acquisition training | The Contracting Education Academy

September 9, 2020 By cs

Don’t miss our on-line contract planning course in October!

Whether you represent government or industry, this is your chance to learn how the Government plans its acquisition of products and services!

As a member of the government’s acquisition team, don’t you need to learn how to conduct acquisition planning properly?
As a contractor, wouldn’t you like to gain insights into the government’s contract planning process?

The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech will address these questions, and many more, in a comprehensive five-day class, “Contract Planning in the FAR” (CON 090-2) to be presented October 5 – 9, 2020.

The course will be presented virtually, so you can attend without having to travel! Registration details are here.

This in-depth course covers all aspects of acquisition planning, including:

How government agencies conduct market research and rely on businesses to provide information,
How the government’s buying needs must be described, and
The government’s preference for commercial and non-developmental items.

This course is the second in a series of four educational modules that examine the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), the Government’s “procurement bible.” Because of Georgia Tech’s unique instructional approach, the four modules can be taken in any order.

Why Have So Many Contracting Officials Taken This Course?

For government contracting officials, this course is required to earn and maintain a contracting warrant. A warrant is a written document providing a contracting officer with the limits of his or her authority. Per FAR 1.602-1, Contracting Officers have the authority to “enter into, administer, or terminate contracts and make related determinations and findings” to the extent of the authority delegated to them by their warrant. Georgia Tech’s Contracting Education Academy offers a set of courses — each equivalent to Defense Acquisition University (DAU) course standards — that help each member of the acquisition workforce maintain their warrants and enhance their professional development.
For business people who compete for and fulfill government contracts, Academy classes are just as pertinent. Contractor personnel who attend Academy courses gain real-world knowledge about how government officials are trained to formulate and administer contracts. Insights into these areas provide invaluable guidance for reaching greater success in competing for, winning, and fulfilling government contract work.

For details on all of Georgia Tech’s government contracting classes, including the FAR Fundamentals course series, please visit: https://contractingacademy.gatech.edu/training

September 9, 2020 By AMK

Learn — on-line — how the government puts together a contract October 19-23

What is the Government’s simplified acquisition process? What is meant by the term sealed bid? Did you know that the Government can enter into contracts on the basis of both competitive and noncompetitive negotiated arrangements? How does the Government deal with required and preferred sources of supplies and services? What must be done to ensure competition? What are the policies for policies and procedures for pricing negotiated contracts and contract modifications? What are the policies and procedures for filing bid protests?

To answer these questions — and explain the entire process that federal agencies follow to formulate a contract — Georgia Tech’s Contracting Education Academy is presenting a one-week course, beginning October 19, 2020, entitled CON 090-3: Contract Formation in the FAR.

And this course is being presented virtually, so you can attend on-line from your home or office,

The course is designed for contracting professionals — including both government officials and contractors — who are interested in learning the details of the federal acquisition process. This course provides vital instruction for Government contracting personnel as well as important insights for contractors.

By attending CON 090-3, students learn how to locate, interpret, and apply the acquisition regulations applicable to federal agencies. CON 090-3 is the third of four modules in the CON 090 series entitled Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Fundamentals. The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech offers the entire CON 090 series in four, one-week classes. Each module stands on its own, allowing students multiple opportunities throughout the year to complete the entire CON 090 course without the challenge of being away from work or home for a straight month. Because of Georgia Tech’s unique instructional approach, the four modules can be taken in any order.

The course consists of limited lecture, and is heavily exercise-based. Students get the opportunity to learn the FAR by working through many real-life scenarios with one another. Students also are given access to many exclusive on-line resources.

The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech is an approved equivalency training provider to the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) and provides continuing education training to Acquisition and Government Contracting professionals as well as to business professionals working for government contractors or pursuing opportunities in the federal contracting arena.

For more information on this course and to register, please visit: http://www.pe.gatech.edu/courses/con-090-3-contract-formation-far.

February 24, 2020 By cs

Fiscal 2021 budget seeks to ‘resize’ the bureaucracy

Among other things, the White House wants to rein in “improper end-of-year spending” by agencies.

On the afternoon of Feb. 10th, President Trump sent Congress a $4.8 trillion budget request for fiscal 2021 that seeks to “resize” the federal government by eliminating what the administration views as duplicative and wasteful programs and focusing on core security priorities.

The budget request includes a number of proposals Congress has previously rejected, such as significant cuts to the social safety net, foreign aid and environmental programs, as well as some federal workforce hiring and firing reforms and changes to federal retirement the administration has tried to implement previously with mixed success.

