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Building a 21st century defense acquisition workforce

Every year, the Department of Defense spends roughly $300 billion to purchase everything from nuclear submarines to accounting services. The defense acquisition workforce is responsible not only for negotiating prices, enforcing requirements, and managing delivery on these acquisitions, but also for addressing issues like interoperability, sustainability, cyber protection, and supply chain security.

And every year, Congress adds complexity to the system, with almost 250 provisions of acquisition legislation changing the rules on types of contracts, contract audits, source selection criteria, commercial items acquisition, data rights and intellectual property, and other issues from 2016 to 2018 alone.

Advocates of acquisition reform have long sought changes in the civil service rules to make it easier to build the talent that the Pentagon needs to meet this challenge, but despite the wide array of legislative authorities now available, little has changed. What is needed is not a new set of rules, but a new mindset: If the Department of Defense wants to develop employees rather than just manage them for immediate performance, it must stop making hiring decisions position by position and establish a system that enables it to rotate future civilian leaders through a series of time-limited, career-building assignments. Instead of managing civil service positions, the Department must start managing its people.

The Call for Civilian Personnel Reform

Sixteen years ago, the National Commission on the Public Service (known as the “Second Volcker Commission”), reported that the federal government was not adequately staffed to meet the demands of the 21st century. Instead of attracting talent, the federal government too often drives it away. “Those who enter the civil service,” the commission reported, “often find themselves trapped in a maze of rules and regulations that thwart their personal development and stifle their creativity. The best are underpaid, the worst, overpaid. Too many of the most talented leave the public service too early, too many of the least talented stay too long.”

Keep reading article at: https://warontherocks.com/2019/05/building-a-21st-century-defense-acquisition-workforce/

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Don’t miss our contract cost and price analysis course in July

Georgia Tech’s course on the Fundamentals of Cost and Price Analysis (CON 170) features an in-depth review of the market research process.  By attending, students gain fundamental quantitative pricing skills.

The 10-day course is being offered on July 15-26, 2019 on the Tech campus in the Global Learning Center in Midtown Atlanta.  Registration details can be seen here.

Attendees will learn how to accomplish Cost-Volume-Profit analysis, calculate Contribution Margin Estimates, and develop Cost Estimating Relationships to achieve effective price analysis pursuant to FAR Subpart 15.4.  These are the skills needed to negotiate pricing of contracts, subcontracts, and contract modifications.

Georgia Tech’s course includes an examination of the regulations and processes governing the use of cost analysis and requiring certified cost and pricing data.

After learning the basic elements of price and cost analysis, students receive instruction on how to build and defend a pre-negotiation objective, including a minimum and maximum pricing objective with a Weighted Guidelines Assessment.  Students also learn how to defend pricing objectives by practicing face-to-face negotiations.

By attending, you’ll learn how to:

  • Identify the Government’s Pricing Objective
  • Review an Independent Government Cost Estimate
  • Apply Price-Related Factors
  • Review General Cost Principles on Allowability
  • Evaluate Direct and Indirect Costs
  • Determine the Applicability of Cost and Price Analysis
  • Practice Cost and Price Analysis Techniques
  • Conduct Cost Realism Analysis

Attendees receive expert instruction, a printed guide to be used back on the job, valuable handouts, and exclusive web-based resources.  A complimentary breakfast is provided each morning, along with snacks throughout each class day.

This is a federal core course, required for FAC-C and DAWIA certification.  Register here.

The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech is an official Defense Acquisition University (DAU) equivalency training provider.  Georgia Tech’s coursework also is recognized by the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI).

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Learn how the government administers its contracts during week of June 24th

Now you have the opportunity to attend  a week-long course at Georgia Tech that comprehensively covers the federal contract administration process.  

The course — Contract Administration in the FAR — begins Monday, June 24 and concludes Friday, June 28, 2019. Registration details may be found at: https://pe.gatech.edu/courses/con-090-4-contract-administration-far.

Students work in teams to answer questions and solve problems involving contract administration.
Who Should Attend
  • Government contracting officials will learn not only the rules but the best practices in contract administration. And, this course satisfies required FAC-C and DAWIA certification programs.
  • Business people, including those to aspire to become federal contractors, will learn how to use the power of being an incumbent to win future contracts as well as how to protect contractual interests.
How You Will Benefit

You will learn:

  • The fundamental concepts of government contract administration.
  • The rights of the parties when contract performance is not timely.
  • Both the government’s and the contractor’s rights when contract performance comes into question.
  • The policies and procedures for preparing and processing contract modifications.
  • How to apply the requirements of applicable contract clauses in various contracting scenarios.
  • The applicable payment clauses and invoicing procedures.
  • The policies and procedures for filing and processing contract disputes and appeals.
  • The policies and procedures pertaining to the complete or partial termination of contracts for the convenience of the government or for default.
  • All pertinent parts of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) having to do with contract administration.
Content
  • Fundamentals of contract administration
  • Contract modifications
  • Administration of selected terms and conditions
  • Delays and how to handle them
  • Quality assurance
  • Payment and cost allowability
  • Disputes and appeals
  • Terminations — for convenience and for default
  • Closeout procedures and requirements
Materials, Resources and Amenities

Each student receives a printed Student Guide, exercises, updated supplemental information, and exclusive access to web-based student resources. A complimentary breakfast is provided each morning, along with snacks throughout each day.

