This page is a compilation of web resources that supplements The Contracting Education Academy’s workshop entitled The Complete FAR Guide for PTAC Counselors and The Academy’s Guide book by the same name. The workshop was first presented on April 21, 2013 in conjunction with the Spring 2013 Training Conference of the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC). A second edition of the Guide was produced in July 2013, a third edition was released in March 2014, the fourth edition was published in April 2016, and the fifth edition was issued Mar. 2018.) This web page is updated on a continuous basis, consistent with each edition of the Guide.
For the convenience of PTAC counselors and staff, the links listed below are grouped consistent with the organization of the printed Guide. Included in the resources posted below are 25 “PTAC Tools,” each designed to educate PTAC counselors about a specific aspect of the FAR that is especially important to PTAC clients. The “PTAC Tools” are marked with this symbol: 
. The Academy hopes that PTAC counselors find all of these resources helpful as you work with businesses to help them win government contracts.
The Academy intends to maintain this web page as a perpetual resource for use by APTAC members now and into the future. New resources and updates are made on an on-going basis. Please email us at info@ContractingAcademy.gatech.edu if you discover a web link that is broken so that we may update it. Also, APTAC members are encouraged to suggest additional resources which could be added to this page.
Introduction to “The Complete FAR Guide for PTAC Counselors”
- Workshop Objectives: Workshop Objectives-The Complete FAR Guide for PTAC Counselors
- Glossary of Acquisition Acronyms & Terms (14th Edition): https://dap.dau.mil/glossary/Pages/Default.aspx
- The FAR Operating Guide: http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/docs/FAR_Operating_Guide_Version_5-5C_20111115.pdf
- Glossary of Legal Terms
Using the FAR, DFARS and Other FAR Supplements
- Federal Register: www.gpoaccess.gov
- The Reg Map: https://contractingacademywebpdf.s3.amazonaws.com/theregmap.pdf
- The Rule-Making Process
- FAR Parts Flash Card PowerPoint: https://contractingacademywebpdf.s3.amazonaws.com/FAR-Parts-Flash-Card-PowerPoint.ppt
- FAR Subchapters and Parts: FAR Subchapters and Parts
- Creation of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy and the FAR – Public Law 93-400: Public Law 93-400 – 08.30.1974
- An Insider’s Guide to the FAR
- OFPP Myth-Buster Memoranda: Myth-Busting – 1 – 02.02.2011 and Myth-Busting – 2 – 05.07.2012 and Myth-Busting – 3 – 01.05.2017
- Vendor Engagement Tips – OMB 2012
- A Few FAR Facts
- Organization and Arrangement of the FAR
- FAR Numbering and Citing: https://contractingacademywebpdf.s3.amazonaws.com/FAR-1.105-2-Arrangement-of-regulations.pdf
- FAR Search at Hill AFB: http://farsite.hill.af.mil
- Official FAR Site at Acquisition Central: https://www.acquisition.gov/far
- Search USA Government: http://search.usa.gov
- The Basics Provide an Important Orientation to FAR Details
- Examining the Structure of the FAR – A Handout
- DFARS Numbering: http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfars/html/current/201_3.htm#201.303
- DFARS and PGI: http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfarspgi/current/index.html
- Test Your Clients – And Yourself!
- Answer Key to Test Your Clients – and Yourself!
- PGI 201.6–Career Development, Contracting Authority, and Responsibilities: http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/pgi/pgi_htm/PGI201_6.htm
- DoD Class Deviations: www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/class_deviations.html
- GSA Class Deviations: https://www.gsa.gov/policy-regulations/policy/acquisition-policy/acquisition-policy-library#
- Homeland Security Class Deviations: http://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-acquisition-regulations
- Veterans Affairs Class Deviations: http://www.va.gov/oal/business/pps/deviations.asp
- Example of a Class Deviation: www.contractingacademy.gatech.edu/2012/08/dod-temporarily-alters-vendor-registration-rule-due-to-sams-launch-shortcomings
- FAR 1.108 Conventions: http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/48/1.108
- The FAR’s Conventions
- GSA Acquisition Letters: http://gsa.govhttps://www.gsa.gov/policy-regulations/policy/acquisition-policy/acquisition-policy-library/portal/category/21228
- Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation (FPDS): https://www.fpds.gov
- Decision Tree for Finding the Applicable Acquisition Rule: https://contractingacademywebpdf.s3.amazonaws.com/Decision-Tree-for-Finding-the-Applicable-Acquisition-Rule.pdf
The Acquisition Planning Process
- Guidebook for Acquiring Commercial Items – DoD – January 2018
- Market Research – A Guide for Contracting Officers – July 2012
- Preparing Your Client for a Market Research Inquiry
- HHS Acquisition Plan Template – FY 11-12 – Oct 2010
- USDA Acquisition Plan
- Commercial Item Determination Checklist – 02.2010 – Per FAR 2.101
- Commercial Item Solicitation Preparation Guide – DoD 2010
- Examples-of-Commercial-Items
- Database of Existing Interagency Contracts
- Sources and Market Research Resources Used by Contracting Officers:
– System for Award Management (SAM), https://sam.gov (formerly Central Contractor Registration – CCR)
– Commercial Advocates Forum, http://www.acq.osd.mil
