Explore how to effectively assess, evaluate, and manage contractors to help ensure that the acquisition of services from contractors satisfies mission needs. You will learn practical techniques to develop and define service requirements and manage the resulting contractor performance. You will apply the seven-step services acquisition process to numerous team-based exercises.

Discover business acumen competencies including industry orientation, organization, cost and financial planning, business strategy/development, supplier management, incentives, and negotiation. This course will provide a thorough understanding of the strategy, finances, operational considerations, and motivators that drive contractor business decisions.

Understand how to navigate contract law and learn to identify and avoid legal problems relating to ethics, data rights, fiscal law, protests, and contract management. You will analyze actual court decisions, discuss how judicial decisions impact the acquisition process, and leave class with best practices you can implement on the job.

Enhance your skills and effectiveness with the Acquisition & Contracting Performance Accelerator, a specialized program offering personalized, one-on-one sessions with subject matter experts. Designed for federal acquisition and contracting professionals, this program helps you optimize procurement strategies, ensure compliance, and drive mission-critical results. Each targeted session delivers expert guidance in key areas such as procurement planning, source selection, contract administration, small business engagement, performance-based services contracting, leading contracting teams, and excelling as a strategic business advisor. Whether you’re navigating complex regulations, preparing for leadership roles, or aiming to increase your impact, these high-impact sessions provide practical insights, real-world strategies, and direct mentorship from experienced professionals. Strengthen your expertise, boost your performance, and confidently advance your career in federal acquisition and contracting.

Leverage a nuanced understanding of FAR part 12 to effectively streamline the process for acquiring commercial products and commercial services to save your project time and money. Learn how to determine what a commercial product or commercial service is and follow a more efficient and cost-effective acquisition strategy. Identify the difference in the process for noncommercial acquisitions from requirements definition to contract award. You will leave class with the ability to take advantage of this acquisition approach through analysis of relevant case studies.

Understand the various types of cost-reimbursement contracts, their unique demands and requirements, how to administer them, and best practices for managing modifications or terminations. You will learn how to effectively administer these complex contracts while understanding the associated benefits and challenges. Prior to enrolling in this course, you should know basic federal contracting principles and procedures.

Meet your FAC-COR Level III training requirements or maintain your FAC-COR or DoD-COR Certification in an advanced class facilitated by an expert who can answer your most nuanced questions. Going far beyond just developing COR documentation, you will develop critical thinking, procurement strategy, requirements definition, and contract management skills necessary for successful contract performance. You will participate in complex simulations that will push the limits of your expertise and teach you strategies to manage any contract.

Understand the processes and guidelines that govern simplified acquisitions under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold. Not only will you use practical exercises based on actual legal decisions to apply the basics of simplified acquisitions, but you will also be exposed to the ever-changing electronic commerce methods of acquiring supplies and services using required sources. If you are looking for an update on simplified acquisition procedures, consider taking the Simplified Acquisition Refresher course.

Reinforce your confidence in successfully using simplified acquisition procedures (SAP) to help meet mission needs. In this immersive workshop, you will gain focused practice in vital skills such as oral solicitation, negotiation, and streamlined documentation. Leverage simplified procedures for diverse acquisitions from non-commercial product and noncommercial services procurements up to $350,000 and commercial products and commercial services acquisition up to $9 million. Outcomes include confidence, efficiency, productivity, communication, and compliance.

Understand the source selection process by exploring the legal basis behind it, evaluation factors and standards, and the interconnected relationship among all of the various aspects. Learn the nuances of the source selection process by participating in negotiation, role-playing, and applying learned skills and techniques to case study-based exercises. You will practice preparing effective proposal instructions, conducting debriefs among stakeholders, and more.

Discover how to properly use federally appropriated funds to be compliant with federal appropriations law. Guided by GAO’s Principles of Federal Appropriations Law (the Red Book), you will learn to comply with relevant laws and regulations, gain a deeper understanding of contracting and procurement activities, and reinforce understanding through scenario-based exercises. You obtain the crucial background, tools, and techniques to make sound decisions concerning appropriated funds back on the job.

Avoid making the wrong step anytime between publicizing the contract opportunity and closing the contract when contracting for architect-engineer (A-E) services. By studying Part 36 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Veterans AffairsAcquisition Regulation (VAAR) 836.6 and through lecture and exercises, you will learn the general condition and general requirements, as well as the process for advertising, selecting, and managing a contract with an A-E firm.

