R 251648Z APR 11

ALCGPSC 057/11
SUBJ: 2011 CONTRACTING CAREER OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (CCOP)
A. PROFESSIONAL CAREER INFORMATION AND FEDERAL ACQUISITION
CERTIFICATION IN CONTRACTING (FAC-C) PROGRAM, DHSINST 064-04-003
B. TRAINING AND EDUCATION MANUAL, COMDTINST M1500.10C (SERIES)
C. COAST GUARD WEIGHT AND BODY FAT STANDARDS PROGRAM MANUAL,
COMDTINST M1020.8G
1. THIS MESSAGE ANNOUNCES CONTINUATION OF AND SOLICITATION FOR THE
CONTRACTING CAREER OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (CCOP), A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM
INTENDED TO PROVIDE RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE MILITARY PARTICIPANTS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FAC-C LEVEL II
CERTIFICATION AS OUTLINED IN REF (A). PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ASSIGNED
TO COMMANDANT (CG-91) IN WASHINGTON, DC, WHERE THEY WILL WORK UNDER
THE MENTORSHIP OF CONTRACTING OFFICERS TO COMPLETE PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS THAT COMBINE RESIDENT TRAINING, ONLINE TRAINING, FORMAL
ON-THE-JOB-TRAINING AND REAL WORK EXPERIENCE. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE
EXPECTED TO COMPLETE THE ENTIRE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM AND WILL NOT BE
ASSIGNED TAD DURING THE PROGRAM, EXCEPT TO MEET TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS.
2. THE CCOP IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE CAREER GROWTH OPPORTUNITY
THAT ADDRESSES THE COAST GUARD'S CURRENT AND FORECASTED SHORTFALLS
IN QUALIFIED CONTRACTING PROFESSIONALS.  ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROGRAM
PROVIDES A POTENTIAL CAREER OPPORTUNITY (POST-MILITARY) FOR QUALIFIED
COAST GUARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE ALREADY DECIDED TO RETIRE FROM THE
ACTIVE SERVICE BEFORE SUMMER 2014. WHILE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF A
JOB OFFER UPON PROGRAM COMPLETION, THE COMBINATION OF HANDS-ON
EXPERIENCE IN FORMAL CONTRACTING AT COAST GUARD HEADQUATERS (CGHQ),
ALONG WITH FAC-C LEVEL II CERTIFICATION SHOULD PROVIDE FOR PROGRAM
GRADUATES WITH APPROPRIATE SKILLS TO COMPETE FOR CIVILIAN POSITIONS
IN FORMAL CONTRACTING. OPTIMALLY, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO
SUBMIT THEIR REQUEST FOR RETIREMENT LETTER UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION
OF THE FIRST YEAR ON BOARD CG-91, SO THAT UPON PROGRAM COMPLETION,
THEY MAY COMPETE FOR COAST GUARD CIVILIAN CONTRACTING POSITIONS.
3. CCOP PARTICIPANTS WHO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM, BUT ELECT NOT TO
RETIRE, WILL BE REQUIRED TO SERVE ONE MONTH OF OBLIGATED SERVICE
FOR EACH MONTH OF PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, IAW REF (B), AND SHOULD
EXPECT ASSIGNMENT TO AN ACTIVE DUTY CONTRACTING BILLET.
4. THE CCOP IS AN ACTIVE DUTY PROGRAM THAT WILL COMPLEMENT EXISTING
CONTRACTING WORKFORCE INITIATIVES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO THE
CIVILIAN WORKFORCE.  AS A CONTRACTING PROFESSIONAL, APPLICANTS WILL
BE EXPECTED TO DEMONSTRATE A HIGH DEGREE OF PROFICIENCY AND APTITUDE
IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: ORAL, WRITTEN, ANALYTICAL, AND CRITICAL
THINKING SKILLS. TITLE 10 RESERVISTS, ACTIVE DUTY OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
(ADOS) RESERVISTS, AND RETIRED RECALL MEMBERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR
THIS PROGRAM.
5. SELECTION TIMELINE:
A) CONVENING DATE: A JOINT OFFICER/ENLISTED CCOP SELECTION PANEL
WILL CONVENE ON 1-2 JUNE 2011. THE PANEL WILL SELECT PARTICIPANTS ON
A BEST QUALIFIED BASIS WHILE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE NEEDS OF
THE SERVICE.
B) DEADLINE DATE: APPLICATION PACKAGES ARE DUE TO PSC-EPM-1 BEFORE
25 MAY 2011. PSC-EPM-1 WILL SERVE AS THE PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT
DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
C) SUBMISSION: THE PREFERRED METHOD OF SUBMISSION FOR ALL
APPLICATIONS IS VIA E-MAIL (I.E., APPLICATION PACKAGE SCANNED AND
ATTACHED TO EMAIL) TO ARL-PF-CGPSC-EPM-1-PANELS(AT)USCG.MIL. IF YOU
ARE UNABLE TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION ELECTRONICALLY, SUBMIT IT VIA
REGULAR U.S. MAIL TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: COMMANDER, PERSONNEL
SERVICE CENTER, CG PSC-EPM-1, MAIL STOP 7200, 4200 WILSON BLVD, SUITE
1100, ARLINGTON, VA 20598-7200. NOTE THAT ALL INCOMING MAIL MUST BE
PROCESSED THROUGH AN OFFSITE, EXTERNAL MAIL SECURITY PROCESSING
CENTER WHICH ADDS AN ADDITIONAL TWO WEEKS FOR MAIL DELIVERY, SO
SUBMISSION BY E-MAIL IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED TO ENSURE THE
APPLICATION ARRIVES AT PSC-EPM-1 BEFORE THE REQUIRED DEADLINE.
