March 2019
Contract Closeout
Contract closeout is a critical, but often forgotten, piece of the Contract process. This seminar will focus on what contractors need to move the close out process through to completion, efficiently and effectively. Achieving closeout will ensure final payments are made, audit issues are concluded, past performance evaluations are submitted and any open issues are resolved. Timely close out efforts result in reduced contract administration and ensure a greater likelihood that contractors still have and can provide all the documentation…
Find out more »Trending Developments in Government Contract Compliance and Cybersecurity
This 1.5 day course examines the intersection of cybersecurity compliance and regulations and federal government contracting. In this course, veteran Government Contracts and cybersecurity attorneys Alexander Major and Franklin Turner will discuss the following topics: Pertinent cybersecurity definitions Threat management Breach response Cybersecurity costs Hacker motivations FAR and DFARS requirements pertaining to information systems The NIST framework Agency-wide efforts to regulate cybersecurity Cloud computing requirements Liability for data breaches
Find out more »April 2019
CAS Cost Impacts
This two day course provides the student with a comprehensive learning experience on what constitutes a cost accounting practice (CAP) change and how to calculate the cost impact of such changes. The student will learn the requirements for preparing cost impact proposals, including General Dollar Magnitude Proposals and Detailed Cost Impact Proposals. The course also includes a focus on how to compute increased/decreased costs by contract, by contract group, and how recent legal decisions have affected calculating increased in decreased…
Find out more »Preparing for a Federal Government Contract Audit
The course is designed to help government contractors develop strategies for mitigating contract cost audit risk and vulnerability by discussing the processes used by contract auditors. This course provides an overview of the government contract audit process, auditor expectations regarding the adequacy of accounting systems, labor timekeeping and distribution, cost representations for forward pricing, billing, and incurred costs. By knowing the factors and processes that influence contract audit risk, contractors will be in a better position to develop strategies to…
Find out more »Federal Government Contract Accounting
Contracting with the U.S. Government can be challenging, but when you consider the unique accounting requirements, internal controls and system expectations, and government regulations, it can become overwhelming. This course is designed to help contractors navigate these requirements to successfully recover all allowable costs incurred in support of their contracts. Whether your company is new to government contracting or has years of experience, this course will help ensure you are up to speed on these changing accounting requirements. Learning Objectives…
Find out more »Federal Grants Forum
Uniform Grant Guidance has changed the landscape for those that are in the Grants and Cooperative Agreement community. These changes drastically affect anyone managing grants and cooperative agreements. It’s critical that your organization is not only up-to-date on the latest rules and regulations, and that they understand the sensitivities and important compliance areas for your organization. Please join us at the “Federal Grants Symposium” in Washington, DC, on April 16 and 17, to understand the requirements under 2 CFR 200, how the…
Find out more »Foreign Military Contracting Best Practices: FMS, FMF, and DCC/DCS
This is an essential course for manufacturers, exporters and their executives, and legal and financial advisors, featuring: What the laws and regulations require for FMS sales and direct sales of military products Foreign Military Financing Practical instruction on export licensing of defense articles and services Complying with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Find out more »The Trifecta: Price Analysis, Cost Analysis, and Contract Negotiations
The US Government relies on contractor pricing proposals and cost representations to establish prices and/or reimburse actual costs. In this regard, the burden is on the buyer to demonstrate that prudent business actions have been taken to determine that the prices paid to suppliers are fair and reasonable in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 15.4, Contract Pricing. In addition, FAR Part 31, Contract Cost Principles And Procedures, contains cost principles and procedures for the pricing of contracts,…
Find out more »May 2019
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enforcement continues to be a significant United States Government civil and criminal priority. While the United States continues to lead international anti-corruption enforcement efforts, other countries, mutli-lateral development banks, and quasi-regulators are also ramping up their interest in enacting and enforcing anti-corruption regulations. This course will provide an overview of the three provisions of the FCPA. The expert faculty will discuss the current international anti-corruption regulatory landscape, including trends in recently settled FCPA cases. The…
