Course Catalog:
Government Horizons delivers quality Government Best Practices training for contracting, procurement and acquisition managers and executives.
Our highly skilled instructors have a wealth of practical experience and know-how, allowing them to present complex material in an easily understandable manner.
This course catalog provides course titles along with a brief description of each of our training courses. Continuous Learning Point (CLP) allocation is designated for each.
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All courses listed in our catalog below can be trained at request whenever you're ready - simply contact us to get started.
We'll work together with you to schedule a customized version of the course to be brought on-site to your facility, anywhere you need. You choose the dates, time and location, saving you time, travel costs, and more.
More information about on-site training |
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*Prices are effective 9-1-2012.
Table of Contents:
Six Disciplines of Performance-Based Management
Basic COTR
Performance-Based Contracting
Market Research & Commercial Items Contracting
Independent Government Cost Estimating
Contract Administration
Advanced Contract Administration
Research and Development Contracting
Simplified Acquisition
Negotiation Techniques
Understanding Proposals
Understanding Federal Supply Schedule (FSS)
Source Selection
Understanding IDIQ Contracts and Contract Types
Strategic Planning Fundamentals
Earned Value Management
GAO's Principles of Federal Appropriations Law
Government Contract Law for Non-Lawyers
Incentive and Award Fee Workshop
Introduction to FAR: Federal Acquisition Regulation Overview
Performance-Based Acquisition (PBA)
Strategic Sourcing
Advanced COR / COTR Workshop
COR / COTR Certification / Refresher (40 hours)
Six Disciplines of Performance-Based Management:
2 days / 16 CLPs earned / $440
This two (2) day course will assist agencies to better understand and effectively implement Performance-Based Management (PBM). PBM incorporates
how to monitor for compliance as well as
how to address non-compliance to bring back into compliance and achieve desired results.
Basic COTR:
3 days / 24 CLPs earned / $600
This training course is designed to provide non-contracting personnel with knowledge of the federal acquisition process as well as the knowledge and skills to execute their responsibilities as a representative of the contracting officer, including Contracting Officer's Representatives (CORs), Contracting Officer's Technical Representatives (COTRs), Technical Officers (TOs), and Project Officers (POs).
Performance-Based Contracting:
3 days / 24 CLPs earned / $600
The training course addresses the unique aspects of acquiring services and embodies the Seven Steps to Performance-Based Services Acquisition. After completing the course, students will be able to discuss the unique aspects of service acquisition, analyze requirements with respect to the ability to contract based on performance, determine if the requirements document is performance based, select the method of contracting and source selection process in a performance-based environment, prepare a quality assurance surveillance plan (QASP), and administer a performance-based service acquisition.
Market Research & Commercial Items Contracting:
2 days / 16 CLPs earned / $440
The training course addresses the unique aspects of acquiring services and embodies the Seven Steps to Performance-Based Services Acquisition. After completing the course, students will be able to discuss the unique aspects of service acquisition, analyze requirements with respect to the ability to contract based on performance, determine if the requirements document is performance based, select the method of contracting and source selection process in a performance-based environment, prepare a quality assurance surveillance plan (QASP), and administer a performance-based service acquisition.
Independent Government Cost Estimating:
2 days / 16 CLPs earned / $440
The course will take students through the step-by-step process of developing and supporting an IGCE. The process will be used to develop an IGCE for a variety of procurements whether for new procurement of commercial, non-commercial, or unique items for supplies, equipment or services, or for contract modifications.
Contract Administration:
3 days / 24 CLPs earned / $600
This course provides guidance needed to ensure that the contract is managed correctly. Participants will be able to identify issues that require action by contracting personnel to ensure that the government receives what it pays for.
Advanced Contract Administration:
2 days / 16 CLPs earned / $440
The course examines the purchasing management role and responsibilities within each agency/company. Attendees will study the internal and external relationships with other company activities and with suppliers. Course work provides you with the understanding of quality, solicitation techniques, source selection, pricing principles, legal aspects, value analysis, purchasing systems and ongoing administration of commercial, industrial and government contracts.
Research and Development Contracting:
2 days / 16 CLPs earned / $440
This course examines the emerging trends in federal procurement research and development (R&D) processes. Attendees will explore the federal acquisition lifecycle from project budgeting to contract close-out with a focus on the challenges facing R&D procurements.
Simplified Acquisition:
2 days / 16 CLPs earned / $440
This training course provides a knowledge base that may support the increase of single purchase limits based on the criteria established by individual government agencies. 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 will find this course a requirement.
Negotiation Techniques:
3 days / 24 CLPs earned / $600
The goal of this course is for the attendee to become a better negotiator. Attendees will learn to think strategically about negotiation and conflict, collect information and reveal it tactically, manage ethical issues involved in deception, create and neutralize power imbalances and manage coalitions in multi-party negotiations.
Understanding Proposals:
2 days / 16 CLPs earned / $440
This course covers a spectrum of the most important topics, from preparing for a proposal effort and making a bid-no-bid decision, to orchestrating a great proposal kickoff, driving subject matter experts to produce winning content, exhibiting superb leadership and management skills, optimizing proposal team performance, getting the most from the proposal color reviews, and mitigating proposal risks at every stage to reduce stress and increase win probability.
Understanding Federal Supply Schedule (FSS):
1 day / 8 CLPs earned / $367
The Federal Supply Schedule program, pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 259(b)(3)(A), provides Federal agencies with a simplified process of acquiring commercial supplies and services in varying quantities while obtaining volume discounts. Indefinite-delivery contracts are awarded using competitive procedures to firms. The firms provide supplies and services at stated prices for given periods of time, for delivery within a stated geographic area such as the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, and overseas. The schedule contracting office issues Federal Supply Schedule publications that contain a general overview of the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program and address pertinent topics.
