AUS Career Enhancers
[Deploy-able] Disaster Task Force-Response Specialist [TM]
When disaster strikes, no time for delay. DTF Specialist will have the keen skills and ability to make quick decisions for the containment, and mitigation of any further loss of life and/or property, restore order in its immediate aftermath, and re-establish normality.
Our training and certification program develops medical center leaders and roles players for the managing of medical center contractual needs, resources, and programs in the time of emergency situations caused by human activities and natural events such as earthquakes, floods, and tornadoes.
* Course Prerequisite- Level 2 AUS Certification
6 Month Program
Construction Payment Bond Fundamentals
Learn the requirements for submitting claims and the benefits and drawbacks of requiring bonds on a particular project.
Many contractors do not know what their rights are related to payment and performance bonds. This topic will discuss the fundamentals of payment and performance bonds, highlighting the claims process as well as issues every contractor should be aware of. The information will give some insight into what happens after a performance or payment bond claim is filed. The material will include critical information for any contractor related to time and notice limitations and necessary steps to make sure that a bond claim is properly filed and can be enforced.
Learning Objectives
- You will be able to discuss what a payment and performance bond is.
- You will be able to review a bond to determine its scope and notification requirements.
- You will be able to identify the requirements for submitting claims and the benefits and drawbacks of requiring these bonds on a particular project.
- You will be able to explain how to submit a performance and payment bond claim.
VAMC Case Law Analysts [CLA]
VAMC Case Law Analysts [CLA] act as a part of the agency’s acquisition team, skilled in legal research and legal writing. [CLA] have a minimal of one-year direct procurement experience and have been certified in Federal Acquisition Regulations [FAR] I-II. [CLA] are skilled to provide detail risk analysis, protest avoidance support, legal sufficient procurement strategies, and can support the contracting officer in any protest concerns, etc. They develop, maintain, and support customized VA specific case law depositories for their organization.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
CASE EVALUATION
- Review and analyze correspondence and documents related to veteran affairs procurement protests, GAO audits and findings.
- Produce a written evaluation for each case used to support the agencies procurement risk assessment.
- Manages, continuously, a docket of cases at the middle and final stage of evaluation.
- Ensure that all communications, correspondence, and documents are properly tracked and stored.
- At as the agency’s Document Manager to procure and assemble case files with documents necessary for analysis.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Familiarity with legal procedure preferred
- Computer literacy, preferably experience with complex case management tools and searchable databases
* Course Prerequisite- Level 3 AUS Certification
Intellectual Property Rights in Government Contracts: Patents
Understand when and how the government obtains rights in a contractor's intellectual property.
A company's intellectual property is one of its most important assets and can be a subject of difficult negotiations even in the commercial sector. Extensive regulation, however, increases the challenge when contracting with the federal government. Paired with the government's ever-increasing focus on contractor intellectual property, contractors unfamiliar with the regulatory scheme surrounding contractor intellectual property may unwittingly surrender rights to the government, compromising the value not only of a specific asset but also of the company as a whole. This topic will help government contractors understand when and how the government obtains rights in a contractor's intellectual property focusing on patent rights. This information is vital for any company considering its intellectual property a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Learning Objectives
- You will be able to discuss what a payment and performance bond is.
- You will be able to review a bond to determine its scope and notification requirements.
- You will be able to identify the requirements for submitting claims and the benefits and drawbacks of requiring these bonds on a particular project.
- You will be able to explain how to submit a performance and payment bond claim.
GSA Lease Negotiations and Due Diligence
Understand the RLP process, negotiating the lease, and dealing with the government as the tenant.
The federal government is the country's largest tenant by far, if not in the world. In both strong and not-so-strong economic times, the federal government is always in the market for new or replacement space ranging from the most modern office space to simple warehousing requirements. When the commercial real estate market is in the doldrums, the federal government is always still there as a potential tenant. Understanding how to successfully deal with the government and obtain a long-term stream of rental income should be a critical aspect of any prudent lessor's and investor's knowledge portfolio.
Understanding the RLP and the Lease
- Termination and Option Provisions/No TFC Usually
- Tenant Improvement Allowances
- Geographical Restrictions
- Enhancing Security Requirements/Security Levels/Protection of Building Information as CUI/High-Security Space/Identification of Ownership and Financing Sources/Tenant Agency Refusal to Accept Lessor
- Construction Budgeting
- The GSA Forms - SF 2, SF 1217, SF 1364, SF 3517, SF 3518, etc.
- Notices to Proceed/Substantial Completion/Acceptance of the Space/Certificate of Occupancy
- Tax Adjustment Clause/Full Assessment/Tax Base Year
- Space Requirements, Standard and Otherwise
- Waiver of Restoration
- Operating Costs
- Drawings
- Delays/Force Majeure/Excusable Delays/Liquidated Damages
- Substitution of Tenant Agency
Understanding the RLP/Competitive Selection and Award Process/Sole Source
- The Congressional Prospectus Process
- RLP as Solicitation/RFP
- Award Based on Price/Price Evaluation
- Award Based on Other Factors/Most Advantageous to the Government Determinations
- RLP Defects and Award Challenges/Bid Protest Process/GAO/COFC/Agency-Level
Administering the Lease
- Renewal/Replacement/Interim/Temporary/New Leases
- Keeping the Tenant Agency Happy/Resolving Issues
- Reduction/Withholding/Offset of Rent
- Holding Over/Inverse Condemnation
- Selling the Property/Novating the Lease
- Assignments Under the Assignment of Claims Act
- Claims Under the Contract Disputes Act
- Compliance With GSAR and FAR Requirements
VA Contract Closeout Specialist
Department of Veterans Affairs Contract Closeout
Purpose: To remind Contracting Officers and Heads of Contracting Agencies within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that in accordance with (IAW) FAR Subpart 42.302(a)(65) Contract Closeout is a part of contract administration. Contract closeout must be accomplished IAW the requirements of FAR Subpart 4.804.
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) Sections Impacted: FAR Subpart 4.804 and FAR Subpart 42.302
Background: Contract closeout is the final stage of the Government contracting process. It can begin when the contract has been physically completed, and is not finished until final payment is made, any disputes settled, and all administrative actions required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation and specific agency procedures are completed. It is the responsiblilty of the contracting office administering the contract to closeout the contract in accordance with the requirements of and time specified in FAR Subpart 4.804, Closeout of contract files. OMB A123 Acquisition Assessments consistently found closeout of contract files was not timely and not accomplished in accordance with FAR Subpart 4.804.
Applicability: This notice applies to contract specialist, warranted contracting officers, Head of Contracting Activities, and others in acquisition workforce performing contract closeout tasks.
Action Required: Members of the VA acquisition workforce must close-out
Learning Objectives
Assist with correspondence and negotiation with contractors on contracts to be closed out.
Develop and write closeout documents for purchase orders, GSA orders, inter-agency agreements (IAAs), cost reimbursement (CR), cost plus fixed fee (CPFF), firm-fixed price (FFP), time-and-materials (T&M), etc. contract closeouts.
These documents include, as applicable:
o Release of claims,
o Standard Form 30s,
o Contract closeout checklists,
o Patent and inventions documentation, and
o Other documents related to contract closeout.
The closeout specialist will be experienced in all aspects of cost reimbursement contract
·closeout.
·Execute quick-closeout procedures in accordance with FAR Part 42.708.
·Reconcile final indirect rates and costs.
·Contractor shall provide weekly close out progress report to COR documenting contracts in process, completed, and presented for final closeout action by customer.
·Create closeout documents in the PRISM contracting writing system database.
·Prioritize Cancelling Funds Inter-Agency Agreements (IAAs), zero ($0) balance closeout actions, contracts with high de-obligations values (above $25,000)
·
Construction Cost Estimating
Cost Estimating Requirements for Veterans Affairs Facilities
The agencies collective goal is to manage the execution of the project within the funding limit approved by Congress. VA has a responsibility to act as a steward of tax dollars.That stewardship is conveyed in turn to the design team. VA expects the entire design team to take ownership of the project construction budget and to be an advocate for successful execution of the project within the available funding. The A/E cost estimator’s role is a critical element of project cost management. Rather than limiting responsibilities to simply reporting costs, the estimator must be an integral part of the design team, continually interacting and providing input to design decisions at every stage of development. Controlling and managing project performance relies on the project planning process: integrating the planning process is essential to managing the relationship between cost, time and scope. Coordinating requirements for cost, time and scope is the path to achieving project success.
Key Learning Outcomes
- Analyzing and documenting the various components of any construction project. including structures, highways, utilities, and residential buildings.
- Reading blueprints and other construction-related documents.
- Communicating with contractors, clients, and other parties throughout the bidding process.
Cost estimation is a crucial part of the bidding phase of any construction project. Estimators need to analyze construction documents, take-offs, and other direct and indirect costs in order to develop bids that are as accurate as possible. In this estimating program, we’ll cover several key topics that include:
- Construction mathematics
- Estimation terminology
- Quantity take-off, pricing, and bidding
- Uniform cost index categories
- Problem-solving techniques
- Types of materials
- Material ordering/handling methods
- Quality control and oversight
- Material relationships to the Uniform Building Code
* Course Prerequisite- Level 3 AUS Certification
Commercial Lease Termination
Learn how to identify the issues that will help you evaluate, navigate, and memorialize lease termination transactions and minimize the risk.
When either a landlord or tenant approaches you, as either its outside or in-house attorney, to represent it in connection with the termination of a lease, there are a number of legal and business issues you should evaluate and consider to allow you to both assess the parties’ respective rights, obligations and determine how best to memorialize their agreements, to the benefit of the party you are representing. The facts of why a lease termination is being sought is generally at the forefront of any initial analysis, whether it is for convenience, is the implementation of lease rights, is due to one party’s need that the other party cannot fulfill or represents a workout, short of court proceedings. Lease terminations are most commonly sought by a tenant who can no longer utilize its leased premises, for a number of reasons. Conversely, there are instances in which landlord requires a space for the expansion of a larger tenant or some other strategic reason, including extensive remodeling or demolition of the building (or to get rid of a problem tenant). These motivating factors will be discussed, as will the issues that arise from each of them. Although terminating a lease does not involve the negotiation of a document as long and complex as the lease itself, it can present its own complexities and issues that require careful consideration and attention (some of which are not that obvious and may require protracted negotiations). What I intend to convey in my presentation is how to identify the issues that will help you evaluate, navigate and memorialize these transactions and minimize the risk to your clients or companies. Like all transactions, there are pitfalls and unintended consequences that should be analyzed, so that what seems to be a fairly simple transaction does not end up having any unforeseen effect on your client (which could have been dealt with or at least conveyed as an issue to your client before execution and implementation). This will also minimize the risk of your client later asking you why you didn’t consider or warn it about an issue that later arises.
Learning Objectives
- You will be able to review lease termination rights and conditions.
- You will be able to discuss mutual agreements for termination based on convenience, tenant issues, or other reasons.
- You will be able to recognize potential joint and several liabilities for both parties involved in lease termination.
- You will be able to explain additional termination considerations.
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