Contract Management articles from February 2003

Contract Management archives from February 2003

Reader response corner.(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... Contract Bundling or Contract Bungling? The government's recently-released report on contract bundling (Contract Bundling: A Strategy for Increasing Federal Opportunities for Small Business, October 2002) unfortunately continues a...

Contract management learning begins here. (President's Forum).(National Contract Management Association)
February 1, 2003... As the world around us changes, professional associations must adapt to remain relevant to their members. Where associations have historically served their membership by gathering and redistributing information that was difficult for an...

Are you ready for a career workout? (Professional Development).
February 1, 2003... Winter is no time to slack on a health plan because before too long, summer will be here. No more hiding behind layers of clothes and winter coats. Now more than ever, it's important to keep up rigorous workout schedules and good eating habits...

Building trust in the workplace.
February 1, 2003... By basing their professional relationships on respect and trust, contracting professionals open the door to participating on cross-functional teams and achieving success with others outside the discipline. Relationships in the professional...

The benefits and challenges of telework--an employee's perspective. (Part one in a Three-Part Series).
February 1, 2003... As an employee, make sure you enter into the off-site work arrangement with a clear awareness of all aspects of teleworking. Then, work out an arrangement with your employer based on this honest assessment. Telework is not a new...

The perils of micromanagement: managers who insist on being involved in every detail demoralize their employees, add unnecessary stress to their own lives, and endanger their organization's long-term success.
February 1, 2003... Lenny was feeling good. Just a few days ago, his boss had entrusted him with a big project. Today, he was meeting with the boss to present his plan and budget. He had really burned the midnight oil to develop a sound plan and a reasonable...

Common law torts: the latest in employment lawsuits.
February 1, 2003... Aggrieved employees are increasingly turning to common law torts to redress their complaints against employers. In today's litigious society, employers must be prepared to meet the challenges these cases pose. Today's aggrieved employees...

Choosing the best solution: conduct a successful decision-making effort by being aware of the factors that may help or hinder the decision and by taking any necessary actions to affect the effort in a positive way.
February 1, 2003... A manager of an order-filling department said to her staff, "We can upgrade our computer program and continue to try to fill material orders, or we can contract out several order-filling duties to an outside expert. Mechanical and electrical...

Job seeking 101.
February 1, 2003... Until you get an offer in writing, there are no guarantees in today's employment market. Here's how to increase your chances for success during each stage of the hiring process, from resume preparation to negotiating the final offer. ...

The contract management learning center: this learning and knowledge management center is a key focal point for professional development and community-building.
February 1, 2003... This year is going to be an exceptional one for NCMA members. In addition to the regular portfolio of products and services that NCMA offers the acquisition community, we are excited to announce the launching of our new Contract Management...

Good-faith negotiation and discretion. (Case Commentary).
February 1, 2003... Since 1981, Systems Management American Corporation (SMA) was signed on as subcontractor for the Small Business Administration (SBA) U.S. Navy program, to handle the Snap II computer systems on surface ships and submarines. Contract #173--its...

HUBZone contracting. (Small Business Briefs).(reports finds fault with prime contractor utilization of HUBZone businesses during fiscal years 2000 and 2001)
February 1, 2003... A report released November 7, 2002, by the Department of Defense (DOD) Office of the Inspector General (IG) finds fault with prime contractor utilization of HUBZone businesses during fiscal years 2000 and 2001. The report was requested by...

OSHA and small businesses. (Small Business Briefs).(Occupational Safety and Health Administration the Small Business Administration signed agreement to work together to inform small businesses on new ergonomic guidelines)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the SBA have signed an agreement to work together to inform small businesses on OSHA's new ergonomic guidelines. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) provides details on how these...

Size standards. (Small Business Briefs).(Small Business Administration proposes establishment of a $30 million size standard for Job Corps Center activities classified under North American Industry Classification System code 611519)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SBA has proposed to establish a $30 million size standard for Job Corps Center activities classified under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 611519, "Other Technical and Trade Schools." This proposal is made in response...

Small business certification. (Small Business Briefs).(General Services Administration taken a class deviation to a requirement that small businesses only need to certify their size status at the time of their proposal submission)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The General Services Administration has taken a class deviation to a requirement that small businesses only need to certify their size status at the time of their proposal submission. This information, released November 15, 2002, can be found...

Subcontract payments. (Small Business Briefs).(revision to the Federal Acquisition Regulation announced)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A revision to the Federal Acquisition Regulation, effective December 23, 2002, changes the criteria that govern when a prime contractor can bill the government for costs incurred but not yet paid (Federal Register, November 22, 2002). The final...

Circular A-76 revision. (Small Business Briefs).(Office of Management and Budget has issued proposed revisions)
February 1, 2003... The Office of Management and Budget has issued proposed revisions to Circular A-76, which covers the federal government's requirement to conduct public-private competition for performance of its commercial activities (Federal Register, November...