REGARDLESS OF THE SUBMISSION METHOD, MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE AN E-MAIL
ACKNOWLEDGMENT CONFIRMING POSITIVE RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION
PACKAGE. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION WITHIN ONE WEEK OF
SUBMITTING YOUR PACKAGE, CONTACT PSC-EPM-1 AT 202-493-1238. MEMBERS
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THEIR APPLICATION PACKAGE ARRIVES AT
PSC-EPM-1 BEFORE THE REQUIRED DEADLINE. QUESTIONS REGARDING THE
APPLICATION PROCESS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO
ARL-PF-CGPSC-EPM-1-PANELS(AT)USCG.MIL.
6. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
A) MILITARY MEMBERS WITH A RANK OF W-4 OR BELOW.
B) APPLICANTS MUST BE RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE BY 2014, WITH 17 TO 27
YEARS TIME IN SERVICE (TIS) AND A MINIMUM OF 36 MONTHS REMAINING ON
ACTIVE DUTY AT THE TIME OF THE SELECTION PANEL.
C) ANY INDIVIDUAL CURRENTLY FILLING OR WHO HAS FILLED ROLES IN
CONTRACTING, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, OR
CONTRACTING OFFICER'S TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVES (COTRS).
D) APPLICANTS SHOULD BE TOUR COMPLETE IN 2012.
E) APPLICANTS MUST POSSESS A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE OR HAVE AT
LEAST 24 SEMESTER HOURS AMONG ACCOUNTING, BUSINESS FINANCE,
CONTRACTS, ECONOMICS, INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT, LAW, ORGANIZATION
AND MANAGEMENT, OR PURCHASING AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS.
F) WAIVERS WILL BE CONSIDERED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. ALL WAIVERS
SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO PSC-EPM-1 AT THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL ADDRESS,
ARL-PF-CGPSC-EPM-1-PANELS(AT)USCG.MIL.
7.  APPLICATION GUIDELINES:
A) EACH APPLICANT MUST SUBMIT A COVER MEMO VIA THEIR COMMAND. THE
MEMO SHOULD INDICATE THAT THEY MEET THE PREREQUISITES, UNDERSTAND THE
OBLIGATED SERVICE REQUIREMENTS, AND DETAIL WHY THEY DESIRE
PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM.
B) COMMAND ENDORSEMENT. COMMANDS MUST PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIVE
ENDORSEMENT TO THE MEMBER'S MEMO. ENDORSEMENT MUST INCLUDE A
STATEMENT CERTIFYING THE MEMBER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH COAST GUARD
WEIGHT STANDARDS AS DESCRIBED IN REF (C). THIS INPUT IS CRITICAL TO
THE SELECTION PROCESS. THE ENDORSEMENT MUST INCLUDE THE COMMANDING
OFFICERS RECOMMENDATION AS IT PERTAINS TO THE MEMBERS ABILITY TO
COMPLETE THE COURSE OF STUDY, COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY BOTH ORALLY AND
IN WRITING, ANALYZE INFORMATION EFFECTIVELY, MAKE SOUND BUSINESS
DECISIONS, PERFORM IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER, AND AN ASSESSMENT OF
THEIR FUTURE POTENTIAL/APTITUDE.
C) COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT DEMONSTRATING PROOF OF BACCALAUREATE
DEGREE OR AT LEAST 24 SEMESTER HOURS AMONG ACCOUNTING, BUSINESS
FINANCE, CONTRACTS, ECONOMICS, INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT, LAW,
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT, OR PURCHASING AND QUANTITATIVE
METHODS. APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS FROM A
REGIONALLY ACCREDITED INSTITUTION. AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION
(ACE) DOCUMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
D) PROFESSIONAL RESUME DEMONSTRATING EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND
CERTIFICATIONS IN CONTRACTING, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
AND/OR AS A COTR.
E) WRITTEN RESPONSES TO THE FOLLOWING KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES
QUESTIONS.
1. DISCUSS YOUR MOST CHALLENGING CONTRACTING OR OTHER
ASSIGNMENT/EXPERIENCE. DISCUSS THE ISSUES YOU FACED, THE ALTERNATIVE
SOLUTIONS YOU CONSIDERED AND THE OUTCOME OF THE EXPERIENCE.
2. STRONG ORAL, WRITTEN, ANALYTICAL AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS ARE
REQUIRED. ON A SCALE OF 1-10 (10 BEING THE HIGHEST), PLEASE RATE
YOURSELF IN EACH OF THESE AREAS. YOU MUST JUSTIFY YOUR RATINGS BY
PROVIDING SPECIFIC EXAMPLES/EXPERIENCES.
F) A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM THEIR SERVICING CHIEF OF
CONTRACTING OFFICE (COCO) AS IT PERTAINS TO THE MEMBERS ABILITY TO
COMPLETE THE COURSE OF STUDY, COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY BOTH ORALLY AND
IN WRITING, ANALYZE INFORMATION EFFECTIVELY, MAKE SOUND BUSINESS
DECISIONS, PERFORM IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER, AND AN ASSESSMENT OF
THEIR FUTURE POTENTIAL/APTITUDE.
8. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE FOLLOWING POCS:
CCOP PROGRAM MANAGER: MS. DEBORAH BOYDSTON, 202-475-3718
PSC-EPM-1 ENLISTED PANEL COORDINATOR: YN1 SABRINA ISAAC, 202-493-1238
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.