Personnel newly assigned as GS-1102 Contract Specialists and others needing this course for certification will obtain a comprehensive understanding of the environment in which they will serve. Students will develop professional skills for making business decisions and advising other acquisition team members to successfully meet customers’ needs. Participation in small group simulation exercises will prepare students to provide contracting support within the overarching business relationships of government and industry.
Note: Management Concepts has tailored this course to make it relevant for civilian agencies as well as DoD contracting personnel.
Suggested Prerequisite: None
Course Objectives:
After successful completion of this training course, the student will be able to:
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Understand the vision and focus of the acquisition environment
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Identify the customer’s mission
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Conduct business as a member of the acquisition team
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Develop professional skills for making smart business decisions
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Effectively work with the financial and contractor communities
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Identify various types of procurement alternatives
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Recommend smart business decisions that best support the customer and comply with laws and regulations
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Set goals for personal career growth
Major Topics:
What is acquisition? Similarities and differences between private and public sectors. The acquisition mission. Influences on the acquisition environment. Historical perspective of the acquisition environment.
Contracting mission. Customer mission areas.
The acquisition team. Contracting professional’s added value. What’s the big fuss about teamwork? Key success factors for effective team building. Interactive teaming styles. Effective communication.
Relationship between decision making and problem solving. Problem solving steps and tools.
Standards of conduct and ethical principles. Ethical values and decision-making plans. Actions to fight fraud, waste, and abuse. Acquisition oversight and impact of oversight organizations on the acquisition process.
Preference for buying commercial items. Commercial off-the-shelf items, modified commercial items, nondevelopmental items, and government unique items. Market research.
Types of appropriations. Anti-Deficiency Act, Misappropriations Act, and bona-fide need rule. Financial management.
Constitutional and statutory authority for procurement. The FAR system. Agency FAR supplements. FAR conventions.
Win-win-win outcomes. Buyer and seller motivations. Contractor considerations in doing business with government. Competing factors in the acquisition environment. Business strategies to manage risk.
Understanding what it’s like to be a government contractor.
Providing mission area support. Required sources. Economy Act. Ordering instruments and agreements. Undefinitized contract actions. Governmentwide commercial purchase card.
Factors influencing a new contract. Methods of procurement. Contract types. The acquisition process.
Fundamental concepts of the legal process. Role of contract law in federal government. Sources of procurement law. Contracting authority. Elements of a contract. Protests. Problems during contract performance.
Principles of leadership. Leading change – the keys to success.
Definitions, roles, and functions. Integrated acquisition environment. E-business benefits and challenges. Impact of using inaccurate data.
Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) requirements. Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA). Technical and business competencies. Contracting career opportunities. Individual development plans (IDP).
ACE Recommendation:
October 2005 to March 2010: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 2 semester hours in Business Administration, Public Administration, Procurement, Purchasing, or Contract Management.
April 2010 to present: In the lower division baccalaureate/associate degree category, or upper division baccalaureate degree category, 2 semester hours in Business Administration, Public Administration, Procurement, Purchasing, or Contract Management.
Suggested Follow-on Resources:
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