Basics of Government Contract Administration

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This workshop is designed to explain the legal and regulatory underpinnings of government contract administration, give you practical experience through case studies and alert you to pitfalls.

Completely updated incorporating the latest changes from the most recent statutes and Federal Acquisition Circulars

This is a student centered course designed to teach you the basics through lecture and numerous hands on case studies to include:

Understanding the roles of various contracting personnel and their corresponding authority
Learning about various contract types and their impact on contract administration
Managing changes and understanding the procedure for modifying a contract
Understanding inspection, acceptance and final payment
Understanding contract payments, contract financing and progress payments
Learning about subcontract management and flowdown provisions
Learning how to properly close out a contract
Learning the elements of a claim and the forums for filing a dispute
Understanding contract termination
And more...

This specialized program covers critical contract administration topical areas, including the applicable contract clauses, forms, and relevant issues.

Now that you've been awarded a government contract, government and contractor teams focus on completing the requirements of the contract. The Government team focuses on managing costs, quality, meeting the contract schedule, and performance. The Contractor team focuses on managing risk, performance, quality, costs, and profit.

Many issues and problems surface quickly during the contract administration phase. Both government and contractor personnel must understand their rights and obligations under the contract and how to approach difficult situations and resolve problems to the mutual benefit of both parties.

This seminar is designed to be interactive using participant centered approaches to stimulate critical thinking and discussion on relevant contract administration issues. The application of certain forms and key clauses will be emphasized throughout to reinforce contract administration issues.

The case studies will be solved in small groups, and then discussed in detail by the entire class to ensure complete understanding of the contract administration principles involved.

Dates and Locations

July 16-17, 2012

Courtyard Marriott Long Beach Downtown

Long Beach, CA

$1025.00

October 17-18, 2012

AMA Conference Center

Arlington, VA

$1025.00

November 5-6, 2012

SpringHill Suites Norfolk Virginia Beach

Norfolk, VA

$1025.00

Accreditation

CLE Hours

This Program is eligible for:

11 (60 minute)

13.2 (50 minute)

CPE Hours

This Program is eligible for:

13 (CPE) hours of credit

Program Level: Basic

Program Prerequisite: None

Advance Preparation: None

Method: Group-Live

CLP Hours

This Program is eligible for:

11 (CLP) hours of credit

Related Downloads

Registration Form for fax-in registrations (PDF)

Daily Schedule

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Course Curriculum

Commercial vs. Government Contracts
Learn the important differences between operating in the commercial world and the world of government contracts.

Statutory and Regulatory Framework
Competition Requirements
Types of Contracts
Other Issues

Key Statutes, Rules and Regulations
All government contracts are based on statutes and regulations which you must understand in order to administer them successfully.

Competition in Contracting Act
Armed Services Procurement Act
Federal Property and Administrative Services Act
The Federal Acquisition Regulation System
Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act
Federal Acquisition Reform Act

Personnel
You can't tell the players without a scorecard, and there are significant differences among the players, which you must understand.

Authority of Personnel - Who Has It and Who Lacks It
Contracting Officers - PCO, TCO, ACO
CO Representatives: COR/COTR
Others

Contract Types
Administration can be quite different for the many different types of government contracts.

Fixed Price/Fixed Price Incentive
Cost Reimbursement, CPFF, CPI, CPAF
Recurring Contracts - Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity and Requirements
Schedule Contracts (MAS)

Financial Aspects
A variety of methods are available to finance your government contract. Learn how a contract qualifies for financing mechanisms and develop an understanding of their impact on pricing arrangements, fee adjustments, billing procedures and the company cash flow.

Progress Payments, incl. SF 1433, Request for Progress Payments
Loan Guarantees
Advance Payments
Unallowable Costs
Payment of Indirect Costs
Limitation of Costs

Subcontract Management
Government contracts are complex and generally require extensive subcontracting arrangements. Understanding the Government's rights and limitations with respect to subcontractors is essential. You will learn about reporting requirements and how to ensure compliance with this critical contract administration area.

Privity of Contract
Subcontracting Plans
Consent Requirements
Purchasing System Reviews
Disputes with Subcontractors

Managing Contract Change
Changes are inevitable after contract award. Failure to properly manage the change process can result in legally unenforceable contracts, claims and disputes. Learn about the contractual authority for changes, the limitations these changes impose on the government, and the responsibilities they require of the contractor.

SF 30, Amendments of Solicitation/Modification of Contract
Supplemental Agreements
Unilateral Changes
Change Orders
Constructive Changes
Value Engineering Change Proposals

Monitoring, Inspection and Acceptance
The Government has substantial rights to monitor performance and to take appropriate steps when performance is unsatisfactory. You must understand procedures used by the Government to ensure compliance to specifications and how contract performance issues can lead to the threat of default.

Delays
Stop Work
Terminations for Convenience
Terminations for Default
Documenting Past Performance

Payment and Disputes
Payment and the timely flow of funds are critically important. Understanding the terms of the contract and their impact on payment is essential. You will also learn the essential steps for closing out a contract.

The Prompt Payment Act
Invoicing
Collecting Contractor Debts
Claims/Requests for Equitable Adjustments
Contract Closeout
Disputes and Appeals Before the Board of Contract Appeals and the Court of Federal Claims

Other Issues
There are many other issues, including:

Government Furnished Property
Audits
Investigations
Defective Pricing/Price Reductions
Cost Accounting Standards
Labor Laws

The Course Faculty

Garry S. Grossman is a principal in the Washington, DC firm of McCarthy, Sweeney & Harkaway, PC. He has been a government contracts attorney for more than 25 years, during which time he has counseled clients on intellectual property (data rights) issues, bid protests, claims, contract compliance, Buy American Act and related requirements, and many other issues. He also advises clients on technology transfer, licensing, CRADAs, cooperative agreements, and grants with Federal laboratories, Federal agencies, and universities. He is a former systems analyst and software developer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the City/County of San Francisco, and in the private sector.

Mr. Grossman has represented clients in bid protests and/or claims before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, various Boards of Contract Appeals and many Federal agencies. He has lectured widely on government contracts issues and is an entertaining speaker.

Mr. Grossman received an A.B. in Computer and Communications Sciences from the University of Michigan with honors, and M.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Toronto, and a J.D., with high honors, from the George Washington University Law School.

Accreditation

CLE Hours

This Program is eligible for:

11 (60 minute)

13.2 (50 minute)

CPE Hours

This Program is eligible for:

13 (CPE) hours of credit

Program Level: Basic

Program Prerequisite: None

Advance Preparation: None

Method: Group-Live