Additional Information

The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech (The Academy) is an approved equivalency training provider to the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) and the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI).  Our courses satisfy both the FAC-C and the DAWIA certification programs.  The coursework also provides students the opportunity to earn continuing education unit credits (CEUs) for acquisition and contracting professionals as well as business professionals pursuing contract opportunities in the federal contracting arena.

More Information and To Register

For more information on this course, please visit: https://pe.gatech.edu/courses/con-090-4-contract-administration-far

 

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Learn how the government administers contracts during week of Dec. 3rd

Before the year ends, you have the opportunity to attend  a week-long course at Georgia Tech that comprehensively covers the federal contract administration process.  

The course — Contract Administration in the FAR — begins Monday, Dec. 3 and concludes Friday, Dec. 7, 2018. Registration details may be found at: https://pe.gatech.edu/courses/con-090-4-contract-administration-far.

Students work in teams to answer questions and solve problems involving contract administration.
Who Should Attend
  • Government contracting officials will learn not only the rules but the best practices in contract administration. And, this course satisfies required FAC-C and DAWIA certification programs.
  • Business people, including those to aspire to become federal contractors, will learn how to use the power of being an incumbent to win future contracts as well as how to protect contractual interests.
How You Will Benefit

You will learn:

  • The fundamental concepts of government contract administration.
  • The rights of the parties when contract performance is not timely.
  • Both the government’s and the contractor’s rights when contract performance comes into question.
  • The policies and procedures for preparing and processing contract modifications.
  • How to apply the requirements of applicable contract clauses in various contracting scenarios.
  • The applicable payment clauses and invoicing procedures.
  • The policies and procedures for filing and processing contract disputes and appeals.
  • The policies and procedures pertaining to the complete or partial termination of contracts for the convenience of the government or for default.
  • All pertinent parts of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) having to do with contract administration.
Content
      • Fundamentals of contract administration
      • Contract modifications
      • Administration of selected terms and conditions
      • Delays
      • Quality assurance
      • Payment and cost allowability
      • Disputes and appeals
      • Terminations
      • Closeout
Materials, Resources and Amenities

Each student receives a printed Student Guide, exercises, updated supplemental information, and exclusive access to web-based student resources. A complimentary breakfast is provided each morning, along with snacks throughout each day.

Additional Information

The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech (The Academy) is an approved equivalency training provider to the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) and the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI).  Our courses satisfy both the FAC-C and the DAWIA certification programs.  The coursework also provides students the opportunity to earn continuing education unit credits (CEUs) for acquisition and contracting professionals as well as business professionals pursuing contract opportunities in the federal contracting arena.

More Information and To Register

For more information on this course, please visit: https://pe.gatech.edu/courses/con-090-4-contract-administration-far

 

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Experience ‘full immersion’ in the FAR during two weeks in September

The Federal Acquisition Institute’s newest and most comprehensive course offering, FCN 190 – FAR Fundamentals, is now scheduled for presentation on the Georgia Tech campus in mid-September 2018.  The course provides students with a comprehensive review of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

FAI logoRegistration information may be found by clicking here.  The course spans a two-week period, September 17 – 28, 2018.

By attending the FAR Fundamentals course, students learn the federal government’s policies and procedures for acquisition planning, source selection, and contract administration. Students work through realistic, scenario-based problems by identifying the relevant regulations, guidance, provisions and clauses that govern the federal contracting process.

The FCN 190 – FAR Fundamentals course was created in response to changes in the government’s professional development standards for federal contracting officials.  An OMB Memo on the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Program establishes what’s known as the FAC-C (Refresh) program.  The effective date of the FAC-C (Refresh) was October 1, 2014.  Details of the training standards established under the FAC-C (Refresh) program can be seen by clicking here.

Academy logo on blueFAI has verified that the FCN 190 – FAR Fundamentals course offered by The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Techmeets the requirements for delivery of the new FAC-C (Refresh) Level I certification requirements.  Georgia Tech is also an approved Defense Acquisition University (DAU) equivalency provider, offering DAU-equivalent training that satisfies both FAC-C and DAWIA certification programs

Registration information appears here.  The course is also available, on a contract basis, for presentation both on-campus at Georgia Tech and on-site at government facilities.

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75 Fifth Street, NW, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30308
info@ContractingAcademy.gatech.edu
Phone: 404-894-6109
Fax: 404-410-6885

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