Find out more »Intellectual Property in Government Contracts: Data Rights (& Wrongs)
The Government’s and contractors’ respective rights in intellectual property (IP) arising from government contracts is very important to both sides. For contractors, IP rights may be critical for the very survival of the company. For Government agencies, IP rights may have a great impact on the cost and time to accomplish an agency’s mission. “Rights in data” is an unusually complex area, but one that is essential to learn. Not the least of the difficulties is that different agencies apply…
Find out more »HOW – A Hands On Workshop to Help You Develop an Ethics and Compliance Program
A Hands On Workshop to Help You Develop an Ethics & Compliance Program This workshop is intended to provide an in-depth understanding of the ethical and compliance rules that apply in the federal government marketplace, and help you craft or update your compliance program. Introduction – Why do we care? FAR Requirements Justice Department Guidelines Some Examples The Basics: Code of Business Ethics and Training General GC Subject Areas and Possible Choices Bribes and Gratuities Kickbacks Procurement Integrity Conflicts of…
Find out more »HOW: A Hands-On Workshop to Help you Identify and Mark Proprietary Technical Data and Computer Software
Understanding technical data and computer software regulations is one of the most challenging steps in contracting with the U.S. Government. An often overlooked – and one of the most important – facets of working with data and software is how best to mark and protect your intellectual property assets. Failure to mark your IP properly, with the appropriate restrictive legends, can lead to forfeiture of your IP rights. This class will explore not only how to understand the myriad of…
Find out more »Supply Chain Management & Compliance
Tuesday 9:00am-4:00pmWednesday 9:00am-12:00pm The Supply Chain Management and Compliance course is an intensive 1.5 day overview and interactive dialogue on the supply chain management risks and compliance issues that face government contractors. A government contractor must understand and effectively address a broad range of issues including laws, regulations, initiatives, and a number of new developments that cover issues from cyber threats to counterfeit parts. In addition, a supply chain may be globally dispersed, which raises additional issues. Whether you are…
Find out more »Risk Management
This fast-paced one-day class will introduce the concept of risk management and present some ways to prevent risks in the government contracting environment. Many of the risk management activities companies are currently performing do not provide them with actionable tasks to address performance, cost and schedule risk. This course will cover risk management best practices in order to deliver projects within specified time frames, budgets, and quality requirements. Agenda Brief Introduction to Risk Management Preliminary Questions to Ponder Concept of…
Find out more »June 2019
Types of Contracts
A one day in-depth analysis of the new focus and guidelines on the selection, use, and management of contracts by type. Implications on costs, accounting systems, management, and administration of this new emphasis on all contract vehicles will be examined There is a new emphasis on Contract Types in Government Contracting. In acquisition planning, Government agencies have been directed to move away from Cost Type Contracts to Firm Fixed-Price Contracts. This emphasis on Fixed-Price Contracts is designed to control costs…
Find out more »How to Read and Interpret Government Contracts
Most contract disputes and misunderstandings concern the meaning of the contract. Contract interpretation is not the exclusive domain of the lawyers. Rather, it is an essential skill set for successful contractors and government acquisition professionals – all of whom need to be familiar with these principles in order to spot, avoid, and resolve potential problems over the meaning of the contract and the parties’ obligations, and because they are the ones on the front lines of contract and proposal writing,…
Find out more »Price Analysis and Cost Analysis
The US Government relies on contractor pricing proposals and cost representations to establish prices and/or reimburse actual costs. In this regard, the burden is on the buyer to demonstrate that prudent business actions have been taken to determine that the prices paid to suppliers are fair and reasonable in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 15.4, Contract Pricing. In addition, FAR Part 31, Contract Cost Principles And Procedures, contains cost principles and procedures for the pricing of contracts,…
Find out more »Managing Cost Type Contracts
The US Government contracts by using either Fixed Price or Cost Reimbursement Type Contracts to acquire goods and services. Fixed Price contracts are preferred as they place the burden of risk on the seller/contractor, whereas Cost Reimbursement Type contracts place the burden of risk on the buyer/government. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 16 describes types of contracts that may be used in acquisitions and prescribes policies, procedures, and guidance for selecting a contract type appropriate to acquisition circumstances. Cost-reimbursement contracts…
