Course Overview:
This Course is designed for Government personnel who directly or indirectly impact the contract administration phase of acquisition. This includes contracting personnel, contracting officer’s representatives, and others who support the contract administration process.
A great deal of attention is given to training in contract planning and source selection. While this is understandable, it sometimes results in contract administration being given little or no attention. This is truly unfortunate since a failure to perform contract administration properly can lead to significant mission delay or failure. Our course is designed to provide the government professional with the tools he or she needs to effectively administer government contracts toward accomplishing the mission.
Our workshop begins with a dialog on the roles and responsibilities of the various participants in the contract administration process from the time of contract award through contract completion and close-out. The workshop will include discussion of conducting the post award conference, monitoring techniques, the quality assurance surveillance plan, contractor reporting, inspection and acceptance, handling of requests for changes, deviations, or waivers; identifying the need for contract changes, negotiating equitable adjustments, excusable delays, government property considerations, intellectual property, the disputes process, the government relationship with subcontractors, record keeping, and those other issues critical to effective contract administration. Other issues include the Prompt Payment Act, review of invoices, personal services, inherently governmental functions, termination for default, termination for cause, no-cost terminations and terminations for convenience, as well as contract close-out. Contracting terms will be defined in accordance with FAR, DFARS, and judicial use, and, where appropriate, forms and formats will be addressed.
Much of what a government official does concerns the exercise of judgment and this is the “art” of contract administration. This art involves making decisions based on a set of core ethical and mission principles. Learning the “art” of contract administration greatly facilitates the ability to administer contracts in a mission effective manner that is consistent with law and public policy.
The course will use lecture, case studies, practical exercises, discussion, and team-centered problem solving/role playing. Student interaction will be emphasized. A class of varying levels of experience and competence is expected and breaking the class into teams will facilitate the exchange of experiences and knowledge.
