1. Introduction

The APC is a subset of the DON acquisition workforce. The APC consists of a select group of highly skilled military and civilian acquisition professionals. DON CAPs must be filled with members of the APC. This chapter provides policies and procedures for granting APC membership and APC selection standard waivers.

2. General

a. Membership in the APC is voluntary. Persons holding CAPs on 1 October 1992 do not have to join the APC to remain in the position held on that date. However, they must become APC members in order to move into another CAP, regardless of the method used to place the person in the CAP or the reason for the move.

b. APC membership standards may be changed only with the concurrence of the USD(A&T). A request to change standards must be addressed to the DACM via the requester's chain of command. The request must be in writing and explain the reasons for the desired change. If the DACM agrees, the request shall be forwarded by the DACM to the USD(A&T) for concurrence.

3. Delegation of Authorities

a. The DACM shall, subject to the concurrence of the USD(A&T), authorize changes to APC membership requirements.

b. Military. The CHNAVPERS and CMC, or their designees, are authorized to take the following actions on military personnel other than flag and general officers:

1. Through an administrative board made up of APC members, select military personnel into the APC and approve APC selection standard waivers for military personnel;
2. Administratively cancel APC membership of military members; and
3. Administratively separate military members from the APC.

c. Flag and general officers

1. The CRNAVPERS and CMC, or their designees, are authorized to recommend to the ASN(RD&A), via the DACM, flag and general officers for APC membership actions listed in paragraph 3b(l) through (3).
2. The ASN(RD&A) shall approve APC membership actions for flag and general officers.

d. Civilian. Commanders or directors of acquisition organizations, or their designee(s), are authorized to take the following actions for civilian personnel through the GS-15 level:

1. Select civilian personnel into the APC and approve APC selection standard waivers;
2. Administratively cancel APC membership of civilian members; and
3. Administratively separate civilian members from the APC.

c. SES

1. Commanders or directors of acquisition organizations, or their designees, are authorized to recommend, via the DACM, SES personnel for APC membership actions listed in paragraph 3d(l) through (3).
2. The ASN(RD&A) shall approve APC membership actions for SES personnel.

f. The immediate, or a higher level, supervisor of the person requiring the waiver is authorized to request an APC selection standard waiver.

g. The authority to approve APC selection standard waivers may be redelegated no lower than the flag, general officer, or SES level.

4. APC Membership Criteria

a. All APC applicants must either:

1. Be a DON acquisition workforce member graded at GS-13 (or comparable demonstration project grade), O-4, or above; or
2. Be tentatively selected for a DON CAP.

b. In addition to 4a, APC applicants must:

1. Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees;
2. Have completed:

• At least 24 semester credit hours (or academic equivalent) of study from an accredited institution of higher education from among the disciplines of accounting, business finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods (see definitions of quantitative methods in part 4), and organization and management (combinations of college credit courses and approved equivalency examinations, e.g., DANTES, totaling 24 semester credit hours may be used), or
• At least 24 semester hours (or academic equivalent) from an accredited institution of higher education in their primary career field along with 12 semester hours (or academic equivalent) from the management disciplines listed in paragraph 4b(2)(a). In lieu of the 12 semester hours, applicants may substitute training courses for which ACE has recommended academic credit hours. Substitution of training courses for the 12 semester hour requirement must be based on the credit hour and discipline recommendations published by the ACE.
• Clarification. Paragraph 4b(2)(b) does not apply to persons in the contracting career field. Such persons must have the 24 hours in the disciplines listed in paragraph 4b(2)(a) .
• Applicants may meet the requirement for semester hour credit in the business disciplines listed in paragraph 4b(2)(a) by passing examinations that are accepted by accredited institutions of higher education for academic credit in those business disciplines. Accepted examinations are the DANTES Subject Standardized Tests and the subject examinations of the College Level Examination Program, both of which are available at DANTES Test Centers.

3. Have at least 4 years of experience in Federal government acquisition positions or comparable positions in the private sector (up to 1 year may be credited for time spent pursuing a program of academic training or education in acquisition); and

4. Be certified at or meet all mandatory training required for either level II or III of the workforce member's primary career field. (Note: if the APC applicant is not an acquisition workforce member, e.g., an applicant from private industry, and has been tentatively selected for a CAP, the applicant must meet the mandatory training required for either level II or III of the primary career field of the acquisition position for which the applicant has been tentatively selected.)

c. In addition to 4a and b, Navy military unrestricted line applicants must include O-5 operational command screen.

d. Mobility, either geographic or non-geographic, is an expectation of APC membership and assignment to a CAP. APC members are encouraged to seek opportunities for reassignment.

