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Academy offers contract administration course May 5-9

Georgia Tech is teaching a course in May that is beneficial to both contracting officials seeking to hone their skills as well as contractors looking for insights into the government contracting process.

The course — CON 090-4, Contract Administration in the Federal Acquisition Regulation — covers every aspect of post-award activity.  This includes monitoring of contract performance, quality assurance, contract modifications, enforcement of terms and conditions, processing payments, handling disputes and appeals, terminations, and the contract close-out procedure.

  • For government contracting officers, this course represents the fourth module of coursework required to maintain a contracting warrant.   A warrant is a written document providing a contracting officer with the limits of his or her authority.   Per FAR 1.601-2, 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 contracting officials maintain their warrants and enhance professional development.
  • For businesspeople who compete for and fulfill government contracts, Academy classes are equally pertinent.  Contractor personnel who attend Academy courses gain real-world knowledge about how government officials are trained to formulate and administer contracts.   Insights in these areas provide invaluable guidance pertinent to reaching greater success in competing for, winning, and fulfilling government contract work.

CON 090-4 is a five-day course being offered during the week of May 5, 2014 on Georgia Tech’s midtown Atlanta campus.  CON 090-4 is part of an overall four-week course that deals with every aspect of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the set of rules which govern the government’s “acquisition process” — that is, the process through which the government purchases (or “acquires”) goods and services.

For more information on CON 090-4, including cost and registration, please visit http://www.pe.gatech.edu/courses/con-090-4-contract-administration-far.

For information about the entire CON 090 course series and other courses offered by The Academy, please visit http://www.pe.gatech.edu/Subjects/Acquisition-Government-Contracting.

 

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Academy explains FAR to business counselors at national conference

On March 23rd, The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech conducted a comprehensive workshop on the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) for 150 counselors from procurement technical assistance centers (PTACs) from across the country.

The workshop was conducted in San Francisco in conjunction with the spring training conference of the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC).

APTAC selected The Academy to create an educational workshop entitled “The Complete FAR Guide for PTAC Counselors.”   The workshop provided a focused and comprehensive review of those portions of the FAR that are most pertinent to the work PTAC counselors do to assist their clients.

The workshop instruction was complemented by an 202-page manual produced by The Academy exclusively for APTAC members as well as a special web page where FAR resources are available for download.

Each workshop attendee received a 202-page manual explaining pertinent parts of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Each workshop attendee received a 202-page manual explaining pertinent parts of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

The FAR is the federal rule book governing all acquisitions made by the government.  Contracting officers from virtually every federal agency follow the FAR each time they purchase any product or service, ranging from office supplies to major military systems.  Understanding these rules is essential not only for those who issue contracts but also for those who are awarded government contracts.

In designing the workshop and the printed Guide, the Academy’s curriculum development team analyzed the 2,000-page FAR and selected those portions most critical to the success of businesses engaging, or hoping to engage, in government contract work.  The Academy’s team then developed training modules and materials designed to assist PTAC counselors in their work with those businesses.  “The workshop held in San Francisco was an outgrowth of one conducted by the Academy in Atlanta in April of last year,” the Academy’s program manager Donna Bertrand pointed out.  “We were very proud to be invited back.”

PTACs are funded, in part, by the Defense Logistics Agency to provide counseling and assistance to businesses seeking to compete successfully in federal, state and local government contracting.  More than 95 PTACs — with 300 local offices — form a nationwide network of procurement counselors who provide businesses advice about the government marketplace.  More details on PTACs can be found at: http://www.aptac-us.org.

“This workshop conveys not only technical knowledge but also insights into the government’s acquisition process,” commented instructor Kevin Grimes. “Attendees come away with a complete set of tools they need to help their clients compete for and win contracts.”

Reaction to the March 23rd training session was unanimously positive.  “The post-workshop evaluations reflect that 100% of the participants feel the workshop met or exceeded their expectations,” said Chuck Schadl, who oversees the Contracting Education Academy as well as Georgia Tech’s PTAC.  “In fact, 75% of the participants said that the workshop exceeded their expectations.”

