OSC Warrant Officer Training provides an overview of the contracting and program authorities vested in a warranted OSC. It will explain the various tools, procurement and non-procurement that are available to an OSC during emergency and time-critical removal actions. It also gives a good overview of government contracting principles and vulnerabilities. There will be case study preparation and presentation and a test given on the final day.

By taking the course, participants will achieve the following objectives:

• Understand the responsibilities and authorities delegated to OSCs when directing emergency response and removal actions. This course reviews the response and contracting authorities delegated to the OSC under the National Oil and Hazard Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP).
• Learn about the fundamentals of contracting. The course provides basic information on key contracting elements and effective contract management practices
• Understand the contracting tools and techniques authorized for use under the OSC’s Delegated Procurement Authority (DPA). The course provides OSCs with the policies and procedures for procurement tools under the DPA and other mechanisms that are available to access and use during a response.
• Learn how to apply the tools and techniques in a removal action scenario. The course includes a response case study to provide participants an opportunity to apply the skills learned during the training.

This course is designed for personnel who are experienced and pre-designated as OSCs capable of being assigned emergency response or other field assignments where they may be required to make independent time-critical or emergency decisions. EPA project officers and contracting officers supporting the removal and emergency response program also may benefit from attending the training. This course is only open to EPA personnel.

Before taking the OSC Warrant Officer Training, the EPA OSC must be a certified COR. Becoming a certified COR is a mandatory requirement for an EPA OSC to request the warrant after taking the OSC Warrant Officer Training. Online courses are available at http://oamintra.epa.gov/node/drupal/?q=node/33 to become a COR. The online course must be completed at least 7 business days before attending the OSC Warrant Officer Training. A copy of the COR guidelines is available at http://www.fai.gov/drupal/certification/fac-cor-certification-requirements

*This course is offered free of charge to all registrants who are confirmed to attend.*

Sessions will include a mixture of lecture and breakout sessions. Participants are expected to be available and actively participate in each virtual session of the training series in its entirety in order to receive a certificate and their Warrant following the training. Available and active participation means the participant should not be in the field, at a site, deployed, etc. during all eight sessions. In addition, participants are expected to have a functioning microphone and camera to actively participate. 

Dates: May 17-27, 2021. The sessions will be held on the following dates. 

• Monday, May 17, 2021 
• Tuesday, May 18, 2021 
• Wednesday, May 19, 2021 
• Thursday, May 20, 2021 
• Monday, May 24, 2021 
• Tuesday, May 25, 2021 
• Wednesday, May 26, 2021 
• Thursday, May 27, 2021 

All eight sessions will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern.