The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech is repeating its three-day course that delves into the intricacies of the government’s Small Business Programs. The course focuses on the government’s efforts to improve small business participation in prime contracting and subcontracting.
Because of its relevance and popularity, the course is now scheduled to be held:
- Apr. 15 – 17, 2014
- July 8 – 10, 2014
These classes will be held in the world-class Global Learning Center on Georgia Tech’s campus in midtown Atlanta. Registration details may be found by clicking here.
Known as “CON 260B – Small Business Programs,” the course is a Defense Acquisition University (DAU) level 2 contracting course that goes a long way to ensure that those in the acquisition field – DoD and non-DoD agencies alike – are more aware of and responsive to small business concerns. Historically, this class was designed for small business specialists, however The Academy has fashioned this class so that it is applicable to all interested parties – senior executives, managers, contracting officers and contracting staff, small business specialists from all agencies, small business advocates, and large and small business concerns.
A review of DAU’s prerequisite course, CON 260A, is included in the Contracting Academy’s course.
Small business participation in federal contracting is a high-profile issue. On February 10, 2012 Ashton B. Carter, then Deputy Secretary of Defense released a memorandum regarding “Advancing Small Business Contracting Goals.” The memo (seen here) reiterates how essential small businesses are to our nation’s economic recovery because they produce more jobs, represent a major source of innovative solutions to warfighter needs that help maintain our status as the world’s finest military, and contribute more to gross domestic output. The Contracting Academy is committed to supporting Department of Defense and other agency directives aimed at achieving higher levels of small business participation in federal contracting.
Carter’s memo identifies all leaders who manage budgets and allocates funds for contracts in addition to contracting officers as being collectively responsible for achieving the 23 percent goal. To ensure that this collective responsibility is met, Carter announced that senior executives will be rigorously evaluated and held accountable. A mandatory performance requirement for supporting this goal includes language that “establishes a command or program climate that is responsive to small business concerns.”
The Academy’s CON 260B is very relevant to the training needs of everyone involved in the process of seeing to it that small businesses participate in government contracting and subcontracting opportunities. This includes, of course, small businesses themselves.
The Academy offers CON 260B, a 3-day course, as an open enrollment course which virtually ensures seating for all registrants. Register here for the next CON 260B – Small Business Programs class at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
2.1 CEUs are granted to those successfully completing this course.
This 3-day course is also available for instruction at your site. For more information or to make arrangements, call 404-894-6109 or email info@contractingacademy.gatech.edu.