Here is a sampling of what attendees had to say:

  • “I got tons of really great info to immediately use in helping my clients.”
  • “What I got was beyond my expectation — I’m so glad for this opportunity!”
  • “I expected a tedious analysis and explanation of various FAR clauses.  Instead, this was a very engaging and informative presentation with lots of information useful to counseling clients.”
  • “I valued the approach to learning a somewhat difficult topic, and all the solid reference points.”
  • “This was a fun, informative and relevant workshop.  I value the instructor’s knowledge, sense of humor, great presentation style, and Georgia Tech’s amazing resources.”
  • “This was a good and quick presentation on a huge topic.  Very good speaker who kept it moving.  A wonderful reference guide.”
  • “This course needs to be presented every year because the FAR is something that must be repeated multiple times.”
  • ” A lot of good information and resources!”
  • “A fantastic presentation on the FAR, loaded with great information.  Georgia Tech programs are always good.”
  • “This presentation was presented in a way that was easy to follow.”
  • “I need more training like this.”
  • “Awesome seminar and resources!”
  • “I need this refresher once a year — also need this class for my clients.”
  • “I like that the presentation was tailored to help us counsel our clients.”
  • “I need more classes by Georgia Tech!”
  • “This was an outstanding session.  I got an excellent hard copy resource book plus access to exclusive links and websites.”
  • “The workbook is a great value.”
  • “Excellent training on the FAR.”
  • “I received a dynamic and engaging review of the FAR that gave me a ton of tools to take back and better assist my clients.”
  • “It was a pleasure to sit in this class.”
  • “This training exceeded my expectations.  I really like the way it was laid out.  The booklet will be a great tool which I will use a lot.”
  • “The resources provided will be invaluable to me.”
  • “I value the professionalism and clarity of the instructor and the course materials.”

At the conclusion of the workshop, each attendee was presented with a certificate of completion and was awarded 0.3 CEUs from Georgia Tech.

Feel free to contact The Academy for help with your next educational workshop.  Call 404-894-6109 or email: info@ContractingAcademy.gatech.edu.

 

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Pentagon and Congress begin rewriting DoD acquisition rules

The Pentagon and the U.S. Congress have begun the tedious effort of reviewing decades of antiquated, cumbersome defense acquisition policies to speed up the defense procurement process and get more bang for the buck.

Unlike previous acquisition improvement projects, which in some cases made the process more complicated, those leading this effort are optimistic because lawmakers and Defense Department officials are tackling this review together. These officials also believe that the decline in US defense spending provides incentives to make the project successful.

“The idea is not to really change any of the intent behind the existing laws, but just to simplify that body of law, make it more comprehensible, make it easier to implement and make it something that is much more focused on results and not as confusing and complex for everybody,” Frank Kendall, the Pentagon’s undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics, said during an interview in December.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140216/DEFREG02/302160012/Pentagon-Congress-Begin-Rewriting-DoD-Acquisition-Laws 

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A fair and reasonable approach to contract reform

For all its significance, you would expect to hear it mentioned more often. However, the term “fair and reasonable” is sprinkled throughout the Federal Acquisition Regulation and dramatically affects government outcomes. Its interpretation ultimately affect how billions are spent, jobs are created, stock prices are valued, products or services are delivered, disputes are settled, and other laws and regulations work together to meet government mission.

Government contracting can create various forms of dispute, litigation, and protests, but this occurs after the contracting officer makes a determination as to whether, for example, supplies and services are coming from responsible sources at fair and reasonable prices. Source selection officials, attorneys, auditors, program managers, agency senior executives, and others all play important roles, but the beauty of the process is in shielding contract decision-makers from external influence, either irrelevant or political. A “fair and reasonable” determination is not made in a vacuum and involves far more than arriving at the cheapest price. Instead it should be in writing and includes other “factors” that together comprise a proper assessment of the propriety of a contract award. Despite much guidance, nothing obviates the need for an independent, fair and reasonable determination based on the totality of information and expertise available.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20140210/BLG06/302100006/A-fair-reasonable-approach-contract-reform 

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2014 FAR agenda includes rule to encourage small business set asides

Proposed changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) for 2014 include a rule that would encourage agencies to set aside contracts for small businesses.

The interim rule would codify part of the 2010 Small Business Jobs Act that addressed set-asides of task- and delivery-orders as well as partial set-asides under multiple-award contracts, the 2014 FAR regulatory agenda says.

The interim rule would only strengthen what’s already happening in the government, said federal procurement expert Larry Allen. Agencies already regularly set aside contracts for small businesses, he added.

“It’s a further step to enshrine a practice that already happens,” Allen said.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.fiercegovernment.com/story/2014-far-agenda-includes-rule-encourage-small-business-set-asides/2014-01-09 

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Phone: 404-894-6109
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