About This Course Course Syllabus Who Should Attend
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Government*Horizons Inc. Training Series™

GAO's Principles of Federal Appropriations Law Workshop

September 15-17, 2008
Arlington, VA

This workshop is recommended for 24 Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) toward DAWIA, FAC-C and FAC-P/PM requirements. A Government*Horizons Certificate of Completion will be provided to all attendees upon conclusion of the workshop. For information on fulfilling core, elective and continuous learning requirements, click here.

Understanding How to Spend -- and Keep -- Federal Dollars
(The GAO Red Book explained in practical terms) 

This course has been approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio commission on Continuing Legal Education

for 11.50 total CLE hour(s), with 0.00 of ethics, 0.00 of professionalism and 0.00 of substance abuse instruction.

“Cannot say enough about the instructor- he is phenomenal!” - William E. Gregg III, Business Management Specialist for Acquisition, US Army- Office of PM Close Combat Systems

“Instructor was best I’ve had. Learned a lot about subject matter.” - Ruth A. Blessing, Business Mgmt Specialist, Acq., US Army, Project Manager Small Combat Systems, Picatinny

“Mr. Tomanelli brings a perfect mix of extensive knowledge and practical experience with an engaging presentation style.” - General Counsel, GlobeComm Systems, Inc

Registration: 8:00 AM (Day One only)
Program Starts: 8:30 AM
Wrap-up: 3:30 PM

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

This workshop is recommended for 24 Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) toward DAWIA/FAC-C requirements. A Government*Horizons "Certificate of Completion" will be provided to all attendees upon conclusion of the workshop.

For information on fulfilling core, elective and continuous learning requirements, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/procurement/policy_letters/05-01_041505.html


About This Workshop:

In 1982, the GAO released its first edition of Principles of Federal Appropriations Law. It was a collection of the body of law governing the expenditure of federal funds. In 1991, the current four set volume was released.

Today, agency program managers, general counsel, contracts administrators and financial officers are all faced with significant challenges in meeting organization needs within current budgets. What are the rules? How are they applied in practice? What are the typical mistakes made that result in wasted or lost funds? How can an agency protect its budget? How can an agency manager maximize their allocation?

The rules governing federal appropriations are complex, extensive and fill four binders. This course, taught by leading experts in government contract law, will provide the student with an overview of the rules, how they are applied, and most importantly, how to maximize funds with budget limits AND within the rules.

Learn precisely how the Federal government’s budget and spending system works – and how to avoid impasses at each phase in the process, from initial planning through ultimate disbursement.

What You Will Learn:

  • Initial planning phase
  • Budgeting
  • Congressional role
  • Limitations on spending
  • Antideficiency questions
  • Contract funding
  • Personal liability
  • Statutory compliance

And more…

Under the Current administration and Congress, financial pressures are mounting – and will continue to mount for the foreseeable future. Those of you who handle Federal funds and have to find ways to do more with less need to know how to maneuver on the Federal financial highway.

The subtle rules on the availability of appropriations can absolutely block an otherwise well-reasoned management plan. The difficulty is that these rules are not well known, not well publicized, and not easy to understand. Fortunately, though, there exist clear precedents that you can follow to avoid reaching such impasses – and avoid incurring personal financial liability for failure to comply.

This course will take you through every facet of the budgeting and spending processes. You’ll get a thorough analysis of all funding activities, as seen through the eyes of the contracting, certifying, and disbursing officers. And you’ll participate in sessions that explore controlling decisions by the General Accounting Office.

We invite you to join us for three days of educational adventure.

A new government report recommends contract training to achieve better federal contracting results.  Click here to download the Managing the Government’s Technical Experts to Achieve Positive Contract Outcomes report by the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board dated December 2005.


What Previous Attendees Said About This Course:

“The instructor was phenomenal. He covered the information in an entertaining and effective manner.” - Director, IR Admin. Staff, FMS/Treasury.

