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Leadership changes at Enterprise Innovation Institute

Karen Fite, who, for the past 18 months has led the Georgia Institute of Technology’s economic development efforts as interim vice president and director of the Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2), has retired after more than 27 years of service.

David Bridges, director of EI2’s Economic Development Lab (EDL), will assume the interim vice president role effective Jan. 1, 2021.

Karen Fite, who served as interim vice president and director of the Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2), has retired after 27 years of service. David Bridges, director of EI2’s Economic Development Lab (EDL), has assumed the interim vice president role.

EI2 is the largest and most comprehensive university-based program of business and industry assistance, technology commercialization, and economic development in the United States.

Prior to leading EI2, Fite ran the unit’s Business & Industry Services group of programs, comprised of the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP), EI2’s largest economic development offering. The group also includes the Safety, Health, and Environmental Services (SHES), Atlanta MBDA Centers, Contracting Education Academy, Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC), and the Southeastern Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (SETAAC) programs.

Before taking on that role, Fite was GaMEP director.

“Over the years at Georgia Tech, I have been privileged to serve in a wide variety of capacities — assisting companies with government procurement, their implementation of quality management systems and Lean Manufacturing protocols, the launch of a Lean Healthcare initiative, creating community economic development research and strategic plans, and directing the GaMEP,” Fite said.

“As interim vice president, I have had the opportunity to interact with virtually every EI2 employee. Working with such a talented group of employees of EI2 has been an honor because across the board they are passionate about their work, dedicated to Georgia Tech’s mission of progress and service by serving clients, and continually looking to innovate, improve, and expand our services to help create long lasting and meaningful impact not only in Georgia and across the country, but around the world.”

Chaouki T. Abdallah, Georgia Tech’s executive vice president for research said Fite was a valued member of his leadership team.

“She has been a very effective and engaging leader,” Abdallah said. “She’s brought me solutions, given me critical feedback and has been an invaluable partner. Georgia Tech is lucky to have had her contributions for so long.”

Fite has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Miami and a bachelor’s in health systems from Georgia Tech. In 2018, she achieved the faculty rank of principal extension professional, Georgia Tech’s highest professional extension faculty rank.

“We are fortunate to have someone of David Bridges’ caliber who can not only build on Karen’s legacy but also brings a wealth of experience and economic development successes,” Abdallah said.

Bridges, who joined EI2 in 1994, authored, co-authored or contributed to more than 100 economic development grants totaling more than $40 million. He assisted in the formation of the two proof-of-concept units — the Global Center for Medical Innovation, a Tech affiliate in the medical device space, and I3L, a health information technology innovation hub.

Beyond Georgia, Bridges helped catalyze the development of the Soft Landings program to bring companies from overseas to the United States. He also helped to establish the I-Corps Puerto Rico program as the National Science Foundation’s first I-Corps program ever offered to teams from that community.

He also supported the expansion of technology extension programs in Chile and Colombia, built a new program in professional development around innovation and technology commercialization, and expanded Georgia Tech’s presence by helping to build startup ecosystems around the Institute’s international campuses and in Latin America.

Bridges and his EDL team have also implemented ecosystem building projects for numerous countries including Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, Argentina, Guatemala, South Africa, China, Korea, and Japan.

Source: https://news.gatech.edu/2021/01/07/karen-fite-interim-vp-and-director-enterprise-innovation-institute-retires

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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

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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.

 

Georgia Tech is an official equivalency training provider for the Defense Acquisition University and the Federal Acquisition Institute.

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Take a look at our course line-up!

If you’re in the hunt for high-quality acquisition training at a reasonable price, look no further than Georgia Tech.

The courses we offer are in high demand among contracting professionals — both within government and in the private sector.  And all are approved by the Defense Acquisition University and the Federal Acquisition Institute.

Plus, all of our courses are offered in our world-class Global Learning Center on the Georgia Tech campus in midtown Atlanta.  All courses also offer resources and amenities found nowhere else.

Take a look at what’s coming up in just the next few months:

  • 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’s technical representative’s responsibilities.
  • Contract Formation in the FAR (CON 090-3) – Mar. 16-20, 2020 – Covers policies and procedures for simplified acquisitions, sealed bidding as well as negotiated acquisitions, cost accounting standards, special contracting methods and emergency acquisitions, and the filing and handling of protests.
  • Construction Contracting (CON 244) – May 4-8, 2020 – Focuses on contracting issues unique to construction, including acquisition planning, contract performance management, funding, environmental concerns, construction contract language, construction contracting in a commercial setting, the Construction Wage Rate Requirements statute, design/build methodology, basic schedule delay analysis, constructive changes, acceleration, construction contract quality management, and more.
Click on the course titles above for complete pricing and registration details.

