Acquisition Resources Service - Training - Acquisition Core Courses
Acquisition Training - Program
The quality and effectiveness of the federal acquisition process depend on the development of a capable and competent workforce. The purpose of the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) program is to establish core requirements for education, training, and experience for contracting professionals in civilian agencies. The federal certification in contracting is not mandatory for all GS_1102s; however, members of the workforce issued new Contracting Officer (CO) warrants on or after January 1, 2007, regardless of GS series, must be certified at an appropriate level to support their warrant obligations, pursuant to agency policy. YOU MUST BE REGISTERED INVACAMEO.
CON 100: Shaping Smart Business Arrangements - Personnel newly assigned to the contracting specialty will obtain a broad, 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 toward success in meeting customer's needs. Participation in small group simulation exercises will prepare students to provide contracting support within the overarching business relationships of government and industry and the political roles and relationships required. Prerequisite: None
CON 110: Mission Support Planning - This course is designed for personnel new to the contracting workforce or non-contracting personnel who play a role in the acquisition process. Students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the specific duties required for effective mission support planning. SuggestedPrerequisite: CON 100-Shaping Smart Business Arrangements
CON 111: This course is designed for personnel new to the contracting workforce and non-contracting personnel who play a role in the acquisition process. Students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to execute an acquisition that optimizes customer mission performance. Students will learn basic procedures for acquisition of both commercial and non-commercial requirements, effectively conduct price analysis to determine when a price is fair and reasonable, conduct basic competitive acquisitions, process awards, and handle protests before and after contract award. Prerequisite: CON 110-Mission Support Planning
CON 112: Mission Performance Assessment - This course is designed for personnel new to the contracting workforce or non-contracting personnel who play a role in the acquisition process. This course builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in CON 110 and CON 111. Students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to use appropriate performance metrics when evaluating contractor performance, and to work with their customers to ensure contract performance is satisfying mission needs. Students also will explore assessment strategies and performance remedies, how to make and price contract modifications, deal with disputes, and close out completed contracts. Prerequisite(s): CON 110-Mission Support Planning; and CON 111-Mission Strategy Execution
CON 120: Mission Focused Contracting - This course completes the Level I contracting courses. The course spans the entire acquisition process from mission support planning through contract closeout. Use of the integrated case study provides students the opportunity to apply leadership, problem solving, and negotiation skills plus the knowledge and skills they have gained in this and the prerequisite courses. Prerequisite(s): CON 110-Mission Support Planning; CON 111-Mission Strategy Execution; and CON 112-Mission Performance Assessment
**Note: New Level II curriculum will be schedule for the 2008 training season.
CON 202: Intermediate Contracting - This FAC-C Level II certification training course is designed for GS-1102 Contract Specialists and others who are beginning their mandatory Level II certification training. Contracting personnel will gain the skills to perform critical duties required to plan for complex acquisitions and evaluate, award, and administer complex contracts.
CON 204:Intermediate Contract Pricing - Want more pricing skills? More is available! Intermediate Contract Pricing addresses mathematical techniques used to analyze prices and costs in complex situations to determine fair and reasonable prices. Techniques presented apply to production, supply, service, and construction functions. Understand the use of progress payments. Price damaged Agency property. Identify and calculate the elements of a Cost Plus Incentive Fee contract. Analyze requests for equitable adjustments. Index prices where an Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) arrangement is in use. Examine Indirect Cost rates; identify inconsistencies. Establish final Indirect Cost rates. Establish forward pricing rate agreements. Identify defective pricing and develop an Agency price adjustment recommendation. Calculate settlement positions for contracts terminated for convenience. Intermediate Contract Pricing is ten days in length. Intermediate Contract Pricing may benefit Department technical, financial, and audit personnel involved in analysis and pricing of contract actions. Price Analysis and Cost Analysis courses are prerequisites. The course format is lecture, discussion, exercises, group projects, and quizzes. Please bring a calculator. Independent reading required. Final exam. The ACE Credit Recommendation is three credit hours.
CON 210: Contract Law - Need to know what's 'behind' the FAR? Contract Law provides a window into the system of contract elements, principles, and authorities. Understand basic concepts such as the elements of a federal contract, the authority and power of the United States to contract, and the rule of agency. Identify and discuss principles of commercial contracts as found in the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). Legal principles will be introduced and discussed followed by case analysis from the Comptroller General, Courts, and Boards that illustrate those principles. Major topics include protests, property, funding and fiscal matters, labor and environmental issues, fraud, warranties, modifications, disputes, and terminations. Contract Law will provide to experienced contracting personnel a comprehensive knowledge of contract law principles, their impact on government acquisitions, and the skills to apply them to reach sound business judgments. All other core courses are prerequisite. The format for this ten-day course is lecture, discussion, interpretation and application of case study materials. Independent reading is required. Preparation and presentation of a case study. The ACE Credit Recommendation is three credit hours.
CON 353: Advanced Business Solutions for Mission Support – This 10-day course is designed for contracting professionals who work, or are expecting to work, in positions requiring unlimited contracting officer warrants or a Level III DAWIA certification. Through realistic scenario-based learning, students are provided the opportunity to work in teams to practice developing sound business solutions as a valued strategic and expert business advisor. Students must complete graded online assignments prior to the start of the course. Prerequisite: Completion of Level II Courses.
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