Source Selection:
3 days / 24 CLPs earned / $600
Course attendees will obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to make sound source selection decisions using negotiated contracting procedures as prescribed in Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 15. This training course addresses key source selection terms, the basic goals and rules of source selection, conduct effective market research and acquisition planning, prepare evaluation factors and standards, and a source selection plan and preparing proposals that map to the government’s requirements.
Understanding IDIQ Contracts and Contract Types:
2 days / 16 CLPs earned / $440
This course addresses that using an IDIQ allows the government to select several possible vendors for a an agency to rely on, then ask that small group of vendors to bid against one another to complete each separate task -- giving the government a competitive price for each task without initiating a new contract competition and all that it would demand of contracting officers.
Strategic Planning Fundamentals:
2 days / 16 CLPs earned / $440
Strategic Planning helps management understand the current situation. This in turn allows management to plan for the future. In a world of rapid change, it is becoming imperative for management to think strategically (plan for the future). Since the rate of change seems to be escalating, the importance of strategic planning continues to grow. In fact, the best managed companies tend to engage in continuous strategic planning. Some organizations have intuitive thinkers who almost seem to see into the future. Therefore, strategic planning is a way of preparing for the future by attempting to simulate the future.
Earned Value Management:
3 days / 24 CLPs earned / $600
This three-day course introduces the fundamental business practices of project management utilizing earned value principles and methodologies, the importance of integrated baseline planning for EVM, and processes involved in operating an integrated Earned Value Management project control system. The course is designed to provide an appreciation for the role of EVM within the Federal CPIC Management environment, how it applies to agency processes and people, and its impact on suppliers to the agency programs.
GAO's Principles of Federal Appropriations Law:
3 days / 24 CLPs earned / $600
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. 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.
Government Contract Law for Non-Lawyers:
3 days / 24 CLPs earned / $600
This course 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.
Incentive and Award Fee Workshop:
1 day / 8 CLPs earned / $367
Preventing unjustified award fees is among the Congressional priorities for government contract reform. With increased scrutiny of contract flexibilities and abuse-prone contracts, agencies and contractors need to ensure incentive and award-fee contracts are formulated on a solid, measurable baseline, executed and documented by the book.
The Award Fee Workshop will provide attendees with a better understanding of the rules, roles and principles of Award and Incentive Fee contracts. Interactive coursework provides clear understanding of the application and structure of Award and Incentive Fee contracts. Attendees will strengthen their understanding and gain insight into practical application of the tools and methods used to structure, implement, monitor, and comply with Award and Incentive Fee contracts.
Introduction to FAR: Federal Acquisition Regulation Overview:
3 days / 24 CLPs earned / $600
This training is intended for students interested in gaining a basic understanding of how to most effectively use the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Although the FAR is a very detailed and complex regulation, contracting parties in the federal Government marketplace must know the terms and conditions of the contracts they enter into. This training will improve the ability of students to select the right clauses, identify the correct procedures and improve their bargaining position during negotiations. In addition, students will learn how to keep up with changes to the FAR so they can always be sure that they have the latest and most relevant information. Rather than using a text book about the FAR, each student will receive a personal copy of the FAR which will be used as the workshop manual. This approach ensures that students will become familiar with the source document, which will enable them to immediately apply the knowledge they gain through this informative three-day session.
Performance-Based Acquisition (PBA):
3 days / 24 CLPs earned / $600
Performance-Based Acquisition (PBA), formerly Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) is a three-day training which will assist agencies in meeting their performance-based contracting goals. The course provides a step-by-step analysis that will enable you to successfully conduct a performance-based acquisition and minimize the risk of protest. Topics include: development of the work statement and identification of key performance metrics, setting performance standards and acceptable quality levels, developing an effective incentive plan that will achieve results and writing a customized quality assurance plan to verify performance levels achieved.
Strategic Sourcing:
3 days / 24 CLPs earned / $600
Strategic sourcing is the collaborative and structured process of critically analyzing an organization's spending and using this information to make business decisions about acquiring commodities and services more effectively and efficiently. This process helps agencies optimize performance, minimize price, increase achievement of socio-economic acquisition goals, evaluate total life cycle management costs, improve vendor access to business opportunities, and otherwise increase the value of each dollar spent.
The Office of Management and Budget has mandated the use of strategic sourcing or "bulk buying" where agencies collaborate to leverage the government's buying power to reduce target commodity program costs. Senior management involvement is key to this effort, on which agencies must submit annual progress reports. This three-day course gives both practitioners and managers the tools they need to comply with OFPP mandates and to leverage buying power and save money.
Advanced COR / COTR Workshop:
2 days / 16 CLPs earned / $440
This training course goes above and beyond basic information to focus on current, real-life issues COTRs face under changing procurement rules. The course is organized to give COR/COTRs a direct opportunity to discover better ways of communicating in resolving contractor concerns as well as problems between the program/project offices and the contracts area. Recent contracts will be used to illustrate state-of-the-art topics and concerns presented throughout the course.
COR / COTR Certification / Refresher (40 hours):
5 days / 40 CLPs earned / $1,000
This five-day course presents basic training that focuses on current, real-life issues COR/COTRs face under changing procurement rules. The course is organized to give you a direct opportunity to discover better ways of communicating in resolving contractor concerns as well as problems between the program/project offices and the contracts area. The training will "level-up" all participants' understanding and insights to monitor/problem solve in order to successfully meet the current challenges facing the management of contracts and task orders.
Discount for 16 to 25 Students: 10% off Per Student Price
Discount for 26+ Students: 20% off Per Student Price
See our
On-Site Training page for more information.
