FAC-C Level II Study Guide: Domains, Tips, and Resources
FAC-C Level II represents the intermediate professional level in federal contracting, typically required for contracting officers handling larger, more complex procurements. Building on Level I's foundation, Level II introduces deeper competencies in source selection, cost and price analysis, negotiation, and contract administration for complex requirements. Earning Level II requires 80 total CLPs, two years of federal contracting experience, and completion of specific advanced courses.
Level II Core Competency Areas
FAC-C Level II curriculum covers six core competency areas: (1) Acquisition Planning — market research, acquisition strategies, source selection planning; (2) Legal and Regulatory Framework — FAR parts, agency supplements, statutory requirements; (3) Source Selection — RFP development, evaluation factors, tradeoff analysis, documentation; (4) Contract Pricing and Cost Analysis — price analysis, cost realism, forward pricing rates, should-cost analysis; (5) Contract Administration — modifications, disputes, claims, closeout, contractor performance assessment; (6) Business and Finance — contractor responsibility, financial analysis, indirect cost structures.
Course Recommendations for Level II
DAU's CON 200 series forms the backbone of Level II preparation. CON 200 (Business Decisions for Contracting) covers financial analysis and cost evaluation. CON 216 (Legal Considerations in Contracting) addresses regulatory and legal issues. CON 235 (Advanced Contract Pricing) goes deep into cost analysis. CON 270 (Procurement Ethics) is typically required for all levels. Beyond DAU, NCMA (National Contract Management Association) offers CFCM and CPCM certifications that complement FAC-C and provide additional professional credibility in the contracting community.
| Competency | Key Topics to Master |
|---|---|
| Source Selection | LPTA vs. best value, evaluation criteria, proposal evaluation |
| Cost/Price Analysis | Forward pricing rates, cost realism, profit objectives |
| Contract Administration | Changes clause, constructive changes, stop work, T4C/T4D |
| Acquisition Planning | Market research, acquisition strategy, subcontracting plans |
How FAC-C Certification Compares to Other Federal Acquisition Credentials
FAC-C is specific to civilian agency contracting personnel. The Department of Defense operates a parallel system: DAWIA (Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act) certification, which uses Acquisition Corps levels and is managed by the Defense Acquisition University. Personnel who move between DoD and civilian agencies may need to demonstrate equivalency between DAWIA and FAC-C credentials. FAI maintains a process for DAWIA-to-FAC-C reciprocity, but it requires agency-level verification and supervisor sign-off.
The Continuous Learning Points (CLP) requirement — 80 CLPs every two years for all FAC-C levels — is tracked in the Acquisition Career Manager (ACM) system. CLPs can be earned through DAU courses, agency training programs, conferences, formal education, and on-the-job experience activities with supervisor verification. Each CLP represents one hour of approved learning. Missing the biennial requirement results in lapse of certification and may affect your contracting officer warrant.
| Credential | Issuing Body | Applies To | CLP Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAC-C | FAI (Federal Acquisition Institute) | Civilian agency contracting personnel | 80 CLPs / 2 years |
| DAWIA | DAU / DoD | DoD contracting personnel | 80 CLPs / 2 years |
| FAC-COR | FAI | Contracting Officer Representatives | 40 CLPs / 2 years |
| FAC-P/PM | FAI | Program/Project Managers | 80 CLPs / 2 years |
GSA program details verified against GSA.gov and FAI.gov as of March 2026. Requirements, fees, and thresholds change — confirm current details at gsa.gov before submitting your application.
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FAC-C Certification Requirements Overview
The Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) is the primary professional certification for civilian agency contracting officers and contract specialists. It is required for warranted contracting officers above specific dollar thresholds and is increasingly expected even for lower-level contracting positions. The certification has three levels — FAC-C Level I, Level II, and Level III — each requiring a combination of training hours, experience, and continuous learning units (CLUs).
Level I requires 14 CLPs (Continuous Learning Points) in specific training modules covering the basics of federal acquisition. Level II requires an additional 40 CLPs covering intermediate contracting topics and a mandatory cost/price analysis module. Level III requires an additional 40 CLPs focused on advanced acquisition strategies, performance-based contracting, and contract management. All levels require documented contracting experience validated by your agency's contracting officer of record.
Training Resources for FAC-C Candidates
The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) offers free training courses to all federal acquisition workforce personnel, including civilians at non-DOD agencies. DAU's online catalog includes all courses required for FAC-C at each level. The Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) also publishes training pathways aligned to FAC-C requirements. Many agencies have internal training coordinators who can guide you through the specific modules required at each level based on your current experience documentation.
Practical Guidance for GSA Schedule Contractors
Federal contracting professionals who work with the GSA Schedule program on a regular basis develop a practical understanding of how to manage contracts efficiently while staying compliant. Here are key operational practices that consistently improve outcomes for both new awardees and experienced contractors renewing or expanding their schedules.
Document everything contemporaneously. GSA audits often occur years after the initial award, and the auditors will request records from the period of negotiation and early contract performance. Maintain organized files of all pricing justifications, CSP-1 disclosures, and negotiation correspondence. Companies that cannot produce these records during an audit face a much higher settlement risk than those who can demonstrate their pricing was accurately disclosed.
Assign a contract compliance owner. Many GSA contractors experience compliance issues because no specific individual owns the ongoing obligations. Designate one person as the GSA contract administrator responsible for monitoring sales reporting deadlines, acknowledging mass modifications, tracking price reduction clause triggers, and maintaining SAM.gov registration currency. This single point of accountability prevents the "everyone assumed someone else handled it" failures that generate the most costly compliance findings.
Build a GSA-specific rate review into your annual planning cycle. Review your GSA Schedule rates at least annually against your current commercial pricing and market rates. If your commercial rates have increased, you have the opportunity to submit a price modification that increases your GSA rates. If market rates have dropped significantly below your GSA pricing, you may be losing orders to competitors — a voluntary rate reduction can restore competitiveness. Proactive rate management keeps your contract a productive revenue channel rather than an administrative burden.
Next Steps
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GSA Schedule information changes as acquisition regulations are updated. Verify current requirements at gsa.gov/acquisition/gsa-schedules and sam.gov before making contracting decisions.