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Here are the most popular government contracting topics of 2015


News iconNews items on The Academy’s web site were read more than 58,500 times last year.  

That’s a 7 percent growth rate compared to the previous year.  To you — our students, clients, and visitors — we say thank you!

So, what did you read about in 2015?

Listed below are the top 15 most popular news stories, with each one hyper-linked to the original article:

  1. Federal acquisition thresholds to change Oct. 1, 2015
  2. Husband and wife admit to military contracting fraud and other schemes
  3. AT&L chief provides guidance on appropriate use of LPTA source selection
  4. Contracting Academy conducts national workshops
  5. Businesses and counselors in Northwest U.S. prepare GSA Schedule proposals
  6. Multiple companies protest $1.6 billion Pentagon contract
  7. Who’s the boss in government contracting?
  8. DoD’s FY16 budget could lead to increased contracting activity
  9. Companies pay millions to settle alleged false billings on GSA Schedule and DoD contracts
  10. Contracting Academy offers insights into contract relationship-building at national event
  11. 18F’s startup-friendly agile BPA hits first hurdle — a protest
  12. Company excluded from competition protests $5 billion Army IT contract
  13. Navy commander pleads guilty in huge bribery case
  14. New GSA tool lets agencies compare contract labor rates
  15. ‘Fat Leonard’ contracting scandal jams up dozens of US Navy flag moves

And what were the most popular topics viewed on The Academy’s web site during 2015?  They are listed below, each hyper-linked to corresponding resources:

  1. Negotiating Rules (10 basic bargaining rules followed by win/win negotiators)
  2. Simplified Acquisition
  3. Bribery, Kickbacks (news of corruption in government contracting)
  4. Government Contracting News (the latest developments)
  5. Fair and Reasonable Pricing (an explanation of this government standard)
  6. Lowest Price Technically Acceptable
  7. Authority for Modifying a Contract
  8. GSA Schedule Workshop (consulting services to obtain a GSA Schedule contract)
  9. Reverse Auctions
  10. Bid Protests
  11. Acquisition Training
  12. Conflicts of Interest
  13. Cost Overruns
  14. Micro Purchases
  15. Acquisition Strategy (ideas for planning an acquisition)

Contracting Academy Web Visitors CY2015

The popularity of the Contracting Education Academy’s web site continues to grow.  During 2015, more than 21,700 visitors consulted the Academy’s site 29,000 times — viewing 58,500 pages.  Our visitors came from all 50 states and 138 countries.

Our recommendation for the New Year?  Keep visiting The Academy’s web site for the very latest news and information on government contracting — there is new content posted every business day!

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Contractor overseeing HealthCare.gov steps down

The contractor responsible for the embattled HealthCare.gov website is stepping down from its role now that “our job has been completed.”

“Having achieved the goal of making HealthCare.gov a stable and reliable platform for people seeking coverage, Optum will not rebid to continue the role of senior adviser,” Matt Stearns, a company spokesman, said in a Wall Street Journal article last week. Optum’s contract expires in July.

It was one of 33 contractors working on the $800 million website before it launched in October 2013. In that role, Optum set up the Data Services Hub, which handles band-end queries of federal databases, and the tool for handling initial sign-in data, according to a ModernHealthcare article.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.fiercegovhealthit.com/story/contractor-overseeing-healthcaregov-steps-down/2015-05-18

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Here are the most popular government contracting topics of 2014

News items on The Academy’s web site were read more than 34,000 times last year.  What were the most-read articles of 2014?   Listed below are the top 15 most popular news stories, with each one hyper-linked to the original article:

  1. Negotiating rules and the bargaining process
  2. What is simplified acquisition?
  3. Interagency acquisition and GWACs explained, related resources identified
  4. New workshop makes GSA Schedule proposal possible in as little as two days
  5. COs must verify WOSB/EDWOSB status independent of SAM info
  6. DoD acquisition workforce ordered to take ethics training annually
  7. Authority for modifying a contract
  8. Sham charged in $1.2 million veteran business fraud
  9. How to cut costs and improve performance
  10. Course is essential to understanding small business contracting rules
  11. Reverse auctioneer FedBid slammed by VA inspector general
  12. Course for contracting officer’s representatives provides timely and relevant information
  13. VA contracting official resigns amid agency’s attempt to fire her
  14. A bold approach to transforming IT acquisition
  15. FAR course conveniently offered in weekly modules

And what were the most popular topics viewed on The Academy’s web site during 2014?  They are listed below, each hyper-linked to corresponding resources:

  1. Government Contracting News
  2. Lowest Cost Technically Acceptable
  3. Army Corps of Engineers
  4. Better Buying Power
  5. Bribery
  6. System for Award Management (SAM)
  7. Fair and Reasonable Price
  8. Reverse Auctions
  9. Inherently Governmental Functions
  10. Kickback
  11. Bid Protest
  12. Fraud
  13. Acquisition Training
  14. Fixed Price
  15. Conflict of Interest

The popularity of the Contracting Education Academy’s web site continues to grow.  More than 16,000 individuals visiting the Academy’s site over 21,000 times — viewing 34,000 pages — during 2014.   

Keep visiting The Academy’s web site for the very latest news and information on government contracting — there is new content posted every business day!

 

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Acquisition planning is focus of July 14 course

Want to learn about the Government’s policies and procedures for planning an acquisition?  How does the Government deal with required and preferred sources of supplies and services?  What must be done to ensure competition?

To answer these questions and many, many more, The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech is presenting a one-week course beginning July 14, 2014, entitled CON 090-2: Contract Planning in the FAR.

By attending this course, students will learn all the types of contracts that may be used in acquisitions, special contracting techniques, the impact of socioeconomic programs, the use of special contract terms and conditions, the implications of contractor qualifications, and proper advertisement procedures.

The course provides vital instruction for Government contracting personnel as well as important insights for contractors.

CON 090-2 is the second of four modules from CON 090 – Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Fundamentals.  The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech offers CON 090 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 an entire month.

The course consists of limited lecture, and is heavily exercise-based.  Students should be prepared to dedicate about an hour each evening for reading.

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.

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Acquisition planning is focus of March 3rd course

Want to learn about the Government’s policies and procedures for planning an acquisition?  How does the Government deal with required and preferred sources of supplies and services?  What must be done to ensure competition?

To answer these questions and many, many more, The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech is presenting a one-week course beginning March 3, 2014, entitled CON 090-2: Contract Planning in the FAR.

By attending this course, students will learn all the types of contracts that may be used in acquisitions, special contracting techniques, the impact of socioeconomic programs, the use of special contract terms and conditions, the implications of contractor qualifications, and proper advertisement procedures.

The course provides vital instruction for Government contracting personnel as well as important insights for contractors.

CON 090-2 is the second of four modules from CON 090 – Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Fundamentals.  The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech offers CON 090 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 an entire month.

The course consists of limited lecture, and is heavily exercise-based.  Students should be prepared to dedicate about an hour each evening for reading.

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.

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Atlanta, GA 30308
info@ContractingAcademy.gatech.edu
Phone: 404-894-6109
Fax: 404-410-6885

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