About the AUS-ISO 6100 Accreditors

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AUS-ISO 6100 Series Accreditation- Accrediting Excellence in Acquisition Utilization for the Department of Veterans Affairs

Purpose

This newly formed AUS-ISO 6100 Accreditation Body was established for the SOLE purpose and intent to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Utilization Specialist (AUS) community operates under standards of professionalism, ethics, and competency equivalent to those upheld by Federal Contracting Specialists and Contracting Officers. AUS 6100 provides the framework for professional accreditation, competency validation, and quality assurance across the AUS workforce.

AUS-ISO 6100 Accreditors Inc. conducted independent third-party assessments to determine whether the process demonstrated balanced stakeholder representation, absence of undue dominance, and a formal right to appeal, while operating in full compliance with approved AUS-ISO 6100 requirements.

To achieve this designation, The VISN Group, through AUS Procurement [U], adhered to the rigorous policies and procedural standards established by AUS-ISO 6100, including:

• Development of standards through a documented consensus-based process
• Formal review and response to all submitted comments
• Incorporation of approved revisions and updates

This compliance confirms adherence to recognized governance, transparency, 

and due process principles required under AUS-ISO 6100 accreditation 

standards.

AUS-ISO 6100 Accreditors Inc. Body 

• Former Contracting Officials 
• Program Managers 
• Lawyer/ Law Student 
• Industry Project Managers 

Mission

To uphold a consistent and rigorous set of professional standards for AUS personnel, ensuring alignment with federal acquisition practices, while promoting accountability, efficiency, and mission success within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Framework & Standards

AUS-ISO 6100 accreditations are built upon ten (10) standards, modeled after ISO principles and aligned to FAR/VAAR requirements. Each standard represents a core competency area essential to the professionalization of the AUS community.

AUS–ISO Standards

1. AUS–ISO 6101: Quality Management
   – Establishes systems to ensure AUS work products are consistent, accurate, and aligned with mission objectives, modeled after ISO 9001.
    
2. AUS–ISO 6102: Regulatory Compliance
   – Requires demonstrated proficiency in FAR, VAAR, and procurement law, ensuring AUS professionals adhere to the same regulatory standards as Contracting Officers.
    
3. AUS–ISO 6103: Risk Management
   – Applies ISO 31000 like principles to acquisition planning, documentation, and execution, emphasizing proactive identification and mitigation of acquisition risks.
    
4. AUS–ISO 6104: Ethical Standards & Integrity
   – Codifies impartiality, avoidance of conflicts of interest, and strict adherence to procurement integrity laws and VA ethical codes.
    
5. AUS–ISO 6105: Documentation & Communication
   – Requires AUS professionals to produce acquisition documentation that is accurate, clear, and defensible, while demonstrating effective communication with stakeholders.
    
6. AUS–ISO 6106: Performance & Accountability
   – Establishes measurable performance criteria for AUS support functions and requires accountability through audits, reviews, and performance evaluations.
    
7. AUS–ISO 6107: Professional Development
   – Requires ongoing continuing professional development (CPD), including updates in procurement law, acquisition best practices, and emerging VA policies.
    
8. AUS–ISO 6108: Stakeholder Engagement
   – Ensures AUS professionals can collaborate effectively with Contracting Officers, technical staff, vendors, and leadership to enable mission success.
    
9. AUS–ISO 6109: Innovation & Continuous Improvement
   – Promotes efficiency, modernization, and innovation in acquisition support functions, encouraging the use of technology and best practices.
    
10. AUS–ISO 6110: Mastery of AUS Competencies
    – Represents the integration and mastery of AUS–ISO 6101 through 6109. Professionals at this level demonstrate leadership, advanced expertise, and the ability to mentor and elevate the AUS workforce. This level is equivalent to “Master Accreditation” under AUS6100.
     

Accreditation Objectives

1. Professional Standards:  Maintaining a unified standard of conduct, ethics, and practice for all AUS professionals. 
2. Competency Validation: Establish credentialing examinations and continuing education requirements aligned with AUS functions and responsibilities. 
3. Quality Assurance: Development of auditing and compliance review mechanisms to ensure accredited AUS professionals meet AUS6100 standards. 
4. Parity with Federal Contracting: Guarantee that AUS professionals are held to standards comparable to Contracting Specialists and Contracting Officers. 
5. Continuous Improvement: Require ongoing professional development and re-accreditation to maintain credentials.
    

Governance

The AUS-ISO 6100 Series Accreditation Body functions as an independent standards organization, with oversight by a governing board composed of:

• VA acquisition leaders 
• Federal contracting experts  
• Independent quality assurance professionals  
• Representatives from the AUS community 

AUS-ISO 6100 Accredited Standards Findings:

The VISN Group | AUS Procurement [U] Accreditation by AUS-ISO 6100 Accreditors Inc. as an Accredited Standards Developer (ASD) affirms that an organization’s voluntary consensus standards development procedures meet AUS-ISO 6100’s rigorous requirements for transparency, balance, and procedural integrity.

Through its standards development arm, AUS Procurement [U], The VISN Group operates under the oversight and governance framework established by AUS-ISO 6100 Accreditors Inc. This oversight confirms that the standards development process administered by The VISN Group demonstrates:

• Open and inclusive stakeholder participation
• Balanced representation without dominance by any single interest group
• Documented, consensus-based decision-making procedures
• Public review and comment opportunities on draft standards
• Formal review, resolution, and documented responses to submitted comments
• A transparent and enforceable right-to-appeal mechanism

To obtain and maintain Accredited Standards Developer status, The VISN Group, via AUS Procurement [U], voluntarily submitted its documented procedures to AUS-ISO 6100 for formal evaluation and public comment. Continued accreditation requires ongoing compliance with AUS-ISO 6100 policies, including periodic audits, procedural reviews, and adherence to approved governance requirements....

Accreditation by AUS-ISO 6100 Accreditors Inc. is a prerequisite for submitting standards developed through AUS Procurement [U] for formal recognition under AUS-ISO 6100 designation programs. This recognition affirms that standards developed under The VISN Group’s administration are created in accordance with established principles of due process, consensus, transparency, and accountability.

Through this structured and independently overseen process, The VISN Group reinforces its commitment to ethical governance, professional rigor, and the advancement of high-integrity standards within the procurement and contract management community.

T. Johnson

President

AUS-ISO 6100 Accreditors Inc