“Excellent course! Complete and wonderful learning experience from beginning to end.” - Carrie Limo, Logistics Management Specialist, Logistics Transformation Agency

“Ideal course to take for a comprehensive overview of appropriations—I have knowledge I can take back to the office.” - Cheryl Mbaye, U.S. EPA

Who Should Attend:

  • Agency Program Managers
  • Budget and Financial Officers
  • General Counsel
  • Contracts Administrators
  • Procurement Executives
  • Federal support contractors
  • Federal product and services suppliers, systems integrators
  • Financial Management Analysts

Previous Attendees Include:

Acquisition Solutions, Inc., Senior Acquisition Analyst
BearingPoint, Management Analyst, Consulting
Bell South, Contracts Manager
Booz Allen Hamilton
CDC, Management & Program Analyst
CSOSA, Assist. General Counsel
DARPA, Procurement Analyst
Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, Deputy Area Director
Department of Commerce, Deputy Chief Information Officer
Department of Labor
Department of the Interior - Office of the Secretary, Budget Analyst
Department of the Treasury FMS, Financial Program Specialist
Department of Transportation, Deputy Director for Business Policy, Strategies Divison
Department of Veterans Affairs, Chief Financial Officer
DHS, Contract Specialist
DOT/NHTSA, Attorney Advisor
DS ST PROS, Senior Resource Manager
FDA, Budget Analyst
FDIC - Office of the Inspector General, Program Analyst
Federal Labor Relations Authority, Attorney-Advisor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Health & Transportation Specialist
Florida Department of Education/Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, VR Program Administrator
Food and Drug Administration, Budget Analyst
Harris Corporation, Director GWAC
IRS, Supervising Program Analyst
Knowledge Connections, Inc., Senior Financial Analyst
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Laboratory Counsel
LSI, Contract Manager
MDA, Operations Research Analyst
NIH, Senior Attorney
NIST, Business Liaison Specialist
NIST, Program Analyst
NOAA, Budget Team Leader
NOAA, Budget Analyst
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Budget Analyst
National Science Foundation, Administrative Manager
NeighborWorks America, Deputy General Counsel
NOAA, Budget Analyst
NOAA, Budget Team Leader
NSWC - Crane, Financial Analyst
Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (FM&C), Senior Financial Management Analyst
Office of Naval Research, Program Officer
Office of Personnel Management, Budget Program Analyst
Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service, Asst. Area Dir., Area Office Operations
Peace Corps, Associate General Counsel
Peace Corps, FMO
SAP America, Director, Congressional Affairs-Appropriations
SRA Touchstone, Principal
Telecolote Research, Inc., Technical Specialist
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Attorney
TSA Denver, DHS, Administrative Officer
U.S. Arctic Research Commission, Administrative Officer
U.S. Army, Budget Analyst
U.S. Coast Guard, Deputy Comptroller
U.S. Coast Guard, Supply Chief
U.S. Department of Commerce, Acting Deputy Director, OSDPD
U.S. Department of Education, Budget Analyst
U.S. Department of Education, Management & Program Analyst
U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Departmental Emergency Coordinator
U.S. EPA, Administrative Officer
U.S. EPA, Contract Specialist
U.S. EPA, Manager, ATG, LOD
U.S. EPA, Program Specialist
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Office of General Law, Associate Counsel
USCG ISC Miami, LCDR
USDA, Agricultural Research Service, NA Area, Extramural Agreements Specialist
VT National Guard, U.S. Property & Fiscal Officer for Vermont

Course Syllabus:


A. Legal Framework
  1. Constitutional basis
  2. Historical review
  3. Basic definitions

B. Life Cycle of an Appropriation

  1. Budget formulation
  2. Congressional process
  3. Enactment of funding gap
  4. Apportionment and allotment
  5. Close of fiscal year
  6. Audit and review

C. Interpreting Appropriation Language

  1. Line item vs. lump sum appropriations
  2. Effect of budget estimates
  3. Reprogramming and transfer
  4. Permanent legislation in an appropriation
  5. Interrelationship of authorization and appropriation
  6. Application of legislative history

D. Availability of Appropriations as to Purpose

  1. Necessary expense rule
  2. Specific purpose limitations
  • Entertainment and recreation
  • State and local taxes

E. Availability of Appropriations as to Time

  1. Bona fide needs rule
    • Materials contracts
    • Service contracts
  2. Replacement contracts rule
  3. Contract modifications
  4. Year-end disposition of appropriation balances
  5. Elimination of “M” accounts

F. Availability of Appropriations as to Amount

  1. Earmarking language
  2. Antideficiency Act
  3. Augmentation of appropriations

G. Obligation of Appropriations

  1. Recording Statute
  2. Contingent liabilities
  3. Deobligation
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About Your Instructor:

Steven N. Tomanelli owns an acquisition training and consulting company, Steven N. Tomanelli & Associates, a ten-year old professional services company with a proven track record of performance. Mr. Tomanelli offers high quality acquisition training and consulting services to public and private sector customers worldwide as well as a wealth of practical experience and has consistently achieved the very highest levels of customer satisfaction. Mr. Tomanelli is an attorney in the law firm of Wiley, Rein & Fielding in Washington DC and McLean, Virginia, where he specializes in government procurement law, including bid protests and contract claims.

