CON 120 Student Resources

This page consists of a compilation of web-based and other resources that complement The Academy’s CON 120 course, Mission Focused Contracting.

For the convenience of students, the links listed below are grouped consistent with the CON 120 Student Guide as published by The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech.

Please email us at info@ContractingAcademy.gatech.edu if you discover a web link that is broken so that we may update it.

Lesson 1 – Introduction, Review of CON 110, 111 & 112, and FAR Research

• Review of CON 110, 111 and 112 – Aug. 2015
• FARSite – http://farsite.hill.af.mil (look for Zoom “FARSearch”)
• Search USA – http://search.usa.gov
• CON 110 (Contract Planning) Review:

          – Best Value
          – The Economy Act
          – Understanding Minimum Wage Laws in Federal Contracting 11.2012 (Service Contract Act                      of 1965, Walsh-Healy Public Contracts Act, Davis-Bacon Act)
          – Wage Determinations
          – Deviations
          – Required Sources for Supplies and Services
          – Changes To Various Federal Acquisition Dollar Thresholds Effective 10.01.2016
          – Market Research Requirements
          – Socioeconomic Considerations

– Small Business Fact Sheets 2015
          – DoD Pilot Mentor-Protégé Program

• CON 111 (Contract Execution) Review:

          – Publicizing Contract Actions – advertising requirements
          – Solicitations – Bids or Proposals
          – Discussions
          – Clarifications
          – Exchanges
          – Source Selection
          – Cost or Pricing Data (10 U.S.C. 2306a(h)(1) and 41 U.S.C. 254b)
          – Certified Cost or Pricing Data
          – Cost Analysis / Price Analysis
          – Uniform Contract Formats
          – Advance Payments
          – Lowest Price Technically Acceptable
          – Change Orders

• CON 112 (Performance Assessment) Review:

          – Post Award Orientation
          – Past Performance (Contractor Performance)
          – Modifications
          – Options
          – Dispute or Appeal: Contracting Officer’s Final Decision
          – Closeout
          – Stop Work Order (Suspension of Work)

• CON 120 Service Acquisition Process

           – Framework for the Service Acquisition Process 10.2012

– Guidebook for the Acquisition of Services – DoD – 07.20.2011

• CON 120 Competition Concepts:

– Simplified Acquisition Procedures
          – Competition Requirements

• CON 120 Competition Initiatives:

          – Federal Supply Schedules
          – Multiple Award Contracts
          – Federal Prison Industries
          – Justifications & Approval
          – Federal Procurement Data System Reporting
          – American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

Lesson 2 – Mission Support Planning

• Your Role as Business Advisor
• Acquisition Planning
• Market Research – A Guide for Contracting Officers – July 2012
• DFARS Acquisition Plans
• Bid Protest Decision: Lack of Advance Planning
• Small Business Policy Updates and Tools
  • DoD’s Aug. 15, 2012 memo to Accelerate Payments to Small Business Subcontractors: DoD Class Deviation – Accelerated Payment to SB Subs 08.15.2012
  • DoD’s July 26, 2012 memo on Maximizing Small Business Utilization on Multiple Award Contracts: Maximizing Small Business Utilization on Multiple Award Contracts – DoD – 07.26.2012
  • DoD’s July 11, 2012 memo on AT&L DoD Increasing Opportunities for Small Businesses under the Simple Acquisition Threshold 07.11.2012
  • Download: Small Business Contracting – OMB-SBA memorandum 06.06.2012
  • SBA’s May 16, 2012 proposed rule on set-asides in the award of multiple award contracts and task and delivery orders: www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-05-16/html/2012-11317.htm
• SBA Non-Manufacturers Rule (FAR 52.219-14, 52.219-27)
• The Non-Manufacturer Rule – A Guide for Contracting Officers – June 2012
• Requirements Documents
• Funding Documents:

– Military Interdepartmental Purchase Request DD Form 448
– Request for Purchase – AF Form 9
– GSA Funding Document
– The FAST Book – Treasury’s Federal Account Symbols and Titles

• Independent Government Estimate / Independent Government Cost Estimate
• Independent Government Estimate – Air Force
• Justification and Approval
• Anti-Deficiency Act
• Buy American Act
• Trade Agreements
• Export Controls / ITAR
• Berry Amendment – Restrictions on DoD Purchases from Non-U.S. Sources Imposed by 10 U.S.C. 2533a
• Greening of America – Executive Order 13101 , Executive Order 13123 , Executive Order 13148 , Executive Order 13149 , Executive Order 13423 , Executive Order 13514
• Data Rights
• Agency’s Requirements Fails to Reflect a Reasonable Level of Advance Planning – GAO Decision – HEROS, Inc., B-292043, June 9, 2003

Lesson 3 – Solicitation

• Contract Types
• Methods of Contracting
• Uniform Contract Formats
• Seven Steps to Performance-Based Services Acquisition
• Wrtiting a Performance Work Statement – Guidance

Please refer to CON 111 in Lesson 1 above for additional resources related to the Solicitation stage. 

