Course Catalog

Course covers a wide range of business acumen competencies including industry orientation, organization, cost and financial planning, business strategy/development, supplier management, incentives, and negotiating strategies. Business skills will be learned on aligning company strategies, finances, and operations that motivate company decisions to meet their business goals, gain fair and reasonable profits, while providing best taxpayer value to the government on defense products.

The course focuses on understanding contract formation and management principles, as well as regulatory fundamentals and their application within the Department of Defense. It provides fundamental knowledge and practical application that can be applied immediately in the workplace across the broad spectrum of Department of Defense (DoD) contracting organizations.

The first week develops critical skills necessary to locate, interpret, and apply regulatory guidance in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR); Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS); DFARS Procedures, Guidance, and Information (PGI); and DoD Class Deviations. Subsequent weeks focus on the fundamentals of contract formation and management principles, to include the practical application of the FAR/DFARS/DFARS PGI/DoD class deviations to real-world scenarios.

This course, focusing on contracting for architect-engineers, covers issues across the contracting spectrum, including acquisition planning, source selection, proposal analysis, contract award and work, and contract management. Specific topics and practical exercises allow professionals to gain knowledge of the Selection of Architects and Engineers statue, SF-330, the slate and selection process, the review of government estimates, liability, Title II services, modifications, and contracting officer’s technical representative responsibilities.

This course builds on the foundation established through the Level I curriculum and the course prerequisites. The primary focus is on the acquisition of services under FAR Part 15 procedures, with an emphasis on performance-based acquisitions (PBA) for services, contract types, contract incentives, source selection, and contract administration. Students will learn the fundamentals of a performance based service acquisition -- from acquisition planning to contract closeout through a realistic case study. The course takes students through the solicitation process using the mandatory DoD Source Selection Procedures. Students will prepare contractual documents, and develop and deliver high-level source selection briefings with recommendations for contract award.

Through realistic scenario-based learning, students work individually and in teams to practice developing sound business solutions as a valued strategic and expert business advisor. Students will learn to analyze complex contracting situations with emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, research, and risk reduction. Student course work is designed to contribute real solutions on real acquisition problems to senior leadership and local supervisors.

In this module, you will learn about the procedures for placing orders for supplies and services against Multiple Award Schedules as outlined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 8.4. The module is not about general FAR procedure such as protests, acquisition planning, preparation of statements of work, and contract files management, but does discuss these topics as they relate to Schedules contracting and ordering procedures.

In this course, you will learn about how buyers in the federal marketplace can utilize small businesses when using the GSA Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) program. Every agency is concerned with meeting its annual socioeconomic goals and the MAS program is a simple and easy way to achieve those goals.

Target Audience:
This module is primarily intended for the Federal 1102 community in both civilian and military agencies, particularly contracting professionals at all levels who seek to gain understanding or strengthen their knowledge of Federal Supply Schedules and socioeconomic support.

This continuous learning module addresses three commonly used acquisition methods: issuing task or delivery orders using GSA's Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) under FAR Subpart 8.4 and negotiating a stand-alone order or contract under FAR Part 13 and FAR Part 15. The module explores the differences and similarities of these three methods, their advantages and disadvantages in various situations, and how to analyze alternatives as you develop your acquisition strategy. This CLM also explains how to utilize FAR Part 13 in conjunction with FAR Part 8.4 when open market items are needed to complete your overall requirement.

Target Audience:
This module is primarily intended for the Federal 1102 community working in both civilian and military agencies.

Target Audience: Contracting professionals
Description: Explore the features, benefits and types of interagency acquisitions, and the requirements to make the decision to use this method. Learn the keys to success, and the resources available to support interagency acquisition activities.

In this continuous learning module, we will examine additional options for minimizing the environmental impact of your acquisitions beyond requiring the use or supply of green products. It is possible to incorporate environmental considerations into any acquisition, regardless of size, scope, type, or complexity.

Target Audience:
This course is designed for the Federal contracting (1102) community working in both civilian and military agencies.

