracting functions at each level.
Contracting Professional’s Career Roadmap
Provides Contracting Professionals with a guide to getting started and advancing in the 1102 career field.
Career Opportunities in the Federal Contracting Series (GS-1102)
Informative brochure and links regarding career opportunities in federal contracting.
Leadership Excellence for Acquisition Professionals (LEAP)
A leadership development program for federal contracting professionals seeking to develop the leadership and business skills necessary to take on future government leadership roles.
Services for Agencies, Federal Leadership Development Programs
Online catalogue of Federal Government Leadership Development Programs (FedLDP). Provides a searchable electronic library of programs to foster the development of leadership skills in employees.
Communities Of Practice (CoP)
Acquisition Gateway
A workspace for acquisition professionals and federal buyers to connect with resources, tools and each other to improve acquisition government-wide.
Wifcon site (Where in Federal Contracting)
Quick access to acquisition information such as contracting laws and pending legislation, current and proposed regulations, guidance, courts and boards of contract appeals, bid protest decisions, contracting newsletters, and selected analysis of federal acquisition issues.
*Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) InReach Hub (*Requires MAX.gov access)
Comprehensive source that provides current and upcoming OFPP activities. The goal of inreach is to improve the flow of information about government-wide acquisition policies, guidance, tools and training to help COs succeed in their jobs.
AcqNotes -Defense Acquisitions Made Easy (DOD specific)
Provide the Defense Service Acquisition Community a Knowledge and Intelligence Source to Better Meet the Demands of the DoD.
FAI.GOV
An official website of the
General Services Administration
Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov