FUN with the FAR℠ 2024
Product Information
26 Bi-Weekly* Sessions from January 17, 2024 to December 18, 2024
Covering each Part of the Federal Acquisition Regulation and created to make the FAR approachable and thought provoking for contracting professionals at all levels. This training is delivered in an innovative talk-show format with PCI’s most gregarious instructor Steve Daoust as your host and a different subject matter expert each session.
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is a complex set of rules governing the federal government's purchasing process. Its purpose is to ensure purchasing procedures are standard, consistent and conducted in a fair and impartial manner. To accomplish this, it is critical for contracting professionals in the government and private sector to have a working knowledge of the source document—the FAR. Ignorance of the rules can lead to costly and undesirable outcomes. This program is designed to teach government and private sector contracting professionals techniques to efficiently and effectively maneuver through the extensive number of clauses and provisions in order to select the right clauses and correct procedures applicable to their contract.
Why Fun with the FAR is unique and valuable:
- Study Guides. A great preparation resource that provide takeaway guidance long after the FUN has ended.
- Active Listening & Participation. Information shared through active conversation between host, guest, and participants rather than lecture.
- FAR Facts. Summary documents of important key points are provided after each session.
- Networking Opportunities. PCI has developed a special LinkedIn site for participants to interact with each other and instructors throughout the year. The site will also be used to update folks on FAR-related topics throughout the year.
- Access & Interaction with Experts. Before, during, and after the session our experts will help you understand and navigate the FAR! Plus, you have unlimited access to all recordings and resource materials in our comprehensive on-line library.
And, we have Fun!
- Trivia, Prizes, and More. For added fun, our instructors ask both Contracting and Pop Culture trivia, giving out lots of prizes each week. Prizes include t-shirts, golf shirts, umbrellas, shopping bags, coffee mugs and the ever-popular FUN with the FAR Stress Toy!
2024 Season Features!
- No Homework. Departing from previous years, we will have a short quiz ahead of the session, and will distribute a study guide - however, the lengthy homework is gone.
- Always Fresh. Our experts update the materials each year to reflect the cutting edge in government contracting. Keep your team up-to-date on the latest changes to the FAR as our instructors cover yearly changes and address new developments in real time.
- Customized Learning. Participants will help develop the focus of instruction through surveys and direct feedback to instructor prior to each session.
*Please see schedule tab for list of class dates. Occasionally the sessions are held either one or three weeks apart to accommodate holidays.
Learning Objectives
- Learn how to navigate the FAR to work effectively and efficiently in the acquisition of supplies, services and construction.
- Obtain a thorough working knowledge of how to research, interpret and apply the rules correctly.
- Understand why knowledge of the regulations is so critical to the success of each acquisition and contract
- Gain confidence and familiarity with every section of the FAR to:
- select the right clauses.
- identify the correct procedures to get the best possible contract and remain in compliance.
- Learn best in class acquisition and contracting methods.
- And much, much more!
FUN with the FAR Season 11
These programs will all be on Wednesdays at 12:00-1:30pm ET
January 17: FAR Session 1
- Part 1 (Federal Acquisition Regulations System)
- Part 2 (Definitions and Words & Terms)
January 24: FAR Session 2
- Part 3 (Improper Business and Personal Conflicts of Interest)
February 7: FAR Session 3
- Part 5 (Publicizing Contract Actions) & Part 6 (Competition Requirements)
February 21: FAR Session 4
- Part 7 (Acquisition Planning)
- Part 10 (Market Research)
- Part 11 (Describing Agency Needs)
March 6: FAR Session 5
- Part 8 (Required Sources of Supplies and Services)
- Part 38 (Federal Supply Schedule Contracting)
- Part 39 (Acquisition Information Technology)
- Part 51 (Use of Government Sources by Contractors)
March 20: FAR Session 6
- Part 4 (Administrative Materials)
- Part 24 (Protection of Privacy and Freedom of Information)
April 3: FAR Session 7
- Part 12 (Acquisition of Commercial Items)
- Part 13 (Simplified Acquisition Procedures)
April 17: FAR Session 8
- Part 9 (Contractor Qualifications)
- Part 14 (Sealed Bidding)
- Review Trivia
May 1: FAR Session 9
- Part 15 (Contracting by Negotiation)
May 15: FAR Session 10
- Part 15.4 (Contract Pricing)