– Federal Information Exchange, http://www.ssa.gov/gix/
– Acquisition Reform Net, http://www.acquisition.gov/
– Thomas Register, http://www.thomasnet.com
– Department of Commerce, http://www.commerce.gov/
– GSA eLibrary, http://www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov/
– Small Business Administration, http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov
– SBA-Dynamic Small Business Search, http://dsbs.sba.gov/dsbs/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm
– Consumer Reports, http://www.consumerreports.com
– National Contract Management Association, http://www.ncmahq.org
– Dow Jones Business Information Services, http://www.dowjones.com
– Standard & Poor’s Research Reports, http://www.standardandpoors.com/home/en/us
– Manufacturer’s Information Network, http://www.manufacturing.net
– National Association of Purchasing Managers, http://www.ism.ws/
– National Yellow Pages, http://www.yellowpages.com
– Federal Business Opportunities, http://www.fbo.gov
– Government Contracts Directory, http://www.contractdirectory.gov/contractdirectory/
– DoD market research, http://acc.dau.mil/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=18892
– A collection of search engines, directories, and databases, http://www.imart.org
– Yellow Pages of 16 million U.S. businesses, http://superpages.com
– Business search engine, http://switchboard.com
– More than 100 links to industry, focused on electronics, http://www.techweb.com/
- Implementation Directive – Better Buying Power DoD AT&L 11.03.2010 – Obtaining Greater Efficiency and Productivity in Defense Spending
- Better Buying Power 2.0 – DoD AT&L Memorandum to the Defense Acquisition Workforce, Nov. 13, 2012
- Better Buying Power 2.0 Summary
- What Is in a Written Government Acquisition Plan
- Source Selection – FAR 15.3 – https://www.acquisition.gov/far/html/Subpart%2015_3.html
- Government Supply Sources
- Competitive Processes in Government Contracting: The FAR Part 15 Process Model and Process Inefficiency – http://www.wifcon.com/anal/analcomproc.htm
- Contracting Support for Small Businesses – http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/contracting/contracting-support-small-businesses
- Fact Sheet – 8(a) Program
- Fact Sheet – SDVOSB
- Fact Sheet – HUBZone
- Fact Sheet – WOSB-EDWOSB
- SBA Rules for Small Business Subcontract Reporting – http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-07-16/html/2013-16967.htm
- Acquisition Plan – Job Order Contract – Sample
- Program Managers Tool Kit DAU 01.2011
- The Concepts of Responsiveness and Responsibility
- The Tradeoff Process in Government Contracting
- Comparison of Major Contract Types 2012
- Obligations of the Government and the Contractor in Different Contracting Scenarios
- Understanding Minimum Wage Laws in Federal Contracting 11.2012
- Understanding Domestic Source Preferences 11.2012
- Report of the Advisory Panel on Streamlining and Codifying Acquisition Regulations – Volume 1 of the DoD Section 809 Panel’s Report – January 2018
The Contract Formation Process
- Contract Planning Checklist – DPAP
- PGI 204_71 – Uniform Contract Line Item Numbering System
- The-Six-Elements-of-Contract-Formation
- Steps for Resolving Contract Deficiencies – DCMA Guidebook, Contracts – Initial Receipt and Review (see paragraph 2.5, Resolving Contract Deficiencies)
- Authority of a Contracting Officer and Delegation
- Government Bid and Negotiation Rules
- Negotiation Tips and Bargaining Rules – http://contractingacademy.gatech.edu/2011/02/con-120-lession-6-negotiation-rules-bargaining-process/
- Constructive Changes
- FAR Parts 13-14-15 – Use and Features
- PGI 204.7105 – Revised 09.06.2012
- GSA’s “Guide for Contracting Officers Technical Representatives”
- HHS Acquisition Checklists
- Quick Guide to the Government Handling of Bids and Proposals
- Do’s & Don’ts Guidelines for Acquisition Personnel
- GAO Bid Protest Annual Reports to Congress
- Features of Government Bid Proposal and Simplified Acquisition Procedures
- Government Purchasing Vehicles and Dollar Thresholds
The Contract Administration Process
- DD 1484 – Post-Award Conference Record – DD1484 Post-Award Conference Record
- A Guide to Best Practices for Contract Administration, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, October 1994 – https://contractingacademywebpdf.s3.amazonaws.com/A-Guide-to-Best-Practices-for-Contract-Administration-Office-of-Federal-Procurement-Policy-October-1994.pdf
- Post Award Conference Checklist – DD1484 Post Award Conference Record
- False Claims Act – a Primer – www.justice.gov/civil/docs_forms/C-FRAUDS_FCA_Primer.pdf
- Contractor Quality Control Plan Template
- FAR Part 43 – Contract Modifications – FAR Part 43 – Contract Modifications
- Authority for Modifying a Contract – http://contractingacademy.gatech.edu/authority-for-modifying-a-contract
- Unauthorized Commitment Ratification – Unauthorized Commitments & Ratification Process Guide – Army – June 2004
- Changes Clause Guidance – Changes Clause Guidance
- Government Payment Clauses
- Practical Guidance for Contracting Officers/Specialists Venturing Through the Legendary “King Arthur’s Court” of the Contract Appeals Process – http://www.dau.mil/pubscats/PubsCats/PM/articles01/longo-ja.pdf
- DCMA Contract Closeout Guidebook – Mar. 2016
- Official Web Site for DoD Forms – http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/index.htm
- DCAA Contract Audit Manual