Margaret Weichert, deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget, told reporters on Monday that the budget reflects “the core elements of the president’s management agenda” and is a “continuation of what we’ve attempted to do over the last couple of years around the workforce.” While the administration will continue to press for moving federal employees to a pay-for-performance system and employee training and reskilling, “not surprisingly, in year four of an administration there’s not a lot of net new ideas,” she said.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.govexec.com/management/2020/02/trumps-fiscal-2021-budget-seeks-resize-bureaucracy/163014/

February 24, 2020 By cs

Our popular Construction Contracting course begins May 4th — Make plans now to attend!

This course answers the important question: What makes construction contracts so different?

The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech is offering the four and a half day Defense Acquisition University course, CON 244: Construction Contracting, during the week of May 4, 2020.

**Students attending Georgia Tech’s contracting classes work in teams to tackle real-life contracting problems.**

The course focuses on government contracting issues unique to the construction field. Topics include: construction planning, construction performance monitoring, funding contingency considerations, environmental impact concerns, special contract terms and conditions, construction contracting in a commercial setting, the Construction Wage Rate Requirements statute (formerly known as the Davis-Bacon Act), the design/build strategy, schedule delay analysis, constructive changes, project acceleration, construction contract quality management, and much more.

For more details, and to register for this course, please visit: https://pe.gatech.edu/courses/con-244-construction-contracting.

Who Should Attend

Contracting officers, contract specialists, contracting officer representatives, program/project managers, small business specialists, and industry contracting personnel.

**Georgia Tech provides a highly interactive learning environment that places emphasis on problem solving and practical application.**

How You Will Benefit

Attendees learn how to:

Apply federal acquisition laws and regulations, including Department of Defense and other agency supplemental regulations, agency policies and procedures, and best practices in soliciting, awarding and administering construction contracts.
Contrast typical support requirements with a federal Construction Acquisition Plan in accordance with FAR Parts 7 and 36, DFARS Parts 207 and 236, and agency supplements, policies and procedures.
Develop a construction solicitation package in accordance with the FAR, agency supplements, and agency policy/procedures.
Evaluate, using appropriate procedures, construction offerors and the contract awardee.
Determine the applicable construction contract administration (compliance) approach, using the FAR, DFARS, DoD regulation/guidelines, and other relevant agency supplements, procedures and best practices.
Formulate a remedy — based on the appropriate clause for a changed construction condition — in accordance with federal and DoD acquisition and other agency laws, regulations, and best practices.
Document appropriate actions necessary to verify costs in order to authorize construction progress payments and initiate construction contract closeout.

Act Now

Plan to join your colleagues in attending this thorough and engaging examination of the federal construction contracting process. Complete registration details are right here.

Credit

Students successfully completing this 4.5-day course receive 32 Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) from the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) and 3.2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from the Georgia Institute of Technology. These credits satisfy the latest Level III Federal Acquisition Certification-Contracting, or FAC-C, training requirements.

Added Benefits

You’ll learn in a small group setting at Georgia Tech’s world-class Global Learning Center where you’ll engage in real-life problem-solving exercises. You’ll receive expert instruction, a printed student guide to be used back on the job, valuable handouts, and exclusive electronic resources. Plus, a complimentary breakfast is provided each morning, along with snacks throughout each day.

Registration

For more information, cost, and the registration link, go right here: https://pe.gatech.edu/courses/con-244-construction-contracting.

January 27, 2020 By cs

Here’s how to invest an extra-long February in your professional development

It’s Leap Year! Will you squander the extra time, or will you invest it in yourself?

Keeping pace with changes in your job is always a challenge. Pursuing new knowledge is the key.

Georgia Tech’s Contracting Education Academy is offering two terrific courses in February. They could be just the thing you need to update your skills and qualify you for advancement in your job.

Featured are:

Contract Planning in the FAR (CON 090-2) – February 3-7, 2020 – Covers how government agencies conduct market research and rely on businesses to provide information, how the government’s buying needs must be described, and the government’s preference for commercial and non-developmental items.
Architect and Engineering Services Contracting (CON 243) – Feb. 10-14, 2020 – Focuses on acquisition planning for A&E services, the slate and selection process, proposal analysis, contract award, the review of government estimates, liability, Title II services, modifications, contract management, and the contracting officer representative’s responsibilities.

(Click on the course titles above to see registration and pricing details.)

Discover the Georgia Tech Difference!

Benefits of attendance include expert instruction, a printed Student Guide to be used back on the job, valuable handouts, and exclusive electronic resources.

In addition, a complimentary breakfast is served each morning, along with snacks throughout each day. For groups of 10 or more, Georgia Tech offers discounts.

Plus, you’ll earn Continuous Education Units from Georgia Tech as well as credit toward Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) and Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Program (FAC-C) training requirements.