Government Courses in Basic Contract Administration

Students can learn the principles of government contract administration.

Government courses in basic contract administration are classes that prepare students, small business professionals and large organizations for the federal acquisition process. Doing business with the government involves first understanding the needs of the federal agency and next negotiating contract terms with contracting personnel. For example, the Defense Department's Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and procedures are guidelines for coordinating acquisition planning, qualifying contractors and negotiating and distributing contracts. Government courses in basic contract administration are typically offered by law school programs and corporate training providers.

Government Contracts

A government contracts introductory course offers law school degree programs in government contract law. Students enrolled in the course discuss basic principles concerning government procurement. They review the powers of the three branches of government and how agencies and departments influence the procurement process. Throughout the course, students continue their exploration into other topics related to contract formation and dispute resolution issues arising out of contract management. The course is primarily centered on the role of the federal government in the procurement process; students also briefly review case studies of local, state and international organizations and how they affect the process.

Federal Contract Management Fundamentals

Contract management fundamentals is a basic course in contract administration. This course is typically a training class offered by management consulting companies. The training class is ideal for contract managers and subcontract administrators of both small businesses and large organizations. Throughout the course, trainees discuss different types of federal and commercial contracts. They identify contract opportunities and review pitfalls related to poor risk management. The course also covers the topics of federal acquisition procedures, contract pricing, negotiation principles and cost accounting standards. Students leave the course with knowledge of the fundamentals of basic contract management.

Understanding Federal Acquisition Policy

Understanding the federal acquisition process is a focus of this training course. Federal procurement is subject to guidelines and procedures outlined in the DFARS and other agency related supplements. This course represents an introduction to concepts and procurement policies related to managing government contracts. Trainees in the course review standard procurement requirements and how companies justify the need for funding by preparing budget proposals and explanations. The course allows students to gain practical experience in preparing statements, specifications, acquisition plans and procurement requests.

Negotiating Federal Contracts

Negotiating federal contracts is part of both the acquisition planning and procurement processes. Acquisition planning is a management strategy, a procedure by which government personnel and business professionals coordinate their efforts to best determine solutions that will meet and fulfill the needs of the purchasing entity. Students learn how to manage the negotiation process by applying principles of conflict resolution. They also review related topics, such as pricing, cost analysis and federal contract negotiation methods. Through this course, student gain an understanding of negotiation types, strategies and related techniques. This course ends with a discussion of post-award negotiation strategies.

Legal Topics on Procurement, Advocacy and Dispute Resolution

A course in contract law is the foundation for any law school program. For example, first-year law students review diferent types of contracts, their structure, purpose, terms and provisions. Students read case studies and gain practical experience at the end of the year by participating in moot court. On the other hand, a course in contract law with an emphasis on understanding procurement as it relates to the federal acquisition process is better suited for corporate representatives and experienced attorneys with advanced skills. This course covers topics related to government liability, judicial policy and emerging legal issues concerning problems with acquisition procedures. Students review contract litigation case studies and complete the course with an understanding of federal procurements laws and how they affect dispute resolution.

References

• George Washington University: Government Contract Law Courses
• The Training Registry: Fundamentals of Federal Contract Management: Grasping the Basics
• Strayer University: Principles of Federal Acquisition and Contract Management
• The Training Registry: The Art of Negotiating Federal Contracts
• Strayer University: Procurement and Contract Law

Resources

• Defense Department: DFARS Acquisition Procedures
• The Training Registry: List of Government Contracting Courses
• George Washington University: Procurement and Government Contract Law Resources
• U.S. General Services Administration: Definition of Acquisition Planning