 

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

Explanation of Certification Programs

Each Academy course title that contains the designation “CON” or “COR” is DAU-equivalent and satisfies both the FAC-C and DAWIA certification programs.  Coursework with the “FCN” designation is approved by the Federal Acquisition Institute and satisfies the latest FAC-C certification requirements.  In addition, continuing education units (CEUs) are granted for these courses by the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Courses Available at Your Location

All Academy courses and workshops are available for instructor-led engagements at your location. To discuss arrangements for your group, please contact us at info@ContractingAcademy.gatech.edu.  We’ll be happy to provide you with details.

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Top 10 government contracting news articles of 2019

Folks just like you visited The Contracting Education Academy’s web site over 70,000 times in 2019!  
Visitors took advantage of our daily news feed, learned about Georgia Tech’s support of government projects, checked-out our upcoming acquisition course offerings, and researched numerous acquisition topics.
So, what news developments interested our visitors the most?
Below is a list of the Top 10 news developments of 2019, based on our 45,500 visitors’ interests.  Each one is hyperlinked to the original news story so you can read it again — or perhaps read it for the first time!
  1. Hill AFB’s FARSite to go away on Oct. 1st – Despite the fact that the hugely popular FAR search engine operated by Hill Air Force Base was used 2.3 billion times since its launch in mid-1996, it was decommissioned in 2019 and replaced by Acquisition.gov.
  2. There’s hope that FARSite’s useful features will be incorporated into Acquisition.gov – An uproar from loyal FARSite users — concerned that useful search features and functions would no longer be available — caused Acquisition.gov’s operator, GSA, to reassure users that “… the new site [will provide] the existing capabilities as the current FARSite.”
  3. State Dept. contracting officer indicted for bribery and procurement fraud – According to a Justice Dept. indictment, a State Dept. contracting official and a Turkish construction firm engaged in a bribery and procurement fraud scheme in which the official received cash from the Turkish owner while supervising multi-million dollar construction contracts awarded to the Turkish owner’s business partners.  The contracting official allegedly made over a half million dollars in cash deposits into his personal bank accounts.
  4. What’s your acquisition approach — FAR or non-FAR?  – During 2019, contracting officials increasingly decided to not use a traditional Federal Acquisition Regulation-based acquisition model, opting instead to use Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs).
  5. Section 809 Panel issues summary report of 98 recommendations – A Congressionally-mandated study was released in February calling for reforms in four areas of government acquisition: taking greater advantage of marketplace dynamics; allocating resources more effectively; empowering the acquisition workforce; and simplifying acquisition.
  6. What you don’t know about the Pentagon’s DEOS contract – In March, while the Pentagon’s high-profile Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) procurement was first stalled by legal action, contracting officials were preparing to take bids on its other multibillion cloud procurement, the Defense Enterprise Office Solutions (DEOS) contract.
  7. FedBizOpps to merge with SAM.gov before year’s end – In August, GSA announced that FedBizOpps.gov will migrate to a new SAM.gov site as early as the first quarter of FY20.  The merger took place on Nov. 12 with noticeable delays in the new site’s responsiveness.
  8. Why contracting challenges put VA on the ‘High-Risk’ list – In March, the GAO announced it found that the Department of Veterans Affairs had not updated key purchasing regulations since 2008.
  9. DISA, DSS award second OTA to build governmentwide security clearance system – In July, DoD officials announced they awarded a $75 million ‘other transaction agreement’ (OTA) to build major components of the IT system that will eventually handle all background investigations and security clearance adjudications for federal employees and contractors.
  10. Transition to new FAC-C acquisition workforce training requirements begins Oct. 1, 2019 – New training requirements for the civilian portion of the federal acquisition workforce — aligning the requirements with those developed to support the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) contracting certification program — are explained in our article.
Why not make a New Year’s Resolution to visit our website every weekday in 2020?  You’ll benefit by learning about the very latest developments in government acquisition!

 

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Atlanta, GA 30308
info@ContractingAcademy.gatech.edu
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Fax: 404-410-6885

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