Learn the basic knowledge and skills needed as a Level I contracting officer’s representative (COR), such as proper communication, documentation, contract monitoring, payments, and ethics. You will also leave with a better understanding of the overall acquisition process and how to manage acquisitions effectively and efficiently as the eyes and ears of the contacting officer.

Learn how to appropriately use the tradeoff approach to yield a best-value acquisition. You will practice the strategy of achieving best value in negotiated procurements using the tradeoff process by analyzing source selection cases and applying your learning to real-world scenarios that will make your next acquisition a success.

Accelerate the path to proficiency for new contract specialists with the Career Gateway: Acquisition program. Gateway Acquisition is DAU certified equivalent to CON 1100, 1200, 1300 and 1400 so participants meet all their FAC-C and DAWIA Contracting certification training requirements. Students in each cohort will learn the technical skills necessary to support an acquisition, such as contract formation, management principles, and regulatory fundamentals, along with the essential skills they’ll need to succeed in the modern acquisition landscape, like business acumen, critical thinking, decision-making, ethics, financial management, problem-solving, team building, communication, and collaboration. Through the use of experiential learning and a threaded storyline, cohort students will support the establishment of a settlement on Mars to mirror the challenges they’ll face in their roles. Students will be able to hone their skills in a safe learning environment, collaborate with other members of the cohort to solve problems, and sharpen their abilities to be key strategic business advisors for their agencies and organizations. Learners can expect to spend up to 10 hours per week on program activities and classes.

Discover how to handle inevitable changes on a government contract—changes affecting price, quality, quantity, or delivery. The first step to an effective contractual change is to understand concepts such as scope, constructive changes, and contract modifications. You will learn to identify and address complex issues related to contract change, to navigate the implications of change, and to recognize the various clauses that allow for change.

Explore the numerous skills and competencies required for successful contracting specialist careers. In addition to understanding the acquisition process and general contracting principles, they must be adept at navigating and applying FAR regulations and guidance and developing comprehensive solicitations and contracts. In addition to technical skills, fundamental soft skills and professional skills such as ethics, team membership, communication, and documentation are critical to career development.This course is one of four courses within the Contracting Certification Training Program, based upon specific competencies within the Contracting Training Model. The main objective of this program is to enable contracting specialists to be prepared for a career in the contracting profession.CON 1100 aims to provide participants with both the government and industry perspective regarding key acquisition and contracting skills needed in the profession.

Build a foundation in essential contracting skills and competencies, such as general principles related to defining requirements, market research, acquisition planning, and solicitation development. In addition to these foundational skills, you will become familiar with principles from an industry viewpoint, including business development, capture management, and the proposal development process.This course is one of four courses within the Contracting Certification Training Program, based upon specific competencies within the DoD Contracting Competency Model. The main objective of this program is to enable contracting specialists to be prepared for a career in the contracting profession.CON 1200 aims to provide participants with both the government and industry perspective within the pre-award process.

Discover the skills and competencies that contracting specialists must acquire and apply throughout their careers. This course addresses skills and competencies most basic and fundamental to the contracting professional specific to contract award, which includes conducting cost or price analysis, planning negotiations, selecting a source, and understanding protests.This course is one of four courses within the Contracting Certification Training Program, based upon specific competencies within the Contracting Training Model. The main objective of this program is to enable contracting specialists to be prepared for a career in the contracting profession.CON 1300 aims to provide participants with both the government and industry perspective within the award process.

Build a foundation of essential skills and competencies for managing contracts and ensuring contractor performance meets contractual requirements. This course poses challenges such as: How do you administer a contract? How do you handle a contract modification? How do you ensure quality of products and services? What kind of oversight does a subcontractor require? How do you handle disagreements with the contractor? You will examine the duties performed by contracting personnel during the post-award phase of the acquisition process and improve your knowledge and skills in managing contract performance.This course is one of four courses within the Contracting Certification Training Program, based upon specific competencies within the Contracting Training Model. The main objective of this program is to enable contracting specialists to be prepared for a career in the contracting profession.CON 1400 aims to provide participants with both the government and industry perspective on the management and administration of contracts.