Contract Management articles from December 2000

Contract Management archives from December 2000

NCMA Membership Means "Being Connected".(National Contract Management Association)
December 1, 2000... Reasons for being an active NCMA member vary from person to person, but one reason that is often expressed is "being connected." Through NCMA, you can get what you need when you need it. How can we market this simple concept to others? Here...

Arresting Common Time Thieves at Work.
December 1, 2000... Are you envious of high achievers at work? Do you wonder how they manage to coolly juggle so many balls? They have the same number of hours in their day--but something is different! It's simple: these high achievers have successfully...

An Insurance Policy Is a Contract.
December 1, 2000... Insurance policies are contractual documents, and just like other types of contracts, they should be managed using the best professional contracting skills. Health insurance policies: everyone needs one, not enough people have one, and...

Organize Your Contracting Office for CUSTOMER SERVICE.
December 1, 2000... The benefits of a customer service--oriented office include streamlined operations, satisfied customers, and fully challenged employees. Has it been getting harder to do more with less in your contracting office? Has your overall workload...

Customer Service: FROM THE GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE.
December 1, 2000... Thirteen commandments that can improve overall performance and bottom line results. For many firms that contract with the federal government, identifying exactly who the customer is can be confusing. Are they serving the contracting...

The Judgment Fund: When Can it Be Used?(Judgment Fund for paying procurement claims arising out of the Contract Disputes Act)
December 1, 2000... The intent behind the creation of the Judgment Fund was to expedite the United States' payment of judgments. However, identifying exactly when the Judgment Fund can and cannot be used is often a confusing task. Federal procurement...

Continuing Resolutions: What Are the Risks?(what happens to government agencies when Congress does not provide appropriations before the beginning of fiscal year?)
December 1, 2000... Continuing resolutions provide short-term solutions to budget battles but raise practical concerns that contracts professionals should consider. What happens to a government agency or department when Congress does not provide...

FINAL EDITION.
December 1, 2000... DECEMBER 2000 Legislation President Clinton Signs DOD Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 On October 30, 2000, President William J. Clinton signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001. (Public Law...

THE TriCare: CHANGE ORDER CRISIS.(TriCare Management Activity has problems with contractors)(military health care provider)
December 1, 2000... If outstanding contract changes are not quickly definitized, the existing backlog of change orders will result in administrative work for decades. TriCare, a well-meaning but poorly executed program that provides health care to active duty...

Federal Contract Bundling Continues.(Air Force is proceeding with solicitation for Flexible Acquisition Sustainment Tool contract)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Notwithstanding secretarial appeal of the Small Business Administration (SBA) voicing its concerns about the effects of bundling on small businesses and the assignment of a questionable Standard Industrial Classification code, the Air Force is...

FAR Hard Copy Publication Discontinued.(Federal Acquisition Regulation)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Effective January 1, 2001, the Federal Acquisition Regulation will no longer be printed in hard copy. It will only be available on the Internet, at the Acquisition Reform Network site, www.arnet.gov/far. ABOUT THE AUTHOR DONNA S....

Proposed FAR Revisions.(proposed revision to Federal Acquisition Regulation would implement statutory changes to definition of commercial item)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... A proposed revision to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) would implement statutory changes to the definition of commercial item (Federal Register, August 28, 2000). The first proposed change would clarify that purposes other than...

A-76 Program Revisions.(Office of Management and Budget publishes technical changes to Circular A-76 program and inventories produced in accordance with the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has published technical changes to Circular A-76, the revised supplemental handbook, effective September 8, 2000. The circular applies to all cost comparisons under the A-76 program and inventories...

Construction Contracting.(Department of Labor proposing to amend Davis-Bacon Act rules related to federal and federally assisted construction projects)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Department of Labor is proposing to amend some definitions in the regulations issued under the Davis-Bacon Act and related acts as they apply to federal and federally assisted construction projects (Federal Register, September 21, 2000)....

DOD to Expand Purchase Card Use.(Department of Defense issues proposal to permit contracting officers supporting a contingency, humanitarian, or peacekeeping operation to use the governmentwide purchase card on stand-alone basis for purchases up to $100,000)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Department of Defense has issued a proposed rule to permit its contracting officers supporting a contingency, humanitarian, or peacekeeping operation to use the governmentwide purchase card on a stand-alone basis for purchases up to the...

NAICS Revisions.(Small Business Administration has republished North American Industry Classification System)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Small Business Administration (SBA) has republished the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) tables to make technical revisions and to correct errors in its earlier publication of the NAICS small business size standards...

Blown to Bits (How the New Economics of Information Transforms Strategy).
December 1, 2000... Philip Evans and Thomas S. Wurster Harvard Business School Press, Boston, 259 pages Imagine the creation of a competitive strategy that can launch an insurgent entrepreneur--who has no business experience or product line--into a...

Default Discretion.(Statistical Data Included)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... In March 1985, the Small Business Administration (SBA) contracted with the Air Force for the manufacture and delivery of 129 conveyors for use in loading heavy equipment onto C-5A aircraft. SBA subcontracted for a fixed price of $133,000 for...

What Is a Business Advisor?(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Federal contracts managers need to take the time to consider their future roles in the acquisition community. Today, they have greater flexibility than in the past in developing innovative approaches and strategies to provide better business...

Give Something Back to the Contracting Profession -- Start an NCMA Chapter.
December 1, 2000... Are you a long-time member or perhaps a new member of NCMA who is looking for ways to contribute to our great association? Does the commute to and from the nearest chapter meeting prohibit your regular attendance and participation? Are you...

NCMA Hosts Public Meetings on Cost Accounting Standards Streamlining Review.(National Contract Management Association)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... One of the recommendations made by the General Accounting Office panel established by Congress to review the role of the cost accounting standards (CAS) in today's federal procurement environment was to review the CAS for streamlining...

Letter to CAS Board.
December 1, 2000... THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 3010 DEFENSE PENTAGON WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301-3010 Mr. Rudy Schuhbauer Project Director Cost Accounting Standards Board Office of Federal Procurement Policy Office of Management and...

Ramos, Taylor Receive National Achievement Award.(Victor Ramos, James W. Taylor)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The National Achievement Award gives special recognition to volunteers who make notable contributions in areas such as the writing of educational products, advocating for an NCMA program, or promoting the certification program. Nominees are...

Six Honored for Leadership at Chapter Level.(National Contract Management Association)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Albert Berger Outstanding Chapter Leadership Award was established in 1998 to nationally recognize volunteers that demonstrate superior chapter leadership achievements in support of their chapters' goals and activities. A former national...

Four Receive Staff Achievement Award.(National Contract Management Association)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Proving that less really is more, NCMA office staff members Claudia Low, Rita Rose, Cindy Fisher, and Diana Nushin received Staff Achievement Awards in September for their outstanding performance and hard work. Claudia Low Marketing...