May 29: FAR Session 11
- Part 16 (Types of Contracts)
June 12: FAR Session 12
- Part 17 (Special Contracting Methods)
- Part 18 (Emergency Acquisitions)
June 26: FAR Session 13
- Part 19 (Small Business Methods)
- Part 26 (Other Socioeconomic Programs)
July 10: FAR Session 14
- Part 22 (Application of Labor Laws to Government Acquisitions)
- Part 23 (Environment, Energy, and Water Efficiency, Renewable Energy Technologies, Occupational Safety, and Drug-Free Workplace)
July 24: FAR Session 15
- Part 25 (Foreign Acquisition)
August 7: FAR Session 16
- Part 27 (Patents, Data, and Copyrights)
August 21: FAR Session 17
- Part 28 (Bonds and Insurance)
- Part 29 (Taxes)
September 4: FAR Session 18
- Part 30 (Cost Accounting Standards Administration)
- Part 31 (Contract Cost Principles and Procedures)
- Part 32 (Contract Financing)
September 18: FAR Session 19
- Part 33 (Protests, Disputes, and Appeals) & Review Trivia
October 2: FAR Session 20
- Parts 34 (Major System Acquisition)
- Part 35 (Research and Development Contracting)
October 16: FAR Session 21
- Part 36 (Construction and Architect-Engineer Contracts)
- Part 37 (Service Contracting)
- Part 41 (Acquisition of Utility Services)
- Part 48 (Value Engineering)
October 30: FAR Session 22
- Part 42 (Contract Administration and Audit Services)
- Part 43 (Contract Modifications)
November 13: FAR Session 23
- Part 44 (Subcontracting Policies and Procedures)
November 27: FAR Session 24
- Part 45 (Government Property)
- Part 46 (Quality Assurance)
- Part 47 (Transportation)
December 11: FAR Session 25
- Part 49 (Terminations of Contracts)
December 18: FAR Session 26
- Part 50 (Extraordinary Contractual Actions and the Safety Act)
- Part 52 (Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses)
- Review Trivia
Peggy Zuber –
Great class, great Instructor. He was very informative and spoke to a level where everyone could understand what he was saying. Excellent examples. I know I should have spoken up but my mic was not lighting up.
Thank you again. This is the best class that I have ever had.
Joe Karolchik –
Thanks for all of the effort that went into this production over the past year. I can honestly say that it was worth the price of admission, and I have recommended your classes to a number of my colleagues. Excellent work!
Katie Bannon –
Thank you for a great season of Fun with the FAR! I enjoyed all the episodes and admire the teamwork at PCI. You all do a fantastic job putting together excellent learning experiences. I look forward to completing future courses through PCI.
Lisa Dye –
The outline was very helpful and we like the references to the specific FAR sections. The tone of the training is great because it keeps us more engaged with the addition of polling questions and trivia thrown in. You can tell Steve loves providing the FAR training and his excitement flows over and makes the session not feel like “formal” training so it just flies by quickly.
Tanya Kirby –
Excellent as usual. Really interesting and informative. My group really appreciates the “real life” lessons.
Heather Kourcklas –
I was very impressed at how engaging and interesting you guys made this! Let’s face it, FAR is not the most exciting material. I enjoyed it very much and look forward to the next Season!
Nicole Capodiferro –
Extremely good. We are liking the updates and refresh to the session structure and content. Very excited about another season!
Steve Bishop –
CGS has utilized the PCI webinar series training for over five years and found these to be very beneficial for ongoing CPE training and educational updates on current events. The topics presented are very relevant to our current contracting and accounting practices and members of the Accounting, Finance, Contracts, IT and Operations teams have participated in the past. The ability to have them recorded and viewable at a later date is also beneficial. The instructors are knowledgeable and present the information in a manner that is easy to understand.
Tony Beard –
I have registered for the Fun with the FAR training seasons since 2018 and keep doing so year after year because of the quality of training. The FAR is discussed in depth with subject matter experts to include the guest speakers and Public Contracting Institute staff. The team provides a quality education experience with a fun twist that includes password fun trivia, bell of truth, costume for the occasion, and fabulous fun with the FAR prizes. I like how the Public Contracting Institute engages the audience and creates a fun virtual atmosphere for participants to hear from the legal experts and become more educated with the FAR as we venture through it during the year. I have recommended Fun with the FAR to many of my colleagues in the procurement world as it is a great way to stay up to date on the FAR in real time while earning continuous learning points and having fun doing it! Thank you and have a great weekend!