When you prepare your bid, you are really also preparing for the pricing audit. You plan this way so that you think like the auditor and assemble all the right documents to support your bid. The best practices for the pricing audit come from the experts who have handled thousands of these audits and will give you the tools you need to face them with confidence. This is the third webinar in the Strategic Pricing Best Practices Series. Learning Objectives: 1. Learn what is contained in the basis of estimate (BoE) and why you need it 2. Know when to prepare the audit file (hint: during the bid..and immediately after) 3. Determine what is contained in the audit documentation file 4. Prepare for what you should discuss in a debrief and who should attend 5. Discover why you need a lessons learned as soon as the proposal is out the door and what it needs to cover

In the fiercely competitive landscape of today's market, simply being good at what you do is no longer sufficient for success. The key to not just surviving but thriving lies in a profound understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as a strategic insight into your competition. This presentation unveils a comprehensive framework for gaining a competitive edge by deeply understanding your organization's unique value proposition and leveraging this knowledge against your competitors. Hope and luck alone aren't enough to grow your organization and land more contracts -winning more business takes strategic action. As competition increases, you need a game plan beyond subject matter expertise to stay ahead of the pack and come out on top. In this session, discover a treasure trove of tactics to help you get ahead of the RFP, gain a deeper understanding of your clients and their needs, and outshine the competitors. You'll also learn how to develop proposals that the evaluation committee cannot resist! Success is not an accident. Why hope and lose when you can engage and win?

This webinar will provide an overview of hot topics concerning supply chain due diligence and international trade compliance challenges. These days, all supply chains are global. Failure to anticipate U.S. regulatory requirements can lead to costly delivery delays and even seizures of merchandise. Learn about the U.S. Customs laws, U.S. export control regulations, sanctions, and other U.S. regulations that can have a significant impact on your supply chain. Persons who would benefit from this webinar, include, but are not limited to, business executives, contracting specialists/administrators, project managers, purchasing specialists, import and export compliance officers, logistics personnel, and legal and financial advisors. With this knowledge, you will be better equipped to employ due diligence and spot or identify potential supply chain and international trade compliance risks. The webinar will conclude with a 15-minute Q&A session to address any questions. Learning Objectives:  Brief overview of various import laws and regulations including the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) and other forced labor laws, trade remedies, special tariffs.  Brief overview of export control and sanctions laws and regulations including those aimed at Russia and China, anti-boycott, and the Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain Executive Order  Compliance practices and tools for diving deeper into supply chain due diligence and mitigating risks

Many Federal contractors initially find Cost Accounting Standards to be difficult to understand and navigate. Our experts break down the requirements so each participant can understand:  What is CAS?  When does it apply?  What is a Disclosure Statement? This session will discuss modified vs. full CAS coverage and will also provide a high-level overview of the standards by grouping and the connection between CAS requirements and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Learning Objectives  What are the differences and requirements for Standard, Quick, and Early contract closeouts.  What are the eight steps for a Standard Closeout Contract Complete, Verification Forms, Reports, Resolution of Outstanding Issues Final Payment De-obligation of funds Completion Statements Past Performance File Disposal  What are the basic problems that are being experienced at every step.  How can those problems be addressed.  Why quick closeouts are popular in 2024 and the impact that that process is having on the backlogs

The "When and Where" of Pursuing Federal Funding Opportunities In this session, our Partners from McCallister and Quinn (M&Q) will join us to help the attendees understand WHEN these opportunities are available, WHERE you and your organization can find them, and HOW to pursue them. M&Q's experts are adept at securing Federal funding opportunities for both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. This session will dive into all the pre-award activities necessary to support a successful pursuit while avoiding any challenges along the way. Learning Objectives:  Identify when opportunities are available, where you can find them, and how you can pursue them  Familiarize with the pre-award compliance requirements associated with Federal funding opportunities

A negotiated contract (or procurement) allows the government to select a contractor based on criteria other than solely a formal price competition. The FAR provides guidance for conducting these types of procurements and the contract types that can be used by both the federal government and its contractors (e.g. fixed price, incentive, or cost-reimbursement). In this session, learn how these types of contracts can be both a challenge and an opportunity for contractors and about the extra steps necessary to justify the proposed price. Learning Objectives: By the end of the webinar you should be able to:  Differentiate between cost and price analysis and understand the appropriate times to apply each method;  Define cost or pricing data, certified cost or pricing data, and data other than cost or pricing data;  Understand defective pricing and how to prevent it; and  Utilize the six-step process to develop a compliance process that fits the needs of your firm.

