# 501.603-2 Selection.

1. (a) Contracting Officer Warrant Board (COWB).

   1. (1) The COWB ensures that all of the applicable criteria have been met prior to granting any GSA contracting officer warrant.

   2. (2) Composition of the COWB. The HCA appoints the Board members and the Chair.

      1. (i) COWB Chair. The COWB Chair evaluates the contracting officer candidate's credentials prior to submission to the COWB.

      2. (ii) Senior leadership representing each type of warrant issued by the contracting activity.

      3. (iii) Other specialized representation, such as legal counsel assistance (as requested).

      4. (iv) Any other designee with knowledge and experience in the warrant procedures.

2. (b) Nominations for appointment.

   1. (1) Nominations for a regional appointment are submitted by the candidate's supervisor of record. to the regional bureau warrant manager (BWM). The regional BWM will invite the contracting officer candidate to apply for a warrant via FAITAS. In response to the invitation, the contracting officer candidate must provide–

      1. (i) Unofficial college transcripts.

      2. (ii) Completed GSA Form 3409, Personal Qualifications Statement for Appointment as a Contracting Officer or resume detailing experience, education, and training relevant to the position.

      3. (iii) GSA Form 3410, Request for Appointment. The GSA Form 3410 must discuss the contracting activity's specific need for the warrant. Justify the need in Block 1 of the form.

      4. (iv) Verification of candidate's training.

   2. (2) National Warrant Nomination Process–

      1. (i) Nominations for a national acquisition appointment are submitted by the candidate's HCA to the National Office of Acquisition Management.

      2. (ii) Nominations for a national leasing appointment are submitted by the candidate's respective regional HCA to the National Office of Leasing.

      3. (iii) Nominations for a national site acquisition appointment are submitted by the Director, Office of Real Property Valuation to the National Office of Acquisition Management.

      4. (iv) The applicable BCM will invite the contracting officer candidate to apply for a warrant via FAITAS. In response to the invitation, the contracting officer candidate must provide-

         1. (A) Unofficial college transcripts.

         2. (B) Current resume detailing experience, education, and training relevant to the position or previous/current regional warrant certificate.

         3. (C) Completed and signed national warrant nominee form.

         4. (D) Verification of candidate's training.

3. (c) Evaluation of candidates for contracting officer warrants.

   1. (1) Experience requirements. The COWB must consider the candidate's relevant experience in determining the candidate's capability to assume contracting officer responsibilities at the desired level.

      Warrant Level | Experience Required
      --- | ---
      Basic | At least 1 year of current (within last 3 years) contracting experience with progressively broader assignments
      Simplified Acquisition | At least 2 years of current (within the last 5 years) contracting experience with progressively broader assignments
      Intermediate | At least 3 years of current (within the last 7 years) contracting experience with progressively broader assignments*
      Senior | At least 4 years of current (within the last 10 years) contracting experience with progressively broader assignments*

      *The COWB will consider the quality of past contracts and leases and the results of any independent review conducted by the contracting activity to verify the nominee's contracting experience as defined in 501.603-1(a) at the intermediate and senior level.

   2. (2) Training requirements.

      1. (i) Any contracting professional issued an unlimited warrant after October 1, 2014 must be Level III certified.

      2. (ii) Contracting officer candidates must complete the minimum training requirements. GSA has adopted the FAC-C curriculum established by the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI).

      3. (iii) Refer to the Acquisition Workforce Community of Practice accessible through GSA's Acquisition Portal (https://insite.gsa.gov/portal/category/534186) for the minimum training requirements for warrants.

      4. (iv) In addition to the warrant requirements, individuals may be required to complete additional training to strengthen the acquisition workforce.

      5. (v) Contracting officers with multiple warrant authorities (e.g., with authority to dispose of and to acquire goods and services) must complete the mandatory training required for all warrant authorities at the applicable warrant level(s).

   3. (3) Educational requirements.

      1. (i) Applicants at pay grades 5 through 12. Applicants for permanent warrants above the simplified acquisition level, who are at grades 5 through 12, must have completed a four year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree or 24 semester hours in one of the designated fields as shown in paragraph (c)(3)(iii) of this section.

      2. (ii) Applicants at grades 13 and above. Applicants for permanent warrants above the simplified acquisition level, who are at grade 13 or above, must have completed a four year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the designated fields as shown in paragraph (c)(3)(iii) of this section. The SPE may waive these requirements. The applicant must demonstrate significant analytical and decision-making capabilities, an acceptable job performance record, and qualifying experience.

      3. (iii) The designated educational fields are:

         1. (A) Accounting.

         2. (B) Business.

         3. (C) Finance.

         4. (D) Law.

         5. (E) Contracts

         6. (F) Purchasing

         7. (G) Economics.

         8. (H) Industrial management.

         9. (I) Marketing.

         10. (J) Quantitative methods.

         11. (K) Organization and management.

      4. (iv) Employees who were warranted prior to January 1, 2000, are considered to have met the educational standard for their existing warrant; however, warrant increases or new warrant applications are subject to applicable warrant requirements.

      5. (v) To retain warrants, Contracting Officers must meet the 80 hour CLP requirement, every two years, as outlined in the FAC-C curriculum.

   4. (4) Job classification requirements.

      1. (i) PBS National Acquisition Warrants are limited to candidates within the GS-1102 job series.

      2. (ii) PBS National Leasing Warrants are limited to candidates within the GS-1170 job series.

      3. (iii) PBS National Site Acquisition Warrants are limited to candidates within the GS-1170 job series.