Government Best Practices Training Course:

March 15-17, 2005*
NRECA Executive Conference Center
Arlington, Virginia

**I'm sorry this workshop is now SOLD OUT!
Please see our April 13-15, 2005 date!

Registration: 7:30 AM

Program Starts: 8:30 AM

Wrap-up: 4:30 PM

Course materials, continental breakfast, refreshments included.

About This Course

In 1982, the GAO released its first edition of Principles of Federal Appropriations Law.  It was a collection of the body of law governing the expenditure of federal funds.  In 1991, the current four set volume was released.

Today, agency program managers, general counsel, contracts administrators and financial officers are all faced with significant challenges in meeting organization needs within current budgets.  What are the rules?  How are they applied in practice?  What are the typical mistakes made that result in wasted or lost funds?  How can an agency protect its budget?   How can an agency manager maximize their allocation?

The rules governing federal appropriations are complex, extensive and fill four binders.   This course, taught by leading experts in government contract law, will provide the student with an overview of the rules, how they are applied, and most importantly, how to maximize funds with budget limits AND within the rules.

Learn precisely how the Federal government’s budget and spending system works – and how to avoid impasses at each phase in the process, from initial planning through ultimate disbursement.

• Initial planning phase
• Budgeting
• Congressional role
• Limitations on spending
• Antideficiency questions
• Contract funding
• Personal liability
• Statutory compliance

And more…

Under the Current administration and Congress, financial pressures are mounting – and will continue to mount for the foreseeable future. Those of you who handle Federal funds and have to find ways to do more with less need to know how to maneuver on the Federal financial highway.

The subtle rules on the availability of appropriations can absolutely block an otherwise well-reasoned management plan. The difficulty is that these rules are not well known, not well publicized, and not easy to understand. Fortunately, though, there exist clear precedents that you can follow to avoid reaching such impasses – and avoid incurring personal financial liability for failure to comply.

This course will take you through every facet of the budgeting and spending processes. You’ll get a thorough analysis of all funding activities, as seen through the eyes of the contracting, certifying, and disbursing officers. And you’ll participate in sessions that explore controlling decisions by the General Accounting Office.

We invite you to join us for three days of educational adventure.

Course Syllabus

This course has been approved by the Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education for 16.00 total CLE credit hours

A. Legal Framework

1. Constitutional basis
2. Historical review
3. Basic definitions

B. Life Cycle of an Appropriation

1. Budget formulation
2. Congressional process
3. Enactment of funding gap
4. Apportionment and allotment
5. Close of fiscal year
6. Audit and review

C. Interpreting Appropriation Language

1. Line item vs. lump sum appropriations
2. Effect of budget estimates
3. Reprogramming and transfer
4. Permanent legislation in an appropriation
5. Interrelationship of authorization and appropriation
6. Application of legislative history

D. Availability of Appropriations as to Purpose

1. Necessary expense rule
2. Specific purpose limitations

• Entertainment and recreation
• State and local taxes

E. Availability of Appropriations as to Time

1. Bona fide needs rule

• Materials contracts
• Service contracts

2. Replacement contracts rule
3. Contract modifications
4. Year-end disposition of appropriation balances
5. Elimination of “M” accounts

F. Availability of Appropriations as to Amount

1. Earmarking language
2. Antideficiency Act
3. Augmentation of appropriations

G. Obligation of Appropriations

1. Recording Statute
2. Contingent liabilities
3. Deobligation

Who Should Attend

• Agency Program Managers
• Budget and Financial Officers
• General Counsel
• Contracts Administrators
• Procurement Executives
• Federal support contractors
• Federal product and services suppliers, systems integrators

What Previous Students Wrote in their Evaluations...

“Excellent course! Complete and wonderful learning experience from beginning to end.” – Carrie Limo, Logistics Management Specialist, Logistics Transformation Agency

“Cannot say enough about the instructor- he is phenomenal!” – William E. Gregg III, Business Management Specialist for Acquisition, US Army- Office of PM Close Combat Systems

“Instructor was best I’ve had. Learned a lot about subject matter.” – Ruth A. Blessing, Business Mgmt Specialist, Acq., US Army, Project Manager Small Combat Systems, Picatinny

About Your Instructor

Steven N. Tomanelli owns an acquisition training and consulting company, Steven N. Tomanelli & Associates, a ten-year old professional services company with a proven track record of performance. Mr. Tomanelli offers high quality acquisition training and consulting services to public and private sector customers worldwide as well as a wealth of practical experience and has consistently achieved the very highest levels of customer satisfaction.

Mr. Tomanelli has authored over 35 coursebooks on federal procurement and fiscal law, including A Practical Guide to Federal Appropriations Law (MCI, 2003), Evaluating and Managing Performance-Based Contracts (Federal Publications Seminars), Performance-Based Contracting Workshop (Federal Publications Seminars), Basics of Commercial Contracting (Federal Publications Seminars), Basics of Government Contracting (Federal Publications Seminars), Advanced Source Selection (ESI International), Task Order Contracting (ESI International), and many others.

Mr. Tomanelli served as Chief, Acquisition and Fiscal Law, Air Mobility Command for several years where he provided senior management oversight and policy guidance for attorneys at fourteen Air Force bases nationwide. He served as program attorney for several large software development and transportation services contracts and provided legal advice on a broad spectrum of acquisition and appropriations law issues, including protests, A-76 actions, privatization, source selections and the Antideficiency Act.

An attorney in good standing of the New York State and Florida Bars, Mr. Tomanelli serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Government Contractor (West Publishing Co.), is a designated speaker at for the National Contract Management Association and is a member of the American Bar Associations Public Contract Law Section. He received his Master of Laws (LL.M. in Federal Procurement Law) from George Washington University, his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) and B.A. from Hofstra University.

Contact Us

• For registration information, contact Stacy Dellinger, (703) 807-2753
• For speaker or agenda information, please contact Laura Johnson, (703) 807-2747

Registration Fee

• Government attendees: $1,195 per person
• Industry: $1,295 per person

CANCELLATION POLICY: You may designate a substitute in writing any time before the conference. If you need to cancel your registration, you must send your notice in writing and will be subject to a $50 processing fee. No refunds are given for cancellations received 48 hours prior to the conference start date or later.

Location Information

This workshop will be held at the NRECA (National Rural Electric Coop Assn) Headquarters Building, Executive Conference Center (Main Floor) at 4301 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203

Map and directions to the conference location

Ballston Metro stop information

Do you need a place to stay while you're attending the course? Here are some nearby hotels.

• Hilton Arlington Towers, (703) 528-6000 (one block from conference site)
• Comfort Inn Ballston, (703) 247-3399 (four blocks from conference site)
• Quality Inn Courthouse Plaza, (703) 524-4000
• Holiday Inn, (703) 243-9800 (three blocks from conference site)

Marketing, Conference Management and Production by:

Market*Access International, Inc.
4301 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 1003
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 807-2753