For over 25 years, the federal government has used a contractor's past performance on prior contracts and projects as a mandatory evaluation factor in most procurements. So, in deciding whether to award a contract, most federal agencies must examine prior projects, including those performed for the U.S. government. This past performance information could be the reason that an agency refuses to award a contract. And federal contracting rules provide specific limits on a contractor's ability to challenge inaccurate past performance evaluations. This webinar will address (1) how the government uses past performance information in federal procurements; (2) contractor and offeror responses to past performance issues; and (3) the role of the GAO, Boards of Contract Appeals, and U.S. Court of Federal Claims in past performance-related disputes. Based on extensive practical experience and recent caselaw, this webinar will provide guidance to help contractors successfully navigate federal past performance issues, including the process to challenge an agency's inaccurate or improper evaluation. Learning Objectives: By the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to recognize unique features of federal government past performance evaluations, including the use of federal "report cards" or CPARS, the process for challenging adverse ratings, and the role of GAO, Boards of Contracts Appeals and U.S. Court of Federal Claims. The webinar will include discussion of lessons learned from years of experience representing clients in past performance disputes and protests before numerous fora. Finally, this webinar will provide practical advice for contractors to prevent potential disputes regarding an agency's negative past performance rating.

Don't miss the opportunity to become an expert in navigating the complexities of FAR 31.201 with our comprehensive webinar, tailored specifically around Unallowable Costs! Here's why you should grab your virtual seat:  Demystify FAR 31.201: Get an in-depth walkthrough of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) that governs Unallowable Costs.  Comprehend Unallowable Costs: Obtain a clear-cut understanding of what constitutes Unallowable Costs and why they matter to you.  Classify Unallowable Expenses: We'll take you through the various types of Unallowable Costs, providing the knowledge to identify them with ease.  Master Accounting Practices: Learn the ropes of properly accounting for Unallowable Costs, ensuring your organization's financial compliance.  Avoid Costly Mistakes: Uncover potential penalties and safeguard your organization by staying ahead of compliance issues related to Unallowable Costs.  Audit with Confidence: Gain valuable insights into the auditing process of Unallowable Costs to help streamline your company's operations. This webinar is an invaluable investment for those looking to refine their accounting skills, ensure compliance in their financial reporting, and steer clear of the hurdles associated with Unallowable Costs. Make sure to reserve your spot now-your expertise is just a webinar away!

A Forward Pricing Rate Proposal (FPRP) is one of the main outputs of a contractor's annual budgeting and planning cycle, and thus receives a lot of audit attention. Even though this attention occurs regularly during the year in connection with contract pricing proposals, DCAA re-scrutinizes FPRPs as part of an overall estimating system audit. Join our experts for this one-hour webinar - part of a larger webinar series focused on government audits - to discuss common forward pricing rate audit challenges and findings, strategic risk mitigation options, and tactical tips and tricks to ensure a successful audit. Learning Objectives:  The purpose and intent of forward pricing rates, and the focus of government audits  Who performs these audits, with a primary focus on the Defense Contract Audit Agency  Recent areas of attention and common challenges contractors face during FPRP and proposal audits  How estimating business system audits intersect with and are impacted from FPRP audits  Strategies for managing and addressing audit requests  Key estimating process risk areas and how to mitigate them

This session builds on CAS Overview and Applicability with understanding the impacts to an organization's business segments. The session begins with defining the difference between a business unit and a segment and explains the pros and cons of transferring materials, supplies or services based on both cost and price. Learning Objectives: Participants will learn about the applicability of Disclosure Statements to segments, including when a Disclosure Statement is required to be completed. The session also includes a case study which will provide hands-on experience with a sample Disclosure Statement.