FAC-C | The Contracting Education Academy

April 2, 2018 By AMK

Government’s acquisition training website restored

Inoperable since February, the Federal Acquisition Institute Training Application System (FAITAS) came back online on Friday, March 30th.

The Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) previously stated that FAITAS was unavailable due to “unscheduled maintenance,” but there was widespread speculation that the site suffered a cyber incident. FAITAS is operated for FAI by the U.S. Army through its Army Training Requirements and Resources System (ATRRS).

FAI has updated its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about use of FAITAS to request training, document continuous learning points, and related matters. The FAQs can be found here: https://www.fai.gov/drupal/sites/default/files/FY18MILRestriction_AccessRestored_FAQs.pdf.

FAITAS, and the training accessible through FAITAS, can be accessed only by civilian and military members of the government. FAI operates a helpdesk that can be reached via email at training@fai.gov or by phone at 703-752-9604.

Vendors who have had their courses verified by FAI for purposes of meeting Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) standards are listed at: https://www.fai.gov/drupal/certification/verified-contracting-course-vendor-listing.

March 21, 2018 By AMK

Georgia Tech is the place to learn how to analyze contractor pricing

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 will gain fundamental quantitative pricing skills.

The 10-day course is being offered on April 23 – May 4, 2018 on the Tech campus in the Global Learning Center in Midtown Atlanta. Registration details may 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.

Our course includes an overview 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 will 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 electronic 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).

October 30, 2017 By AMK

Learn how the government administers contracts during week of Dec. 4th

You have the opportunity before year’s end 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. 4 and concludes Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. 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).

Content

- - Contract administration basics
  - Contract modifications
  - Administration of selected terms and conditions
  - Delays
  - Quality assurance
  - Payment and cost allowability
  - Disputes and appeals
  - Terminations
  - Closeout

Materials

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 government contracting professionals as well as business professionals working for the government or pursuing 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

April 4, 2017 By AMK

Plan ahead: Attend ‘FAR Fundamentals’ in August

The Federal Acquisition Institute’s newest course offering, FCN 190 – FAR Fundamentals, is now scheduled for presentation on the Georgia Tech campus in August 2017. The course provides students with a comprehensive review of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Registration information may be found by clicking here. The course spans a two-week period, August 7 – 18, 2017.

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.

FAI has verified that the FCN 190 – FAR Fundamentals course offered by The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech meets 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.

February 9, 2017 By AMK

Learn how to navigate the Federal Acquisition Regulation starting on Feb. 21st

Join us at Georgia Tech’s Global Learning Center in midtown Atlanta as we kick-off a four-day course covering the fundamentals of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

This contracting overview of the FAR, covers Module 1 of the Defense Acquisition University’s course entitled Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Fundamentals (CON 090-1). The course begins Tuesday, Feb. 21, and concludes Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.

By attending, you will:

Learn the federal government’s basic principles of contracting,
Identify and access exclusive on-line resources, and
Receive expert instruction on how to locate, cite, and interpret the FAR, the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and the DFARS’ Procedures, Guidance and Information (PGI).

While this course was originally designed exclusively for federal contracting officers, Georgia Tech’s Contracting Education Academy has enhanced the course’s scope so that it is relevant to multiple audiences, including contractors seeking to learn more about the federal contracting process, federal officials who need to satisfy job-related continuous education requirements, and anyone seeking more information about the federal acquisition profession.

More information about this course is available at: http://www.pe.gatech.edu/courses/con-090-1-contracting-overview-far.

In all, there are four Modules that make-up the FAR CON 090 course series. Information about the entire series can be found at: http://www.pe.gatech.edu/courses/con-090-federal-acquisition-regulation-far-fundamentals.

The Academy’s complete list of government acquisition courses, and course scheduling, is at:http://contractingacademy.gatech.edu/training.

The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech is an official equivalency training provider of the Defense Acquisition University (DAU). The Academy also offers new coursework from the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI). Our coursework satisfies the federal acquisition workforce’s DAWIA and FAC-C certification standards.

Students attending CON 090 courses at Georgia Tech receive a printed Student Guide, helpful handouts, a deck of FAR Cards, and access to exclusive on-line resources. Breakfast is served each morning, and snacks are provided throughout the day.