Find out more »Appropriations Law of Federal Procurement
This two-day course will explore, explain, and provide hands-on practice in the key issues and principles of fiscal law as it affects federal procurement contracting. This course covers the significance and risks in making fiscal law decisions. It is designed for Government contracting officers and COTRs/CORs, program managers, resource managers, budget officers and legal staffs. Contractors who want to understand the financial issues that their federal counterparts face in contract awards, modifications and administration, and terminations will also find it…
Find out more »Government Accounting Requirements and Preparing for Contract Audits
These courses are designed to cover two separate but complementary topics. They are designed to be taken together but can be taken separately. Day 1: Federal Government Contract Accounting Contracting with the U.S. Government can be challenging, but when you consider the unique accounting requirements, internal controls and system expectations, and government regulations, it can become overwhelming. This course is designed to help contractors navigate these requirements to successfully recover all allowable costs incurred in support of their contracts. Whether your company…
Find out more »HOW – Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) A Hands-On Workshop designed to help you complete your Disclosure Statement
The Cost Accounting Standards were designed to promote uniform and consistent methods of accounting practices for contractors. We will explain to which contracts and contractors the Standards are applicable, and confer on the current and proposed exemptions to the Standards. We will discuss the requirements of all 19 Standards, the differences in accounting as compared to GAAP and IFRS and methods of structuring your accounting system for compliance. Finally, we will cover the administrative requirements including preparation of the Disclosure…
Find out more »July 2019
Contract Closeout: Procedures and Practical Examples
Contract closeout is required for all government contracts to establish the final contract price and make the final contract payment. The process starts when contract performance is complete for a contract and ends when all administrative actions have been completed, all disputes settled, and final payment has been made. The process can be simple or complex depending on contract attributes such as type (e.g. firm-fixed price, cost-reimbursement), period of performance, significance and type of subcontracted work and the volume of property.…
Find out more »Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Government Contracting
This Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) course will provide an in-depth analysis of both OCI theory and OCI practice. The course will begin by analyzing different types of OCIs, regulatory provisions in the FAR and DFARS, and the obligations of both government and contractor as defined by the extensive and evolving case law from the GAO and courts. The next part of the course will be unique- it will provide practical, hands-on guidance to contracting personnel (and counsel who advise…
Find out more »HOW – A Hands-On Workshop to Help You Prepare the Incurred Cost Submission
Doing business with the US Government is always challenging and the many onerous accounting requirements only make it more difficult. The purpose of this class is to help add clarity to Incurred Cost Submission requirement, which is an annual requirement for any contractor with flexibly priced contracts. This course will provide government contractors with a step by step guide in developing their Incurred Cost Submission to ensure that all allowable costs are properly captured and claimed for reimbursement, while also…
Find out more »HOW: The Mechanics of Bid Protests – A Hands-On Workshop to help you Decide How, When, and Where to Prosecute (or Defend Against) Protests Successfully
If your company does business with the federal government, the chances are pretty high that you’ve heard the phrase “bid protest” before. But what exactly is a bid protest, and what must every contractor understand about the process? In this course, veteran government contracts attorneys Franklin Turner and Alexander Major – Co-Leaders of McCarter & English’s Government Contracts & Export Controls Practice Group – will give companies critical insight in order to maximize their chances of success in prosecuting and…
Find out more »Managing Government Property
Concentrated training on the requirements for managing Government owned property (acquired property and furnished property) to ensure contractor and Government personnel will effectively manage the Property lifecycle per regulations and contractual requirements. This training will also include key points that will assist in resolving Property Management business system issues prior to occurrence. Includes point-by-point training on: Authority. Including allowability, allocability, and reasonableness Types of Government Property Item Unique Identification and other reporting requirements Self-assessments and Metrics Contractor obligations and Government…
Find out more »Fundamentals of Contracting and Subcontracting
This is a combination seminar that integrates the topics of contracting with the Federal Government as a prime contractor, subcontracting to fulfill prime contract obligations, or performing work as a subcontractor. This “fundamentals” course is designed to be of benefit and interest to both government and contractor personnel, including contract and subcontract administrators, program and item managers, finance and accounting personnel, engineers, and attorneys (in-house, outside, government), among others. The first two days will review the Federal Acquisition system, significant…
Find out more »August 2019
Foreign Military Contracting Best Practices: FMS, FMF, and DCC/DCS
This is an essential course for manufacturers, exporters and their executives, and legal and financial advisors, featuring: What the laws and regulations require for FMS sales and direct sales of military products Foreign Military Financing Practical instruction on export licensing of defense articles and services Complying with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Find out more »Commercial and Federal Government Contracting Convergence
This training (2 days) will present key characteristics, similarities, and differences among domestic commercial, international commercial, and federal government contracts to enhance the knowledge and skills of individuals working in areas relating to government and commercial contracting, subcontracting, program management, program finance, legal, management, and more. It will provide knowledge and tools for achieving greater success in the conduct of a competitive business involving foreign and domestic customers, partners, and subcontractors. Instructor presentation relating to substantive aspects of commercial and…
Find out more »Drafting & Negotiating Teaming Agreements
This intensive course provides an overview of teaming agreements, discusses how they differ from typical subcontractor relationships and identifies both legal and policy considerations that underlie the formation and operation of teaming agreements. The course also gives tips on drafting a successful teaming agreement by discussing provisions relating to scope, terminations, defaults, dispute resolution, and protections for proprietary information. This course is designed to arm you with the necessary information to negotiate and draft a custom teaming agreement that advances…
Find out more »Federal Government Contract Accounting
Contracting with the U.S. Government can be challenging, but when you consider the unique accounting requirements, internal controls and system expectations, and government regulations, it can become overwhelming. This course is designed to help contractors navigate these requirements to successfully recover all allowable costs incurred in support of their contracts. Whether your company is new to government contracting or has years of experience, this course will help ensure you are up to speed on these changing accounting requirements. Learning Objectives…
Find out more »September 2019
Supply Chain Management & Compliance
Tuesday 9:00am-4:00pmWednesday 9:00am-12:00pm The Supply Chain Management and Compliance course is an intensive 1.5 day overview and interactive dialogue on the supply chain management risks and compliance issues that face government contractors. A government contractor must understand and effectively address a broad range of issues including laws, regulations, initiatives, and a number of new developments that cover issues from cyber threats to counterfeit parts. In addition, a supply chain may be globally dispersed, which raises additional issues. Whether you are…
Find out more »Federal Grants Forum
Uniform Grant Guidance has changed the landscape for those that are in the Grants and Cooperative Agreement community. These changes drastically affect anyone managing grants and cooperative agreements. It’s critical that your organization is not only up-to-date on the latest rules and regulations, and that they understand the sensitivities and important compliance areas for your organization. Please join us at the “Federal Grants Symposium” in Washington, DC, on April 16 and 17, to understand the requirements under 2 CFR 200, how the…
Find out more »The Trifecta: Price Analysis, Cost Analysis, and Contract Negotiations
The US Government relies on contractor pricing proposals and cost representations to establish prices and/or reimburse actual costs. In this regard, the burden is on the buyer to demonstrate that prudent business actions have been taken to determine that the prices paid to suppliers are fair and reasonable in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 15.4, Contract Pricing. In addition, FAR Part 31, Contract Cost Principles And Procedures, contains cost principles and procedures for the pricing of contracts,…
Find out more »Preparing the Incurred Cost Submission
Doing business with the US Government is always challenging and the many onerous accounting requirements only make it more difficult. The purpose of this class is to help add clarity to Incurred Cost Submission requirement, which is an annual requirement for any contractor with flexibly priced contracts. This course will provide government contractors with a step by step guide in developing their Incurred Cost Submission to ensure that all allowable costs are properly captured and claimed for reimbursement, while also…
