Introduction to Fundamentals of International Acquisition

Required for Basic Level Certification for SC Acquisition Management

This course teaches the fundamentals of international acquisition and its relationship to Security Cooperation including relevant laws and policies and the roles of involved U.S. Government organizations. It covers International Armaments Cooperation (IAC) and Security Assistance programs, how they relate to the Defense Acquisition System, and the processes and procedures used on these forms of international acquisition. The course also covers international contracting, international logistics, and systems engineering activities as they relate to program protection and interoperability, and technology security basics. Upon completion of this course, students will have a broad foundation on all forms of international engagement conducted by the Defense Acquisition and Security Cooperation Workforces and how they can be employed to enhance acquisition outcomes and improve allied and friendly nation interoperability.

This course equips the student to describe Security Cooperation, major enabling legislation, and its relationship to international acquisition; describe key State Department and Commerce Department players in Security Cooperation and international acquisition and their roles; describe key Department of Defense (DoD) players in Security Cooperation and international acquisition and their roles; describe international considerations in defense capabilities and in initiating defense acquisition programs; describe international considerations within the Defense Acquisition System; describe the objectives of International Armaments Cooperation (IAC) and the foundation and infrastructure upon which IAC is based; describe IAC agreements and enabling programs; describe International Cooperative Programs, legal authorities, types of international agreements, and major considerations; describe the processes and documentation requirements that the DoD uses to manage the negotiation and signature of international agreements, including coordination requirements; describe the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process and major considerations in each stage; describe the role of Security Cooperation Organizations (SCOs); describe domestic preference legislation and contracting considerations on FMS and International Cooperative Programs; describe international logistics considerations and forms of logistics cooperation; discuss the role of systems engineering in protecting technology and facilitating interoperability with allied and friendly nations; and discuss basic technology security principles, processes, documents, and planning.

Additional course details including the Course Objectives are posted at the DAU Course Catalog listing for this course which can be accessed at icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=1963

Entry-level defense acquisition personnel involved in international acquisition activities, specifically those within the International Acquisition Career Path (IACP); plus any defense employee working in this area to include Security Cooperation Workforce personnel performing acquisition-related duties.

None, although it is recommended that students complete the DAU ACQ 1010 Fundamentals of Systems Acquisition Management (which replaced the DAU ACQ 101 course) and the DSCU SC-101 (Introduction to Security Cooperation) courses prior to registering for this ACQ 120 course.

DAU course ACQ 120 Fundamentals of International Acquisition (FIAC) (All Years)

15 hours OLT

This course is identical to the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) ACQ 120, Fundamentals of International Acquisition course which was developed for the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment [USD(A&S)] International Acquisition Career Path (IACP). Completing the DSCU SC-101 and the DAU ACQ 1010 courses prior to registering for this ACQ-120 course is recommended.

The course is being provided through DSCU to members of the Security Cooperation Workforce. DSCU instructors will act as facilitators for this course. All exams in this course must be passed with a minimum score of 80%. Students have 3 opportunities to take an exam for each lesson in its entirety. After a 3rd failure of any lesson exam, students will be required to restart the course. Recommend that students contact the designated DSCU instructors (listed in the course announcement section for this course in the DSCU Blackboard Learning Management System) to discuss and ask questions about lesson material and exams that the student has issues with prior to attempting an exam for the third time.

For Blackboard technical assistance, or resets of lessons or the course, please email DSCU-DLTechAssist@tier1performance.com. Help links are also available on Blackboard and within the course itself. There is no time limit for completing this course.

American Council on Education recommends 3 semester hours undergraduate credit when completed in conjunction with DAU course ACQ 1300 or its equivalent. Additional information is available on the DAU iCatalog.