Mr. Tomanelli has authored over 35 coursebooks on federal procurement and fiscal law, including A Practical Guide to Federal Appropriations Law (MCI, 2003), Evaluating and Managing Performance-Based Contracts (Federal Publications Seminars), Performance-Based Contracting Workshop (Federal Publications Seminars), Basics of Commercial Contracting (Federal Publications Seminars), Basics of Government Contracting (Federal Publications Seminars), Advanced Source Selection (ESI International), Task Order Contracting (ESI International), and many others.

Mr. Tomanelli served as Chief, Acquisition and Fiscal Law, Air Mobility Command for several years where he provided senior management oversight and policy guidance for attorneys at fourteen Air Force bases nationwide. He served as program attorney for several large software development and transportation services contracts and provided legal advice on a broad spectrum of acquisition and appropriations law issues, including protests, A-76 actions, privatization, source selections and the Antideficiency Act.

An attorney in good standing of the Virginia, New York State and Florida Bars, Mr. Tomanelli serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Government Contractor (West Publishing Co.) and is a member of the American Bar Associations Public Contract Law Section. He received his Master of Laws (LL.M. in Federal Procurement Law) from George Washington University, his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) and B.A. from Hofstra University.

Contact Us:

  • For registration and billing information, please email Customer Service or call 703-412-9283 x222

 

Registration Fee:

  • Government attendees: $1,195 per person
  • Industry (includes gov't contractors): $1,295 per person

Registration Options:

[1] Online with your credit card using our online booking form
[2] Fax our downloadable registration form (requires Acrobat Reader) to 703-412-9286
[3] Phone Customer Service at 703-412-9283 x222
[4] E-mail Customer Service
[5] Mail our downloadable registration form to:

Government*Horizons
1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 710
Arlington, VA 22202

Registration form requires Acrobat Reader.

Registrations are payable by Visa, American Express, Mastercard, company check or government purchase order.

CANCELLATION POLICY: You may designate a substitute in writing any time before the event. If you need to cancel your registration, you must send your notice in writing and will be subject to a $50 processing fee. No refunds are given for cancellations received one week prior to the event start date or later. PLEASE NOTE: No shows will be liable for the entire registration fee. In the rare occasion that the event is cancelled or postponed, please note our reimbursement is limited to paid tuition only.

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Government*Horizons has the right to refuse registration to any attendee at any time.


Location and Nearby Hotel Information:

The workshop will be held in the Government*Horizons Training Center in the Jefferson Plaza Building at 1421 Jefferson Davis Highway (7th floor), Arlington, VA 22202. Public parking at the facility is available for $10.00 early morning special (before 8:00am) or $18.00 all day. The Jefferson Plaza Building is just two blocks from the Crystal City Metro Station on the blue and yellow line. Please note: the parking garage is located on Crystal Drive.

Map and directions to the event location
Crystal City Metro stop information
Airport and walking directions from Metro

Nearby hotels include:

For nearby hotel reservations, we recommend the Crowne Plaza Washington National Airport, which is connected to the Jefferson Plaza Two Building (where the Government Horizons training facility is) by a covered walkway.  To secure a room, please call the hotel directly at 703-416-1600 and ask for the in-house reservations department, or send an email to Salesleads@bfsaul.com.  Please mention you are attending a “Government Horizons” workshop, and government per diem will be offered if available. 

On-Site Training:

Have a Large Staff to Train? Can't Make These Dates? Tight Travel Budget?

Government*Horizons can provide training, wherever and whenever you need, including on-site at your facility. Our staff will cost-effectively implement training customized to your needs. If you have group of attendees (usually 15 or more), we can bring this course to you and help save you time, travel costs, and more!

To request a proposal and schedule training, e-mail Laura Johnson, President, at ljohnson@governmenthorizons.org or call 703-412-9283 x223.

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Government*Horizons
1421 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 710
Arlington, VA 22202


©2008 Government*Horizons Inc.