Government Best Practices Training Course

Registration: 7:30 AM

Program Starts: 8:30 AM

Wrap-up: 4:00 PM (Day One)
(Course Adjourns 12:30pm on Day Two)

Course materials, continental breakfast, refreshments included.

About This Course

Whether viewed from a contractor or government perspective, the proper submission of bids and proposals and their evaluation in a “fair and honest” manner, are the critical prerequisites to the conduct of a successful procurement. The Contract Formation Workshop takes a close look at the role that each participant plays in the several steps leading to contract award and reviews the basic rules that govern their actions. It then examines problem areas and innovative techniques, and—for those instances when things go awry— discusses and evaluates the protest mechanisms and forums available to disappointed competitors.

The Contract Formation Workshop is designed for all those individuals—whether Government or Contractor—that take part in the exacting and arduous task of putting a contract in place. Contract administrators and program managers; business operations personnel; attorney advisors; indeed, anyone involved in the procurement process, will benefit from the Workshop’s practical review, discussion and update of current practices associated with contractor submission of compliant bids and proposals and their evaluation by the Government in a “fair and honest” manner.

More specifically, this 1.5-day Workshop thoroughly analyzes (a) sealed bidding and its responsibility and responsiveness requirements; (b) competitive negotiation and its more complex evaluation procedures; (c) the wide array of contract types available to the parties and the risk exposure associated with each, (d) the rules of sole source contracting, (e) the special opportunities presented by simplified and commercial item acquisitions and by the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program, and (f) the protest procedures available to contractors at the individual agencies, at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (CFC).

In addition, particular attention will be given to the several current topics that prompt discussion and—in some cases—controversy regarding the evaluation of competitive proposals, including: the obligations and benefits associated with the use of best value procurements; past performance as a mandatory evaluation factor—including a review of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Directive entitled, Best Practices for Collecting and Using Current and Past Performance Information; the increased reliance being placed upon performance based contracting: distinguishing between “clarifications” and “discussions” and defining the concept of “meaningful discussion”; the propriety of using information not included in proposals for evaluation purposes; and, placing further limitations on the make-up of the competitive range.

The Contract Formation Workshop’s instruction method will encourage attendee participation. Several self-graded “pop quizzes” and frequent Q&A sessions will emphasize key points and ensure that all attendees will have an opportunity to discuss the issues to the extent that they believe necessary. In addition, each attendee will be given a copy of the Government Contract Guidebook, 3rd Edition, as well as other relevant government regulations and guides.

Course Syllabus

Day One

An Overview of Procurement Methods
-- Sealed Bidding & Competitive Negotiation
-- Simplified Acquisition
-- Commercial Item Acquisition
-- Federal Supply Schedule Contracting

Contract Types
-- Fixed-Price Contracts
-- Cost Reimbursement Contracts
-- The Hybrids

Sealed Bidding
-- Invitation for Bids
-- Responsiveness of Bids
-- Responsibility of Bidders
-- Late Bids and Mistakes in Bids

Competitive Negotiation
-- Request for Proposals
--Exchanges of Information
(a) Presolicitation Exchanges
(b) Oral Presentations
(c) Clarifications
(d) Discussions
-- Competitive Range
-- Evaluation of Offers
(a) Award Without Discussions
(b) Evaluation Factors
(c) Best Value Source Selection
(d) Past Performance
-- Sole Source Contracting

Day Two

Debriefings
--The Significance of Timely Debriefings
--Preaward
--Postaward

Protests
-- Identifying and Evaluating the Alternative Forums
-- Using Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures
-- The Forums
(a) Contracting Agency
(b) Government Accountability Office
(c) Court of Federal Claims

Who Should Attend

• Contracting Officers, contract administrators & their private sector counterparts
• Other individuals involved in the procurement process
• Government and private sector attorneys
• Federal supply, services and R & D contractors, systems integrators
  
  
  
  A Sample List of Attendees Include:
  Mantech International Corp., Pricing Analyst
  Naval Surface Warfare Center- Crane Division, Engineer
  Defense Logistics Agency, Property Disposal Specialist
  CSOSA Director, Office of Financial Management
  DARPA, Management & Program Analysis Officer
  BAE Systems, Deputy, Business Development
  U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Deputy General Counsel
  B.I.G. Enterprises, Inc., Contract Specialist
  Pratt & Whitney, Program Manager
  Mine Safety & Health Administration, Program Analyst
  Air Force Lab Space Vehicles Directorate, Aerospace Engineer
  IT Capital Planning & Acquisitions, IT Specialist
  Treasury/FMS, IT Specialist
  US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Sr. Auditor
  

About Your Instructor

Donald Arnavas practices law in Washington, D.C. He combines many years of experience as a judge, law school professor and practicing attorney and thus is able to bring students instruction that is—at the same time—informative, authoritative and readily understandable.

Don is a graduate of Iona College and Georgetown University Law Center and is a member of the Virginia and District of Columbia Bars. He served for three years on the Council of the American Bar Association’s Public Contract Law Section and for 15 years as Senior Editor of its Public Contract Law Journal. He is currently a panel member of ACI, a London based ADR provider and he is listed in the Guide to the World’s Leading Experts in Commercial Arbitration—2004.

Don is the author of the Government Contract Guidebook, 3rd Edition, the text used in this Workshop and of Alternative Dispute Resolution for Government Contracts. In addition, he has written many legal articles—including over 20 Briefing Papers—on a wide variety of government contract topics Since 1983 he has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Penn State/Dickinson School of Law and he lectures extensively at other colleges and law schools throughout the world. He is also a visiting lecturer at the Army Judge Advocate General’s School.

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: $645 per person
• Industry: $845 per person

**Course fee includes continental breakfast on both days, refreshments throughout the course, a copy of Government Contract Guidebook, 3rd Edition as well as copies of other government regulations and guides! (Note: Lunch is not included.)

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 3 business days prior to the event 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)
• Holiday Inn, (703) 243-9800 (three blocks from conference site)
• Comfort Inn Ballston, (703) 247-3399 (four blocks from conference site)
• Quality Inn Courthouse Plaza, (703) 524-4000

On-Site Training

Can't Make These Dates? Unable To Travel? Have a Large Staff to Train?

Market*Access can provide government contract training, wherever and whenever you need, including on-site at your facility. Our staff will cost-effectively implement training customized to your needs.

To schedule a private workshop or for more information, e-mail Laura Johnson, Director of Conferences & Strategic Planning, at ljohnson@marketaccess.org or call (703) 807-2747.

Marketing, Conference Management and Production by:

Market*Access International, Inc.
4301 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 1003
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 807-2755