Lesson 4 – Award

• Cost and Price and Related Definitions – The concepts of cost, price, price index, cost-volume-profit analysis, statistical analysis, regression analysis, and improvement curve analysis.
• Contract Pricing Reference Guides – DAU
• Exchanges with offerors after receipt of proposals – FAR 15.306 (c)
• Exchanges with offerors after establishment of the competitive range – FAR 15.306(d)
• Producer Price Index
• Consumer Price Index
• Employment,  Hours and Earnings Survey
• Global Insight

Please refer to CON 111 in Lesson 1 above for additional resources related to the Award stage.

Lesson 5 – Performance Assessment

• A Guide to Best Practices for Contract Administration – OFPP – Oct. 1994
• Legal Issues in Contract Performance
• Post Award Conferences
• Post Award Conference Record
• Inspection Rights – FAR 52.246-1 through 14
• Warranties 
• COR Responsibilities – DoD Handbook
• COR Responsibilities – Federal Acquisition Institute
• QualityAssuranceSurveillancePlan – Template
• Performance-Based Requirement Template for Use with Task Orders – Sample
• Performance Work Statement Template
• Product/Service Quality Standards
• Seven Steps to Performance Based Acquisition
• A Guide to Best Practices for Performance-Based Service Contracting
• Termination Responsibilities
• Unauthorized Commitments
• Ratification
• Acceptance
• Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF)
• Contract Financing
• DoD Payment Policy
• DoD Class Deviation – Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors

Lesson 6 – Modification

• Contract Modifications
• Authority for Modifying a Contract
• Change Orders
• Contract Termination Clauses
• Termination for Convenience Guide W-P AFB May 2007
• Termination for Default
• Options
• Change Orders
• The Christian Doctrine
• Limitation of Authority
• Engineering Change Proposal
• Value Engineering
• Initial Provisioning
• Novation Agreements
• Pricing Equitable Adjustments
• Excuseable Delays
• Constructive Changes
• Ten Rules for Bargaining Success – Negotiation Rules

Lesson 7 – Contract Closeout

• Contract Closeout
• Contract Closeout Check List— DD Form 1597
• Contract File Retention Rules
• Contract Completion Statement — DD Form 1594
• Material Inspection and Receiving Report – DD Form 250
• FAR 4.804, Closeout of Contract Files
• FAR 31.201-2, Determining Allowability
• FAR 42.708, Quick Closeout Procedures
• FAR 42.705, Final Indirect Cost Rates
• FAR 52.211-16, Variation in Quantity
• FAR 52.216-2, Economic Price Adjustment
• FAR 52.216-7, Allowable Cost and Payment
• FAR 52.216-8, Fixed Fee
• FAR 52.216-16, Incentive Price Revision
• FAR 52.232-7, Payments under Time and Material/Labor Hour Contracts
• DFARS 204.804, Closeout of Contract Files
• DCMA Contract Closeout Center Web Page
• Acquisition Community Connection: Contract Closeout
• Air Force Material Command (AFMC) Contract Closeout Guide
• Indirect-Cost Management Guide (Navigating the “Sea of Overhead”)
• MOCAS Closeout Checklist
• Excess Government Property
• Defense Materiel Disposition Manual – Aug. 1997
• Procedures for Closing Out Contract Files
• Quick Close-Out Procedures

Lesson 8 – IT Service Case Study

• Source Selection
• FAR Part 8.002(a)(b), Acquisition of Supplies and Services from or through Government Supply Sources
• FAR Part 8.401-406, Federal Supply Schedules
• DD 1423-1 – Contract Data Requirements List
• Best Value – (see CON 110 Review in Lesson 1 above)
• Lowest Price Technically Acceptable – (see CON 111 Review in Lesson 1 above)
• Contracting by Negotiation
• Source Selection – (see CON 111 Review in Lesson 1 above)