Find out more »Positive Leadership for Government Employees
Increase your professional leadership qualities, confidence, and competence. As a government acquisition professional, you are often required to lead through influence which is hard and requires skills that are not taught in conventional leadership development programs. Here’s where positive leadership strategies are specifically geared to enhance your ability to lead through influence. Come explore the many ways positive leadership strategies can foster positive change and build value for stakeholders and society at large. Positive leadership is about: Delivering better value…
Find out more »GSA Schedule Contracting
The GSA Multiple Award Schedules program can sometimes be likened to the Yogi Berra quote, “Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded.” While new contract methods may pop up like daisies, the Schedules program remains the Government’s largest indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracting program – by far. What’s required, though, to get a Schedule contract? How do you manage your contract once you have it? More importantly, how do you drive business through this contract? Last, but certainly not least, how…
Find out more »Preparing for a Federal Government Contract Audit
The course is designed to help government contractors develop strategies for mitigating contract cost audit risk and vulnerability by discussing the processes used by contract auditors. This course provides an overview of the government contract audit process, auditor expectations regarding the adequacy of accounting systems, labor timekeeping and distribution, cost representations for forward pricing, billing, and incurred costs. By knowing the factors and processes that influence contract audit risk, contractors will be in a better position to develop strategies to…
Find out more »October 2019
Contract Closeout
Contract closeout is a critical, but often forgotten, piece of the Contract process. This seminar will focus on what contractors need to move the close out process through to completion, efficiently and effectively. Achieving closeout will ensure final payments are made, audit issues are concluded, past performance evaluations are submitted and any open issues are resolved. Timely close out efforts result in reduced contract administration and ensure a greater likelihood that contractors still have and can provide all the documentation…
Find out more »The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enforcement continues to be a significant United States Government civil and criminal priority. While the United States continues to lead international anti-corruption enforcement efforts, other countries, mutli-lateral development banks, and quasi-regulators are also ramping up their interest in enacting and enforcing anti-corruption regulations. This course will provide an overview of the three provisions of the FCPA. The expert faculty will discuss the current international anti-corruption regulatory landscape, including trends in recently settled FCPA cases. The…
Find out more »Risk Management
This fast-paced one-day class will introduce the concept of risk management and present some ways to prevent risks in the government contracting environment. Many of the risk management activities companies are currently performing do not provide them with actionable tasks to address performance, cost and schedule risk. This course will cover risk management best practices in order to deliver projects within specified time frames, budgets, and quality requirements. Agenda Brief Introduction to Risk Management Preliminary Questions to Ponder Concept of…
Find out more »Cost Reimbursement Contracting Workshop
One of the biggest challenges of providing goods and services to the Federal Government is the use of cost-reimbursement contracts. A cost-reimbursement contract allows the government to award contracts that involve significant financial and technical risk with flexibility that is not possible under a fixed-price type contract. Under a cost-reimbursement contract, the government takes on the risks rather than the contractor. To help protect the taxpayer, the Government has established complex oversight policies and procedures for awarding, administering and closing…
Find out more »Types of Contracts
A one day in-depth analysis of the new focus and guidelines on the selection, use, and management of contracts by type. Implications on costs, accounting systems, management, and administration of this new emphasis on all contract vehicles will be examined There is a new emphasis on Contract Types in Government Contracting. In acquisition planning, Government agencies have been directed to move away from Cost Type Contracts to Firm Fixed-Price Contracts. This emphasis on Fixed-Price Contracts is designed to control costs…
Find out more »HOW – A Hands On Workshop to Help You Develop an Ethics and Compliance Program