Contracts awarded to SBs. (Small Business Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... According to a report issued November 25, 2002, by the DOD IG, surveyed contracting officials did not comply with the FAR and GSA special ordering procedures to conduct market research, when ordering against Federal Supply Schedules. The...

On-line training for small business. (Small Business Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SBA has teamed with The Hartford Financial Services Group to provide risk management educational materials and on-line interactive tools and training for SBs. Developed by Hartford's loss control experts, the materials are available at selected...

SBAExchange. (Small Business Briefs).(Small Business Administration pilot program facilitates small business e-procurement opportunities)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... If a small business has any cash to spare, it may want to invest $1,500 to obtain a listing on SBAExchange. This is a pilot program utilizing an electronic purchasing tool developed for SBA to facilitate SB e-procurement opportunities. The...

Industrial funding fee. (Small Business Briefs).(General Services Administration plans to reduce fee for the multiple-awards schedule)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... According to an article in the November 19, 2002, issue of Federal Contracts Report, GSA has announced that, effective January 1, 2004, it intends to reduce the industrial funding fee for the multiple-awards schedule (MAS) program from 1...

Proposals as corporate stress tests. (Best Practices).
February 1, 2003... In the world of contract work, probably no single item is as stressful to employees as being assigned to write a proposal. Unfortunately, there are firms whose management style with proposals is particularly crude and usually unproductive--the...

The COPPER CAP program. (Case Study).(part of U.S. Air Force's Contracting Career Program)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Did you know that 42 percent of civilian Air Force workers are eligible to retire by 2005? Whether you are in the public or private sector, chances are the average age of the contracting professionals you work with is higher than the average...

President Bush signs DOD authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003. (Legislation).
February 1, 2003... On December 2, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Pub. L. No. 107-314). In addition to authorizing appropriations for military activities for the Department of Defense...

Office of Management and Budget issues final rule regarding revisions to Prompt Payment Act. (Regulations).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued a final rule revising its rules on the Prompt Payment Act (PPA) (31 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.). As previously reported, the OMB issued an interim final rule to amend its PPA rules in order to...

DOD, GSA, and NASA issue final rule regarding simplified procedures for purchasing commercial items in excess of simplified acquisition threshold. (Regulations).(Department of Defense, General Services Administration, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The DOD, General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have issued a final rule amending the FAR to implement. Section 812 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (Pub. L....

DOD, GSA, and NASA issue interim rule regarding micro-purchase exception. (Regulations).(Department of Defense, General Services Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The DOD, GSA, and NASA have issued an interim rule to amend Part 9 (Acquisition of Information Technology) of the FAR to extend the exception for electronic and information technology (EIT) to October 1, 2004. The FAR previously excepted EIT...

DOD issues final rule to amend DFARS to implement section 812 of National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002. (Regulations).(Department of Defense; Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The DOD has issued a final rule to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 219.7104 and Appendix Ito implement section 812 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (Pub. L. 107-107). Section...

DOD issues final rule regarding Trade Agreements Act. (Regulations).(Department of Defense)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The DOD has issued a final rule amending the DEARS with regard to procurement subject to the Trade Agreements Act (TAA). As previously reported, the DOD issued a proposed rule to amend DFARS Parts 225 (Foreign Acquisition) and 252 (Solicitation...

NASA issues final rule to revise NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Handbook. (Regulations).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... NASA has issued a final rule to amend the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Handbook to implement Executive Order 13202 (Preservation of Open Competition and Government Neutrality Towards Government Contractors' Labor Relations on Federal...

GAO issues final rule regarding bid protest regulations. (Regulations).(General Accounting Office)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The General Accounting Office (GAO) has issued a final rule to revise its bid protest regulations. On October 1, 2002, GAO published a proposed rule and solicited comments regarding revisions designed to bring the bid protest regulations into...

Partnering to create greatest value. (NCMA Corporate Profile).(BearingPoint is the newest corporate member of the National Contract Management Association)
February 1, 2003... NCMA is proud to announce BearingPoint (NYSE:BE), formerly KPMG Consulting, Inc., as our newest corporate member. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, BearingPoint is one of the world's largest business consulting and systems integration...

Connecting, understanding, and changing: Recent NCMA success. (East Coast Conference Wrap-up Report).(National Contract Management Association)
February 1, 2003... November saw a quick change into a brisk, cold autumn on the East Coast--and a glimpse into a similar "seasonal change" and dynamism within NCMA at the 21st Annual East Coast Education Conference, November 14-16, 2002, in Tysons Corner,...

CM 2003 editorial calendar.
February 1, 2003... June--Articles Due: March 1, 2003 Contract Management in the Business World Marketing objectives/strategies, growth strategies, planning, bidding, presentations, proposals, tele-working, pricing, and distribution. The impact or...

Leadership & Management.(Management Concepts provides a variety of training, consulting and performance solutions)
February 1, 2003... Training, Consulting, and Performance Solutions Cultivating the knowledge, skill, and desire of your people to drive organizational performance... See inside for details about offerings in the following! * On-Site Training *...