Target Audience: Acquisition professionals (CO, CORs, PMs)
Description: Gain an understanding of the HUBZone program, the tools used to identify HUBZone firms, and the various contract considerations when making awards to HUBZone firms. Learn about price evaluation preference, limitations on subcontracting, and the non-manufacturer rule as it applies to the HUBZone program.

Target Audience: Acquisition professionals (CO, CORs, PMs)
Description: Gain knowledge of the Certificate of Competency (CoC) program which is administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Learn what CoC is and its purpose, as well as an understanding of the eligibility requirements, and the process involved in the applying the CoC program.

This course provides essential information about the EIS contracts, including the process for obtaining DPA that allows you to order from EIS. This course discusses the EIS program and features a set of multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts that provide a comprehensive and flexible way for all Federal agencies to access telecommunications and IT solutions from top global service providers.

Develop an understanding of the most common contract types and their basic characteristics as well as factors to consider when selecting and negotiating the contract type.

At the end of this course, the student will be able to identify:

- The most common contract types and their basic characteristics
- Factors to consider when selecting and negotiating the contract type

Target Audience: Acquisition professionals (CO, CORs, PMs)

Target Audience: All Federal acquisition workforce members, to include DOD and civilian agency employees.

The next generation GWAC vehicle, Alliant 2, offers comprehensive information technology (IT) solutions through customizable hardware, software, and services solutions purchased as a total package. The new course builds off of the success of Alliant and creates contract vehicles that provide a total solution to agencies' requirements while maximizing opportunities for small businesses. In this course, you will learn about the Alliant 2 offered through the GSA.

This course provides an overview of the acquisition team and the program lifecycle, explains the roles and responsibilities of the primary members of the acquisition team (Contracting Officer, Contracting Officer's Representative, and Program/Project Manager), and also discusses the impact of decisions made by the various acquisition team members and the use of effective communication in a collaborative environment.

In this sixty-minute course, the learner will take an active role in applying the critical thinking skills necessary in identifying and pursuing the best solution when contracting for supplies and services for large projects. The course will also address the Federal Acquisition Regulation flexibilities along with OFPP released guidance and myth-busters on how to best engage with the private sector on how to deliver high quality solutions with sustained collaboration while promoting agency best practices.

Learn how to structure line items on contracts and orders, and when applicable exceptions apply. Correctly formulated line items result in improved access to reliable and comprehensive data on Federal procurement actions.

After completing this course, the student will be able to:
- Implement a consistent method for structuring line items
- Apply the new rule to line items in contracts and orders
- Determine when exceptions apply to the new rule

Target Audience: Contracting Professionals

Target Audience: Acquisition professionals (CO, CORs, PMs)
Description: Develop basic skills necessary to understand what market research is, why it's important and how to conduct it through hands on activities.

Target Audience: Acquisition professionals (CO, CORs, PMs)
Description: Learn about the best value continuum and the differences between a low price technically acceptable (LPTA) evaluation and a trade off determination.

Target Audience: Acquisition professionals (CO, CORs, PMs)
Description: Learn how to conduct a price reasonableness determination when awarding simplified acquisitions.

Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) enable federal agencies to buy cost-effective, innovative solutions for information technology (IT) requirements. Because most, if not all, government agencies have a need to buy IT services and solutions, GSA has made this purchasing convenient through its GWAC Programs. In this continuous learning module, you will learn about the 8(a) STARS II, Alliant 2, Alliant 2 Small Business, and VETS 2 GWACs.

Learn the components of writing a good contract effort description and past performance evaluation narrative, and how to rate a contractor's performance.

Learn about the small business strategies that can be used when awarding and ordering under Multiple-Award Contracts.

