A special two day course on government contract terms and conditions. Comprehensive coverage of the core contract clauses and their implications as contract building blocks.

A sentence-by-sentence examination of the major clauses appearing in standard government contracts - what they say; what they mean; their effect; what you can do to minimize risks.

The Substance

Fundamentals is an entry level course in government contracting focusing primarily on contract clauses and analyzing those clauses. Unlike commercial contracting -- where the buyers and sellers have a great deal of flexibility in developing terms and conditions -- in federal government contracting, there are clauses mandated by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and various agency FAR supplements. Each government contract contains dozens of standardized clauses that are prescribed by the FAR and that neither the contracting officer, nor the contractor has the flexibility to omit or generally change. Many times, these clauses are incorporated by reference only, rather than spelled out.

All professionals involved in the award or administration of a government contract must understand their rights and obligations under these clauses. Failure to do so puts their organizations (and sometimes even themselves) at risk. This course will provide a detailed analysis of the more important FAR clauses found in federal government contracts. By analyzing and discussing the clauses under the guidance of experienced instructors, you will be better equipped to understand their requirements and successfully perform or administer the government contract or subcontract.

The Students Who is this course for?

First (and most obviously), the relative newcomers to government contracting... starting on the way up...be they administrators, lawyers, engineers, accountants or other professionals. Second, the specialists who have been working in limited areas of procurement, without ever having had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the complete picture... who need to find out how all the pieces fit together. Third, the veterans who may feel the need for a refresher, or may wish to acquaint themselves with some of the special topics which only this program covers.