5. Exception to Education Requirements

a. The APC standards in paragraphs 4b(1) and (2), i.e., the baccalaureate degree and the 24/12 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours), do not apply to persons who, on 1 October 1991, had at least 10 years of experience in Federal government acquisition positions or in comparable private sector positions. In other words, if the applicant had 10 years of acquisition experience as of 1 October 1991, a waiver is not required.

b. Employees are exempt from the degree standard in paragraph 4b(1) if they meet aIl three of the following conditions:

1. Were serving in an acquisition position on 1 October 1991;
2. Had less than 10 years in acquisition positions as of 1 October 1991; and
3. Have 24 semester credit hours in the disciplines stated in paragraph 4b(2)(a). Combinations of college credit courses and approved equivalency examinations totaling 24 semester credit hours may be used, but there is no alternative to the requirement that the 24 hours all be in the stated, business- related disciplines.

c. These exceptions apply only to the education requirements. The experience and training requirements must still be met.

6. Civilian APC Application Procedure

a. Applications shall be made by following the format provided in appendix L. If the applicant has obtained an APC selection standard waiver (only applicable to an incumbent of a CAP or a person tentatively selected for a CAP, see paragraph 10), the applicant shall attach a copy of the approved APC selection standard waiver. Appendix M provides the format for an APC selection standard waiver. The completed APC application shall be forwarded to the applicant's supervisor.

b. The supervisor shall review the application. If the supervisor determines that the applicant has met all standards, the supervisor shall recommend approval or disapproval, sign and date the application, and forward the application to the official authorized in paragraph 3 to select members into the APC (this may be done by the supervisor if the supervisor has been delegated authority to select members into the APC). (Note: SES may be approved only by the ASN(RD&A).) If the supervisor recommends disapproval, reasons for the recommendation shall be attached.

c. If the application for membership is approved, the selecting official shall mark the application indicating approval, sign and date the application, and forward the original approval to the servicing HRO for processing into DCPDS and filing in the member's official record. The selecting official shall forward a copy of the approval form to the APC member via the member's immediate supervisor.

d. If the application is denied, the official shall mark the application indicating disapproval, attach written reasons for disapproval, sign and date the application, and return the disapproved application to the applicant.

7. Navy Military (other than flag officers) APC Entrance Procedure

a. The personnel records of officers shall be screened by a BUPERS administrative board to determine whether the officer meets APC standards.

1. Officers who meet the APC standards shall be afforded an opportunity to join the APC and assigned an AQD. BUPERS shall document APC membership in the member's official personnel record and notify the officer of his or her membership.
2. Officers who do not meet the APC standards must receive an APC selection standard waiver for each standard not met before entering the APC. APC selection standard waiver procedures are described in paragraph 10.

b. Navy officers at the O-4 level and senior may apply for membership in the APC. They shall forward an application using the format in appendix L to BUPERS (PERS-447) for screening. (Note: APC selection standard waivers may be granted only to Navy officers who have been tentatively selected for or who are assigned to CAPS.)

8. Marine Corps Military (other than general officers) APC Entrance Procedure

a. Selection into the APC for Marine Corps military members is outlined below.

1. Marine Corps military personnel shall make application for the APC as part of review for assignment of an acquisition MOS.
2. Regular Marine Corps officers may make application for designation as an Acquisition Manager (MOS 9959), Acquisition Management Officer (MOS 9958), and Acquisition Professional Candidate (MOS 9957). APC membership includes officers with MOS 9959 and 9958.
3. A Marine Corps APC Selection Board shall be convened annually. The Board shall consider applications and recommend the appropriate MOS and career field. A Board may be convened to review applications which must be considered outside the normal annual process.
4. The Selection Board shall use the sample format application provided in appendix L to document entry into the APC. The original approved application shall be filed in the member's personnel record. Selection into the APC shall be recorded into AWSOM.

b. The Board may recommend APC selection standard waivers or, if delegated authority per paragraph 3b, approve APC selection standard waivers. (Note: APC selection standard waiver into the APC may be granted only to Marine Corps officers who have been tentatively selected for or who are assigned to CAPS.)

9. Waivers Applicable to CAPS

a. Persons selected for CAPS who are not already APC members may still be assigned to the CAP through one of two types of waivers. The first type of waiver is an APC selection standard waiver which permits entry into the APC. The second type of waiver is a CAP assignment waiver which permits a non-APC member to be assigned to a specific CAP.

b. CAP assignment waivers, which are valid only for the particular assignment for which granted, are discussed in part 1, chapter V. Procedures for requesting and approving APC selection standard waivers, which confer APC membership, are discussed in paragraph 10.