OASIS and OASIS Small Business (SB) are multiple award, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts that provide flexible and innovative solutions for complex professional services. Before issuing task orders using OASIS or OASIS SB, Federal Contracting Officers (COs) must complete training and receive a Delegation of Procurement Authority (DPA). Training will cover: basic contract information, scope, ordering process, roles & responsibilities, and resources. The course is designed for 1102-Series Contracting Officers, Contract Specialists (CSs), Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs), and Contract Review Officials.

Gain an understanding of Section 889 of Public Law 115-232 which prohibits the purchase and use of certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment from specific companies based in the People's Republic of China. Effective implementation of Section 889 is part of the critical response of the United States to the national security threat posed by certain technology providers. Understand the new FAR requirements, the implementation guidance, exceptions and waiver processes, reporting requirements and enforcement of the rule.

This course, Introduction to the FAR, provides learners with the guidance they need to find and use information in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in order to implement acquisitions. It introduces learners to the FAR and how it is administered and updated, as well as how supplements to and deviations from the FAR affect acquisitions. This course familiarizes learners with the FAR's structure, organization, and numbering system, and provides guidance on how to apply the FAR to specific acquisitions. Finally, the course will direct learners to the FAR itself, and provide opportunities to practice researching information in the FAR.

Target Audience: Acquisition professionals (CO, CORs, PMs)
Description: Learn about industry's perspective on Federal procurements such as what influences industry's decision to bid on a given government requirement and/or get on government-wide acquisition contracts/schedules. This video is from the perspective of three distinguished industry professionals, representing a cross-section of industries both large and small.

This course features examples of where agile acquisition has been successfully implemented in the Federal Government. The lessons learned, success stories, and the opportunity to question the trailblazers themselves should give everyone a great foundation to begin. There is a lot of talk about Agile - but what is it, and why are new procurement methods and strategies needed to successfully implement it? Agile Software Development is a mindset that requires a completely new way of thinking about an entire development process from the moment a need is identified through execution. In order to procure for these types of services, it is important to understand what Agile is and what it is not, what the risks are in the process and how they are mitigated, and what value success looks like. Traditional procurement methods for "waterfall" software implementations lack the flexibility to take advantage of the benefits of time, schedule, and cost that Agile Software Development methods can bring to the Federal Government. For this reason, the acquisition workforce needs to make its processes agile using innovative and creative solutions to procure these services while maintaining compliance with the FAR and Federal Law. This course identifies several methods and strategies that have been and can be applied to achieve this goal. There is a post-assessment that must be passed at 100% in order to obtain the CLPs. You will have an unlimited number of attempts to earn the passing score. This is a FAITAS LMS course.

Target Audience: Acquisition professionals (CO, CORs, PMs)
Description: Learn how to conduct pre/post-award debriefings and what information may be disclosed.

Target Audience: Acquisition professionals (CO, CORs, PMs)
Description: Explore how to conduct effective Industry Day Conferences. Understand how to set-up and conduct a meaningful and well defined industry day conference that ensures that both the government and industry, engage in outcomes that are optimal.

Target Audience: Acquisition professionals (CO, CORs, PMs)
Description: Learn how the Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity contract vehicles offer a wide array of efficiencies to both government agencies and vendors by simplifying and streamlining the contracting process.

Target Audience: Acquisition professionals (CO, CORs, PMs)
Description: Learn how Category Management and the Acquisition Gateway can help meet the evolving needs of the acquisition community, while decreasing the prices paid for goods and services.

Target Audience: Acquisition professionals (CO, CORs, PMs)
Description: Gain an understanding about the kind of information that the Government and industry can and should share during the acquisition process as well as the applicable timeframes for sharing that information.

Target Audience: Acquisition professionals (CO, CORs, PMs)
Course Description: Gain knowledge about key initiatives and policy updates related to innovation, such as Acquisition Innovation Advocates, examples of implementing innovation (i.e. Office of Personnel Management), and information on the Department of Homeland Security's Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL).

This Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL) Primer provides an introduction to the Procurement Innovation Lab at the Department of Homeland Security, how it's working to change the procurement culture in the agency, and how its work can help change the procurement culture in your agency. The eight techniques shared are ways to improve the outcomes of your procurements, with the ultimate goal of helping to change the procurement culture in your agency. This is a condensed version of what is taught in the full-day PIL Boot Camp intensive workshop. It is recommended that you review the PIL Boot Camp workbook prior to watching the video.

Target Audience: Acquisition professionals (CO, CORs, PMs)

After viewing, students will have an understanding of 8 PIL techniques:
-Oral Presentations
-Product Demonstrations
-Confidence Ratings
-Down-Selects
-Comparative Evaluations
-Selecting Best-Suited, Then Negotiating
-On-the-Spot Consensus Evaluations
-Streamlined Documentation

Target Audience: Contracting professionals
Description: Learn the requirements for documenting the contract file.

Target Audience: Contracting professionals
Description: Learn about source selection planning and the different basis for award used in the source selection process, and how evaluation factors are used in a source selection.

Target Audience: Contracting professionals
Description: Learn about the importance of the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) in the acquisition process.

Target Audience: Contracting professionals
Description: Learn about past performance, to include the collection and use of past performance information as an evaluation factor in source selection, as well as the characteristics of quality past performance information.

Target Audience: Contracting professionals
Description: Learn about the different types of exchanges of information with industry and how those methods are appropriately used in the federal contracting.

Target Audience: Contracting professionals
Description: Learn about the purpose and benefits of conducting good market research.

This is an online course which provides new contracting professionals and Contracting Officer Representatives with a broad understanding of the Federal civilian contracting environment in which they serve. Topics included in this course are: Federal Contracting Overview, Skills for Success, Acquisition Planning, Contact Formation, and Contract Administration. FCN 101 is an alternative course to CON 100.

This entry level class introduces and explains how Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) may be leveraged to streamline the acquisition process. Eleven (11) Federal agencies presently have statutory authority to conduct acquisitions using OTAs. In this course, you will learn about: the history and resurgence of OTs; the legal factors impacting their use; when they are best used; and how to structure them. You will leave the class thinking outside of the FAR.

Target Audience: Contracting professionals who may assist federal agencies during the recovery phase of national emergencies and disasters
Description: Acquisitions are the last thing on someone's mind when disaster strikes. But acquiring goods and services enables responders to provide life-saving support to the American people. Acquisition personnel on the front lines provide emergency medical care, temporary shelter, and other critical services. Even in the midst of disaster, you must comply with both standard acquisition regulations and specialized rules for emergencies. You will gain an overview of disaster contracting, and leave class knowing how to respond quickly and appropriately to disasters.

An agency's supply chain management system is a globally distributed and interconnected web of people, processes, technology, information and resources that creates and delivers a product or service management systems rely heavily on trusted networked systems, devices and platforms. This interconnection increases the risk of supply chain compromise, whether intentional or unintentional. As threats to the Federal IT supply chain grow, the federal acquisition workforce must keep pace with cybersecurity and other risk management efforts in the products, services, and solutions we buy. You will learn risk management principles designed to help protect supply chain management systems and ensure the integrity, security, quality and resilience of the supply chain and its products and services.

This course provides contracting professionals with the basic knowledge required to perform the tasks required of a FAC-COR Level 1. The Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) Level 1 course covers the general roles and responsibilities of the COR across the four phases of the contracting lifecycle, including pre-award, post-award, contract management, and contract closeout.

Target Audience: Federal Acquisition Workforce This course provides contracting professionals with the basic knowledge required to perform the tasks required of a FAC-COR Level 1. The Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) Level 1 course covers the general roles and responsibilities of the COR across the four phases of the contracting lifecycle, including pre-award, post-award, contract management, and contract closeout.

