Contract Administration I

Course Description

This FAI-compliant course is the third in the Fundamentals of Contracting curriculum designed to instruct the student in all of the knowledge, skills and abilities required of the journeyman contract specialist. This course takes the student through the various facets of post award contract administration, covering everything from the post award orientation conference to contract closeout.

Lecture-discussion is heavily supported by practical exercises and case studies to cover a comprehensive group of learning objectives required by FAI. Students are taught the concepts by the instructor, and are then expected to demonstrate their knowledge by completing individual and group exercises.
The target audience for this course consists of members of the contract specialist (GS-1102) career path. Others involved in contract administration activities could also benefit.

ACE Credit Recommendation

In the lower division baccalaureate degree category, 2 semester hours in Business Administration, Federal Acquisition, Public Administration, Procurement Management, or Purchasing.

Prerequisites

None

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Plan for contract administration
• Conduct a post award orientation
• Monitor contractor performance and resolve problems
• Select and pursue a formal contract remedy
• Modify contracts and exercise options
• Terminate contracts for convenience, cause or default
• Close out contracts and recognize fraudCourse Content

Course Content

Lesson 1: Initiation of Contract Administration

Given the awarded contract and contract administration requirements:

• Identify and describe applicable processes and procedures for postaward orientations, subcontracting, government furnished property, labor issues, and environmental issues.

Lesson 2: Modifications and Claims

Given a contract and a request to modify:

• Differentiate between commercial and noncommercial modifications.
• Recognize the process for modifying a commercial contract.
• Determine the process for exercising an option.
• Describe the claims process.
• Prepare a contract modification.

Lesson 3: Quality Assurance

Given a contract with a quality assurance plan and a performance issue:

• Determine the appropriate quality assurance procedures.
• Determine surveillance required by contractor and government personnel to ensure monitoring, inspection, and acceptance criteria are met.
• Determine when a stop work order should be used and its potential impact.
• Conclude whether delays are excusable and if consideration is appropriate.
• Recognize remedies available for commercial and noncommercial contracts.
• Describe procedures for developing and reporting contractor past performance.

Lesson 4: Payment

Given regulatory guidance:

• Recognize contractual payment or accounting terms and conditions.
• Identify invoice and payment procedures.
• Identify contract financing and request for assignment of claims.
• Recognize the types of commercial financing and their implications for contract administration.
• Recognize the terms “accounting system,” “estimating system,” “cost accounting standards,” and “defective pricing.”

Lesson 5: Terminations

Given a contract situation:

• Recognize the similarities and differences between terminations for commercial and noncommercial contracts.
• Determine whether to terminate for convenience for a commercial or noncommercial contract.
• Identify the reasons for a termination for default on a noncommercial contract.
• Determine the adequacy and appropriate remedies for a termination for cause on a commercial contract.
• Prepare a termination notice.

Lesson 6: Contract Closeout

Given a contract scenario:

• Describe the process for properly closing out a contract.
• Recognize when a contract is complete.
• Recognize indications of fraud and exclusion or other civil or criminal offense.
• Perform a contract closeout.