10. APC Selection Standard Waiver Procedure

This procedure shall be used only for an incumbent of a CAP or a person tentatively selected for a CAP. Other persons must fully meet APC requirements before he or she is selected for APC membership.

a. An APC selection standard waiver request must be in writing. The request must be signed by an official authorized in paragraph 3f above and must contain the following statement (R justifying significant potential for advancement: "I certify significant potential for the following reasons: (insert the rationale)." Appendix M provides the format for requesting for APC selection standard waiver.

b. An APC selection standard waiver must be approved before a person may be selected into the APC. If the APC selection standard waiver is granted, the granting official (see paragraphs 3b through e) shall:

1. For civilian applicants, ensure that the original approved waiver is forward8d to the servicing BRO for processing into DCPDS and filing in the member's official personnel record and that a copy of the approved waiver is forwarded to the applicant and to the DACH; or
2. For Navy military applicants, the official authorized to grant APC selection standard waivers shall ensure that the original approved waiver is forwarded to BUPERS for entry into the member's official personnel record and that a copy of the approved waiver is provided to the applicant and to the DACM; or
3. For Marine Corps military applicants, the official authorized to grant APC selection standard waivers shall forward the original approved waiver to CIW, Code WHOA-3, for data entry into AWSOM and filing in the member's official personnel record. The official authorized to grant APC selection standard waivers shall ensure that a copy of the approved waiver is provided to the applicant and to the DACM.

c. If the application is disapproved, the original application with the rationale for disapproval shall be returned to the applicant. A copy of the disapproved application should be retained by the official authorized to grant APC selection standard waivers, or designee(s), for a minimum of 2 years.

11. Resignation from the APC

If an APC member wishes to resign from the APC, management should counsel the APC member because resignation from the APC will result in the person being ineligible to hold a CAP unless a CAP assignment waiver is approved.

a. A member wishing to resign from the APC shall submit a written resignation to the official authorized in paragraph 3 to. cancel APC membership. The resignation should identify the reasons for the resignation and state whether the member occupies a CAP.

b. The official authorized in paragraph 3 to cancel APC membership shall distribute copies of the resignation in accordance with paragraph 12c(3).

c. If the person resigning from the APC encumbers a CAP, management must either reassign the person to a non-CAP or obtain a CAP assignment waiver.

12. Admistrative Cancellation of APC Membership

An APC member shall retain APC membership indefinitely subject to the following exceptions.

a. Cancellation of DON APC membership shall occur under the following circumstances:

1. If an APC member serves 5 consecutive years in non- acquisition positions;
2. If an APC member leaves DON military active duty or civilian service;
3. If an APC member's resignation from the APC is received; or
4. If an APC member was erroneously admitted to the APC.

b. If a person desires to rejoin the APC after cancellation of APC membership, that person must apply for APC membership.

c. An official authorized in paragraph 3 to cancel APC membership shall:

1. Other than persons who leave DON per paragraph 11 or 12a(2), provide the APC member with a written notice of cancellation of APC membership which specifies the reason(s) for the cancellation;
2. Provide a copy of the notice of cancellation or resignation to the DACM; and
3. So that the member's official records may be amended to reflect cancellation or resignation of APC membership, provide a copy of notice of cancellation or resignation of APC membership to:

• The servicing HR0 for a civilian employee,
• BUPERS (PBRS-447) for a Navy military member, or
• CMC, Code MMOA-3 for a Marine Corps military member.

13. Administrative Separation from the APC

An official authorized in paragraph 3 may administratively separate a member from the APC. An example of a reason which might warrant administrative separation from the APC is falsification of APC application. An official authorized in paragraph 3 to separate members from the APC shall:

a. Provide the APC member with a written proposal in advance of the administrative separation from the APC which specifies the reason(s) for the proposal and which offers the member an opportunity to reply;

b. Consider any reply that the APC member may make;

c. Provide the APC member with a written decision which specifies the reasons for the action, considers any reply that the APC member may have made, and which, if the decision is separation from the APC, gives the effective date of the separation and advises the member of the procedure for contesting the decision, i.e., a civilian employee may grieve and a military member may request reconsideration at a higher level;

d. Provide a copy of the separation notice to the DACM; and

e. So that the member's official records may be amended to reflect cancellation of APC membership, provide a copy of the separation notice to:

• the servicing HRO for a civilian employee,
• BUPERS (PERS-447) for a Navy military member, or
• CMC, Code MMOA-3, for a Marine Corps military member.

14. Reciprocity

There is reciprocity between the DON APC and other DOD Component Acquisition Corps. Reciprocity means membership in the DON APC is interchangeable with membership in another DOD Component Acquisition Corps.