Target Audience: Federal Acquisition Workforce

This course is specifically designed for the experienced COR who has held a FAC-COR certification for a year or more. FAC-COR certified professionals will increase their mastery of the FAC-COR competencies by applying them in an in-depth case study for a performance-based service acquisition. Students will navigate complex acquisition situations ranging from acquisition planning to contract management. This course will help students develop critical thinking, procurement strategy, requirements definition, and contract management skills necessary for successful contract performance.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this training course, students will be able to:
Explain the benefits of performance-based services acquisition.
Collect and analyze relevant market information and identify possible sources.
Recommend acquisition strategies to the acquisition team.
Define the requirement to fill mission needs.
Develop technical evaluation factors and sub factors.
Identify contract performance risk areas and develop a plan for contract management.
Monitor contract performance and recommend necessary actions to the contracting officer.
Recognize situations that will require a contract modification and communicate the requirement to the contracting officer.
Document and report contractor's actual performance under the contract.

Target Audience: Contracting Officer's Representatives (CORs)
Description: Gain a deeper understanding of the Federal Acquisition process including: Solicitation Requirements , Market Research, Best Value and Proposal Evaluation, The Technical Evaluation Panel, Contract Administration , Post-award Process, Inspection and Monitoring, Invoicing and Payment, Change Orders, Performance Evaluation, Contract Closeout.

Successful completion of this web-based course, along with the follow-on Project Management and the Project Lifecycle web-based course, and accompanying resident or classroom course, will satisfy Federal entry-level FAC-P/PM certification training requirements. This course introduces contracting professionals to the key knowledge and skills required to successfully plan, establish, and manage Government programs and projects, including systems engineering and software management. This course also covers the six phases of the project lifecycle, which is the process typically used to develop a Government project from start to finish. The six phases include Concept Definition, Concept Planning, Development, Implementation, Operations and Maintenance, and Closeout.

Target Audience: Designed for new Program and Project Management professionals seeking their FAC-P/PM entry level certification
Description: Gain the basic knowledge and skills needed by an entry level project manager to successfully manage a small project or be an effective member of an integrated project team (IPT). Upon successful completion of this course, you will clearly understand how to fulfill entry level program/project management obligations.

Scrum is the fastest growing Agile project management methodology. Managing a Scrum Team is the responsibility of the Product Owner, who is challenged with evaluating and controlling delivery, communicating across teams, and making final decisions to approve requirements. In this course, you will explore the responsibilities and expectations of the Product Owner role and learn how a Product Owner can infuse federal priorities, goals, and vision into a development team. You will gain the skills needed to manage the product backlog and move the project forward with each iteration.

Target Audience: Intended for Program and Project Management professionals seeking their FAC-P/PM Mid-level certification
Description: Construct an overall acquisition strategy approach in a simulated integrated teaming environment. Emphasis is placed on crafting an integrated approach to systems management, including developing requirements, technology, and risk management; test and evaluation; and integrated logistics support.

Target Audience: Intended for Program and Project Management professionals seeking their FAC-P/PM Mid-level certification
Description: Develop application and analysis skills in estimating cost and using cost-related information to formulate and manage project financials and assemble a viable business case. Work through the steps of project budget formulation, execution, and financial reporting in compliance with OMB guidance and procedure. Earned value management skills are practiced and applied as a tool for tracking contractor performance, managing risk, and adjusting project strategy.

Target Audience: Intended for Program and Project Management professionals seeking their FAC-P/PM Senior level certification.
Description: Transition the technical knowledge and abilities required in project management to those needed to orchestrate more complex projects collectively as programs. Students engage and solve problematic issues in synthesizing requirements into viable acquisition strategies and evaluating those strategies as programs evolve. Technology management processes are explored and evaluated with the goal of implementing a balanced system design, as well as tracking asset developer technical progress and reporting. Test and evaluation concepts are evaluated as a primary means to manage technical risk. Viable approaches to product support and supply chain management are addressed as a roadmap to increased system readiness, affordability, and reduced logistics footprint.

