Government*Horizons Inc. Training Series™

Government Contract Law
(Contract Law for Non-Lawyers)

April 23-25, 2008
Arlington, VA

Registration has closed for this event. If you would still like to attend, you must bring this form with you to register at the door the day of the event.

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

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

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

Understanding government contract law is the lynchpin to being an effective contract professional. Without this understanding you expose yourself and your organization to possible legal entanglements.

The Government Contract Law Workshop takes you through the purpose, interpretation, applicability, legal and administrative ramifications of the clauses, statutes, executive orders and regulations applicable to Government prime contracts and subcontracts.

You'll get a primer in "preventive" contract law to help you avoid legal problems and to handle them swiftly and effectively if they do arise. The major decisions of the Boards of Contract Appeals, the Comptroller General, and the Courts are examined. The rights and responsibilities of the Government and the prime contractor and the specific problems of the prime and subcontractor relationship are explained. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and its relationship to the current agency regulations will be covered in detail.

Learning Objectives

• Use legal requirements to positively affect contract performance
• Minimize legal reviews
• Know what you can and can't do
• Protect your interests with key legal precedents
• Reduce the potential for claims & disputes upfront
• Avoid other legal entanglements

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.

Who Should Attend

• Contract Managers & Administrators
• Contracting Officers & Specialists
• Procurement/Purchasing Managers
• House Counsel
• Negotiators
• General & Subcontract Managers
• Budget & Fiscal Officers
• Government Sales/Marketing Managers
• Project Managers
• Proposal Managers

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.

Previous Attendees Include:

Course Syllabus

Introduction                    

• Government Contract Statutes

• Internet Resources

Contract Formation

• FAR Part 15 – Contracting by Negotiation       

• FAR Part 16 -- Types of Contracts

• FAR Part 12 – Acquisitions of Commercial Items

• Organizational Conflicts of Interest

• Suspension-Debarment

• Technical Data and Computer Software Rights

• Set-Asides (8(a), small business, woman-owned, etc.)

Contract Administration

• FAR 42.3 contract administration duties

• Interpretation / Authority

• Inspection / Acceptance

• Warranties    

• Changes

• Limitation of Funds / Limitation of Appropriations

• Payment / Progress Payments / Performance Based Payments

• Taxes

• Contract Terminations

• Cost Principles / Cost Accounting Standards

• Freedom of Information Act
  Buy American Act / Trade Agreements Act

• Novations

Socioeconomic Policies and Obligations

• Affirmative Action Obligations
  - Minorities
  - Veterans
  - Exemptions

• Office of Federal Contract Compliance Policy  

• Small Business Plans

• Service Contract Act 

• Davis Bacon Act

• Fair Labor Standards Act Exemptions

Compliance Requirements and Obligations

• Procurement Integrity

  • Contract Fraud

  • Gratuities / Kickbacks                                

  • Qui Tam Actions

Contract Litigation and Dispute Resolution       

• GAO Protests

• Claims under the Contracts Disputes Act

• Alternative Dispute Resolution

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.