Government*Horizons Inc. Training Series™

FAR Part 13: Simplified Acquisition Procedures

March 2-3, 2009
Arlington, VA

This course is recommended for 16 Continuous Learning Points towards FAC-C, FAC-COTR, and FAC-P/PM certification and maintenance. A certificate of completion will be awarded to participants who attend the workshop.

Register for both FAR Part 12 (March 4-5, 2009) and FAR Part 13 (March 2-3, 2009) and save $100 on registration. See registration for details.

Registration: 7:30 AM
Program Starts: 8:00 AM
Wrap-Up: 4:00 PM

Course materials, continental breakfast (coffee and pastries) and refreshments included.

About This Course:

Simplified Acquisition Procedures provide a basic foundation for understanding the federal procurement process. Federal acquisition is now more than a $415 billion-a-year business. It is estimated that the greatest number of all purchases are simplified acquisitions, however these purchases account for a relatively small percentage of the value of all acquisitions. Therefore, these acquisitions need to be executed as expeditiously as possible. The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act made significant changes in the way Federal agencies conduct their “small purchases.” This act supported the Government’s efforts to achieve the goals of obtaining best value, minimizing administrative operating costs and fulfilling public policy objectives while conducting business with integrity and fairness.

This two-day course provides in-depth coverage of the simplified methods of procurement as detailed in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13 and the many interrelated FAR requirements that must be considered when procuring under FAR Part 13. Other related parts of the FAR will be covered including FAR Part 6 Competition Requirements; FAR Part 8 Required Sources of Supplies and Services; and FAR Part 19 Socioeconomic Programs—as well as other relevant topical areas.

Participants will get a solid knowledge base to ensure that they can prepare FAR compliant business arrangements when using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Content will flow through the various phases of procurement from development of the purchase request, preparation of the purchase order, evaluation, award and inspection, to acceptance and closeout. Innovative techniques and approaches will be highlighted that can be considered whether placing orders through required sources of supply or making open-market buys from commercial sources. This training course is ideal for purchasing agents, contract specialists, or contracting officers who require an understanding of the simplified methods of procurement, as detailed in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13 and other related parts.

Who Should Attend:

• Contracting Officers/ACOs
• Procurement Specialists/Analysts
• Government Buyers
• Contracting Officer Technical Representatives
• Industry and Agency Contract Administrators 
• Legal Teams 
• Small Business Contracting Representatives
• Industry Business Development Teams
• Procurement Specialists
• Procurement Analysts

Course Outline:

1. Introduction and overview to the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Simplified Acquisition Procedures
            a. Introduction of the federal procurement process
            b. Relevant laws and regulations
            c. Definitions and key statutes
            d. Simplified acquisition procedures
            e. Acquisition of commercial items
2. Acquisition Planning
            a. Market research
            b. The purchase request
            c. Developing the cost estimate
            d. Selecting contract type
            e. Considerations for research & development, construction, and services
3. Using Required Sources
            a. Government sources for supplies and services
            b. Using the General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedules
            c. Other existing contracts; Government-wide Agency Contracts (GWAC’s), and Multi-agency contracts (MAC’s)
4. Purchasing in the Open Market
            a. Publicizing
            b. Competition requirements
            c. Soliciting sources
            d. Evaluating quotations
            e. Documentation
5. Socio-economic and Other Considerations
            a. Small business set-asides
            b. Small business procurement goals
            c. Buy American Act
            d. Application of labor law
            e. Environmental considerations
6. Simplified Acquisition Methods
            a. Government-wide commercial purchase card
            b. Blanket purchase agreements
            c. Standard Form 44
            d. Imprest funds
            e. Developing the Purchase Order
            f. Task and delivery orders under Indefinite-delivery contracts
            g. Unpriced purchase orders
7. Purchase Order Administration
            a. Modifications
            b. Terminations and cancellations
            c. Standard clauses
            d. Payments
            e. Closeout

About Your Instructor:

Laura Willetts

Ms. Willetts has over 12 years of federal acquisition experience in the disciplines of contracting, financial management and A-76 studies. She is the President of Alura Consulting and Training, a small business, acquisition training and consulting firm headquartered in the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Previous to founding Alura Consulting and Training, Ms. Willetts was Vice President of Contracts at ManTech Information Systems and Technology. While at ManTech, she also was the Chief of Acquisition Consulting and Training for AcqCenter, a division of ManTech Information Systems and Technology. AcqCenter provides government customers turnkey, full service acquisition solutions including consulting, training and software applications.

Ms. Willetts was a warranted contracting officer for the Central Intelligence Agency where she supported a diverse set of customers, including the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA). As a contracting officer, she assisted and conducted several best value competitive source selections, performed cradle to grave contract administration functions and worked on the Agency’s contract automation working group. Upon leaving Government service, Ms. Willetts joined the acquisition-consulting field where she has provided acquisition-consulting services to a variety of customers including NSA, CIA, DLA, NRO, USPS, FAA and DESC. She has assisted in document development including Source Selection Plans, Evaluation Guides, Statements of Work, proposal instructions, etc. Prior to joining ManTech, she provided acquisition support throughout all phases of the A-76 study including: market research, assisting with the development of the Performance Work Statement (PWS), assisting with the transition phase and providing support throughout the Administrative Appeals Process to the DLA and other customers.

Ms. Willetts is also a senior instructor, researcher, writer and consultant for The George Washington University’s (GWU’s) Educational Services Institute International. Ms. WiIlletts received a Master in Science, Contract and Acquisition Management from Florida Institute of Technology. She is also a Certified Professional Contracts Manager.

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