A Hands On Workshop to Help You Develop an Ethics & Compliance Program This workshop is intended to provide an in-depth understanding of the ethical and compliance rules that apply in the federal government marketplace, and help you craft or update your compliance program. Introduction – Why do we care? FAR Requirements Justice Department Guidelines Some Examples The Basics: Code of Business Ethics and Training General GC Subject Areas and Possible Choices Bribes and Gratuities Kickbacks Procurement Integrity Conflicts of…
Find out more »Trending Developments in Government Contract Compliance and Cybersecurity
This 1.5 day course examines the intersection of cybersecurity compliance and regulations and federal government contracting. In this course, veteran Government Contracts and cybersecurity attorneys Alexander Major and Franklin Turner will discuss the following topics: Pertinent cybersecurity definitions Threat management Breach response Cybersecurity costs Hacker motivations FAR and DFARS requirements pertaining to information systems The NIST framework Agency-wide efforts to regulate cybersecurity Cloud computing requirements Liability for data breaches
Find out more »November 2019
HOW: The Mechanics of Bid Protests – A Hands-On Workshop to help you Decide How, When, and Where to Prosecute (or Defend Against) Protests Successfully
If your company does business with the federal government, the chances are pretty high that you’ve heard the phrase “bid protest” before. But what exactly is a bid protest, and what must every contractor understand about the process? In this course, veteran government contracts attorneys Franklin Turner and Alexander Major – Co-Leaders of McCarter & English’s Government Contracts & Export Controls Practice Group – will give companies critical insight in order to maximize their chances of success in prosecuting and…
Find out more »Masters Academy in Government Contracting
Prerequisite: To gain the most from the Masters Academy, it is recommended that participants have at least five years of contracting experience in industry, government, law, or accounting. The Masters Academy is designed to provide an exceptional learning experience. Each day, different experts will share their insights into the leading practices in key areas of Government contracting. Over the course of five days, you will have the unique opportunity to learn the lessons experts have culled during their careers in…
Find out more »December 2019
Emergency Contracting
This course will discuss the relevant laws and regulations that apply to the federal contracting community when procuring activities during contingency operations, defense or recovery from certain attacks, major disaster declarations, or other emergencies. Each emergency is different but having a viable procurement readiness plan and personnel trained in emergency contracting procedures will help to optimize an Agency’s responsiveness during an emergency situation. Drawing on events such as Superstorm Sandy and the Unaccompanied Children crisis of 2014, this course will…
Find out more »CAS Cost Impacts
This two day course provides the student with a comprehensive learning experience on what constitutes a cost accounting practice (CAP) change and how to calculate the cost impact of such changes. The student will learn the requirements for preparing cost impact proposals, including General Dollar Magnitude Proposals and Detailed Cost Impact Proposals. The course also includes a focus on how to compute increased/decreased costs by contract, by contract group, and how recent legal decisions have affected calculating increased in decreased…
Find out more »HOW – Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) A Hands-On Workshop designed to help you complete your Disclosure Statement
The Cost Accounting Standards were designed to promote uniform and consistent methods of accounting practices for contractors. We will explain to which contracts and contractors the Standards are applicable, and confer on the current and proposed exemptions to the Standards. We will discuss the requirements of all 19 Standards, the differences in accounting as compared to GAAP and IFRS and methods of structuring your accounting system for compliance. Finally, we will cover the administrative requirements including preparation of the Disclosure…
Find out more »How to Read and Interpret Government Contracts
Most contract disputes and misunderstandings concern the meaning of the contract. Contract interpretation is not the exclusive domain of the lawyers. Rather, it is an essential skill set for successful contractors and government acquisition professionals – all of whom need to be familiar with these principles in order to spot, avoid, and resolve potential problems over the meaning of the contract and the parties’ obligations, and because they are the ones on the front lines of contract and proposal writing,…
Find out more »Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Government Contracting
This Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) course will provide an in-depth analysis of both OCI theory and OCI practice. The course will begin by analyzing different types of OCIs, regulatory provisions in the FAR and DFARS, and the obligations of both government and contractor as defined by the extensive and evolving case law from the GAO and courts. The next part of the course will be unique- it will provide practical, hands-on guidance to contracting personnel (and counsel who advise…
Find out more »