Target Audience: Intended for Program and Project Management professionals seeking their FAC-P/PM Senior-Level certification
Description: Provides an overview for effective cost estimating, federal budgeting, and implementing EVM on projects and satisfies the business, cost, and financial management performance outcomes necessary for the Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM) at the senior level. The course prepares students to supervise, or improves proficiency in supervising, the functions required through the use of interactive exercises and class discussions which allows students to focus on collecting, organizing, analyzing, and reporting on project and program progress and performance.

The tenets of Agile have been steadily transforming Federal project management (PM). As a project manager, you must stay current with best practices-which includes Agile. You will learn Agile PM methodologies that apply to the Federal environment, including acquisitions and non-IT projects. You will focus on value, not cost, with the overarching idea that project managers are team leaders who work with the customer rather than against them.

Examine the differences between Agile project management and typical project management
Describe the philosophy and framework of Agile development
Examine the principles and practices using Scrum as a primary Agile project management process
Review the unique characteristics of implementing Agile within the Federal environment
Discover what is needed to initiate an Agile project
Demonstrate what is involved in planning an Agile project
Examine what is involved when executing an Agile project
Practice approaches for monitoring and controlling an Agile project
Explain the steps involved in closing out an Agile project
Discuss how to implement Agile project management in the Federal environment

Target Audience: Designed for IT Project Managers who have completed their FAC-P/PM certification at the Mid or Senior level and are seeking to obtain the FAC-P/PM IT Core- Plus Specialization
Description: Apply the principles of IT project and program management and how to manage the acquisition, retention, use, and disposition of information and the enabling technologies. The IT Management, Security, and Performance Assurance course is part of the FAC P/PM IT Core Plus Specialization Certification track and satisfies technical performance outcomes that are part of the 16 designated performance outcomes for IT Core Plus.
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In this 4-hour capstone course, the learner will take an active role in applying critical decision-making skills necessary when applying Program Management Improvement Accountability Act (PMIAA) to the acquisition environment. This course will enable the learner to apply what they have learned in the previous four courses (FAC 072, FAC 073, FAC 074, FAC 075). Topics may include the foundational overview, requirements development, obtaining best solutions and achieving operational goals.

Registering for a class offering of FQN 076 is not a guarantee of enrollment. Roughly one month before the first day of class, students will be manually enrolled to ensure an equitable distribution of participants with FAC-C, FAC-COR, and FAC-P/PM and a cross-section of participants from Federal agencies.

Developing Agile Requirements and User Stories in the Federal Environment (2-Day):
Today's fast-paced contracting environment requires contracting officers to have the ability to leverage the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to provide innovative solutions to acquisition requirements. This course will enable participants to understand the use of long-recognized, but underutilized strategies described in the FAR, as well new strategies currently being used by federal agencies. Participants will leave this course with the confidence and competence to successfully use the flexibility afforded in FAR 1.02-4 to apply good judgment to make the best business decisions to support customers.

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and agency policies encourage organizations to employ performance-based acquisition (PBA) methods. However, there are unique considerations surrounding PBAs, including standards of quality and methods of surveillance. You will learn the comprehensive process applied to PBAs-from analyzing requirements documents to preparing a QASP with a focus on robust case studies, examples, and exhibits.

The Federal Government spends over $80 billion on information technology (IT) annually-in support of national health, security, the economy, and more. Given this significant investment and the criticality of IT systems, Federal agencies must carry out acquisitions in an effective and responsible way. This course covers planning, procuring, and managing IT acquisitions and also addresses special considerations, such as accessibility and security. You will return to work ready to support future IT challenges at your agency.

This online course provides foundation knowledge on widely used systems engineering practices and their application to DHS acquisitions and the Systems Engineering Life Cycle (SELC). Participants will gain an understanding of the critical role of systems engineering in DHS acquisitions, as well as the application of technical and technical management processes throughout the system life cycle

Key Topics: Technical processes and Technical Management processes, Stakeholder Requirements. Functional Analysis. Design Synthesis, Implementation, Verification and Validation, Transition, Technical Planning, Risk Management, Requirements Management, Decision Analysis and SELC overview