Contract Management articles from July 2005

Contract Management archives from July 2005

Happy new year!(LEADERSHIP FORUM)
July 1, 2005... Does that sound strange for July? After all, it's not the beginning of the calendar year or the fiscal year--but it is the beginning of the new NCMA program year! Your new Board of Directors takes office this month--many of your chapters are...

What is your back-up plan?(PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT)(contractual issues)
July 1, 2005... As we all know, professional contract management is not an easy task, especially for beginners who have to manage complex commercial agreements in the outsourcing industry. At first, we may get all excited after being promoted to this new...

From piracy to profitability: re-thinking IP rights protection in China; Experience suggests that the traditional focus on legal remedies employed in the United States and Western Europe may prove unsatisfactory in China. Consequently, a more creative and robust intellectual property rights approach is needed for China and other emerging economies.(Intellectual property)(Cover Story)
July 1, 2005... The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that...

Contract language: the "Ts and Cs" of technology escrow; As technology escrow becomes a routine part of risk management strategies, contract managers need to be familiar with the terms and conditions of these agreements and know when they should be modified to afford their organization the best protection.
July 1, 2005... Most contract managers know that the use of technology escrow is an excellent method for protecting their company's intellectual property assets. This article will delve deeper into an explanation of terms and conditions, key points to be aware...

Corporate trade secrets: protecting company assets; Effective trade secret policies, employee agreements, and ethics training for all employees and management, as well as efficient management oversight and implementation of measures, will go a long way in protecting your company's proprietary information.
July 1, 2005... In the highly competitive climate we live in today, where employment opportunities and the chance to move to another company present themselves quite often, management of companies (especially in the high-technology industry) are ever watchful...

From research to revenue: optimizing IP profits with enterprise contract management; Most companies have numerous inventions and ideas that can be turned into valuable intellectual property with the right process and management focus.(intellectual property)
July 1, 2005... With the prominent and increasing role intellectual property (IP) is playing in our digital age, the licensing of IP can be a significant and very profitable revenue stream for many companies across a wide range of industries. Indeed, some...

NCMA's 2005-2006 educational conference calendar.(Calendar)
July 1, 2005... Attendance at NCMA's conferences offer you: * ways to stay in touch with contemporary issues, * exposure to best practice models, * opportunities for networking with those in the same field, * career growth programs, and *...

E-business: understanding key trends and applying best practices; In the world of e-business, innovation means understanding the 10 key trends and rapidly capitalizing on them to maximize the opportunity, whether buying or selling products, services, or integrated solutions.
July 1, 2005... Today, we live in a world with a new global economy, new trends driving e-business, and new best practices for performance-based buying and selling, in both the public and private sectors. Few concepts have so radically changed buying and...

43rd annual aerospace defense and contracting conference.
July 1, 2005... July 28-29, 2005 Hyatt Regency Long Beach Long Beach, CA [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Procurement Ethics: Getting It Right Hear from senior executives from major defense/aerospace organizations as well as DOD panel discussions...

Special section: contingency contracting.
July 1, 2005... This month, Contract Management magazine is proud to present a special section, highlighting the brave men and women serving our country as contingency contracting officers at home and abroad. The five stories that follow relate the actions of...

Pre-liberation Iraqi procurement processes, Part 1 of 2: reconstruction takes on a whole new meaning as we attempt to institutionalize an efficient health care system. Creating an atmosphere where professionals can offer opinions and make decisions takes time.(Editorial)
July 1, 2005... Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This article is...

Certificate of Ethics Education: available July 2005!
July 1, 2005... Making legally and ethically appropriate decisions is crucial in today's highly scrutinized business environment. To help contract professionals improve their skills and knowledge, we have worked with LRN, the leading ethics and compliance...

Contract management in Iraq: Murphy's law in action.(Column)
July 1, 2005... When I was an infantry officer in the U.S. Army many years ago, we used to joke about "Mr. Murphy" and his law: "What can go wrong will go wrong at the worst possible time." Murphy's Law was used to emphasize the need to plan for the...

E-courses.
July 1, 2005... With the support of our new on-line learning partner, VCampus, we are proud to offer you virtual courses to support the NCMA Certification Program. On-line learning is a flexible, affordable, and effective way to meet your continuing education...

Serving as a COTR in Iraq: I found the experience very worthwhile, and I am certain that it will contribute to further growth. I learned a great deal about others and myself and have a new appreciation for the complexity of our times.(SPECIAL SECTION: CONTINGENCY CONTRACTING)(Column)
July 1, 2005... I recently returned from successfully completing a 120-day tour as a civilian, supporting the 4th Infantry Division (ID) operating out of one of Saddam's major palace complexes, renamed Camp Iron Horse, located in the City of Tikrit, Iraq. Our...

Rifleman: contracting officer experiences frontline action in Iraq.
July 1, 2005... First Lt. Ed Ruckwardt was in his office, wrapping up some contracts he had worked on the previous few days. It was typical of the lieutenant's duties. There was nothing extravagant or special about the contracts. He was doing his job. The...

In memoriam.(SPECIAL SECTION: CONTINGENCY CONTRACTING)(Obituary)
July 1, 2005... In recognition of two defense contracting officers who were killed in a rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on January 29, 2005. Barbara Heald, 60, of Falls Church, VA, was working and living in Saddam Hussein's former...

Federal fiscal operations and maintenance funding rules: what contract managers need to know; Maintaining vigilance in O & M funding issues and sharing knowledge among the agency's management and employees is a necessity--not an option.(GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING)
July 1, 2005... It is essential for contract managers to know the intent and application of the federal fiscal operations and maintenance (O & M) funding. Processes have been put in place to ensure proper obligation and tracking of the O & M one-year...

NCMA corporate membership.(National Contract Management Association)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... NCMA corporate members enhance their industry image as premier businesses in the contract management community. Learn how your company can take advantage of our growing resources by joining our corporate members. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Formalities.(Hawaii Cyberspace Contracted with U.S. Air Force )
July 1, 2005... On September 23, 1996, the principal person of Hawaii Cyberspace (HC) signed a contract with the U.S. Air Force (AF) to deliver a "video display and interactive touch-tone telephone system" by March 1997. In June 1997, both parties signed...

Accudraft's DocsEngine Portal: "writing the contract correctly and quickly through automation".
July 1, 2005... Accudraft's DocsEngine Portal solution expedites your contract generation process through automation, yielding standards-based contracts on a timely basis. Your contracts are based on automated standards (called templates), which allow any...

CM magazine 2005 editorial calendar.(Calendar)
July 1, 2005... November -- Articles Due: Aug. 1, 2005 Information Technology Auctions and reverse auctions, buying consortiums, global transactions, software, standard procurement system, billing and payment, value-added networks, automated...

Senate Armed Services Committee completes markup of National Defense Authorization Bill for FY 2006.(Legislation)
July 1, 2005... On May 12, 2005, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved its National Defense Authorization Bill for FY 2006 (S. 1042). The bill authorizes funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) and the national security programs of the Department of...

House approves National Defense Authorization Bill for FY 2006.(Legislation)
July 1, 2005... On May 25, 2005, the House of Representatives approved the FY 2006 Defense Authorization Bill (H.R. 1815) by a vote of 390 to 39. The following provisions are of relevance to the contracting community. * Section 812, Use of Commercially...

House approves Homeland Security Authorization Bill for FY 2006.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... On May 18, 2005, the House of Representatives approved the FY 2006 Homeland Security Authorization Bill (H.R. 1817) and amended the bill by a voice-vote, to add a Buy American provision for the procurement of goods containing components....

House passes GSA Modernization Act to create new Federal Acquisition Service.(General Services Administration )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... On May 23, 2005, the House of Representatives passed the General Services Administration Modernization Act (H.R. 2066) to establish the new Federal Acquisition Service (FAS). The new FAS represents the merger of the current GSA Federal Supply...

DOD, GSA, and NASA issue semi-annual regulatory agenda.(Department of Defense)(General Services Administration)(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... DOD, GSA, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have issued the semiannual regulatory change agenda regarding regulations that will amend the FAR and are currently being drafted by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council...

DOD issues base closures & realignments notice.(Department of Defense)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... DOD has issued a notice of recommended closures and realignments of military installations pursuant to the authority granted to the secretary of defense by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, as amended. Out of the 318...

DOD issues final rule amending DFARS RE: contractor personnel supporting a force deployed outside United States.(Department of defense)(Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... DOD has issued a final rule to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) regarding contracts that require contractor personnel to be deployed with, or in other ways support, military operations outside the United...

DOD issues interim rule affecting multiyear contracting for services and supplies.(Department of defense)
July 1, 2005... DOD has issued an interim rule to amend DFARS Subpart 217.1 (Special Contracting Methods) by implementing Section 8008 of the Defense Appropriations Act for FY 2005 (Section 8008) and Section 814 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY...

NCMA 2005 National Education Seminars (NES) series.
July 1, 2005... Contract Negotiations Based on the highly successful book by Gregory A. Garrett, Contract Negotiations: Skills, Tools, and Best Practices, this seminar provides a comprehensive treatment of contract negotiations, with a compelling...

DOD issues interim rule to restrict use of non-DOD contracts & task orders.(Regulations)
July 1, 2005... DOD has issued an interim rule to amend the DFARS to implement Section 854 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2005 (Section 854) to limit DOD agencies' use of non-DOD contracts or task orders. Pursuant to the interim rule, DOD is...

DOD issues interim rule to create incentive program for contractor purchase of capital assets manufactured in United States.(Department of Defense)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... DOD has issued an interim rule to amend DFARS Subparts 215 and 216 to implement Section 822 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2004 (Section 822). Section 822 mandates the establishment of a program to motivate and reward...

Hawaii in West Virginia: a bit of sunshine inland.
July 1, 2005... When you think of West Virginia--and more specifically, Northern West Virginia--dancing the "hula" in a Hawaiian shirt doesn't immediately to mind, right? Well, that is exactly what NCMA's Northern West Virginia Chapter did last November to...

World Congress 2005: fun in the sun.
July 1, 2005... World Congress 2005 landed in Phoenix, Arizona, April 25-27, offering a unique experience for all those who attended. It was a place and time for learning and networking opportunities, provided in the comfortably warm atmosphere of hospitality...

U.S. Air Force announces contracting award winners.
July 1, 2005... The U.S. Air Force formally recognized its contracting award winners for FY 2004 in a ceremony held April 14, 2005, at the Pentagon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. Contracting units and professionals throughout the USAF competed for 22 award...

In memoriam: NCMA loses three valuable members.(National Contract Management Association)(Obituary)
July 1, 2005... We regret printing this obituary news section--but we want to honor those dedicated NCMA members who were part of our community and have now passed on in death. Stuart Evans On April 11, 2005, retired Rear Admiral Stuart James Evans...

Fort Worth chapter.(Tom Burbage speaks about the Joint Strike Fighter Program)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... At the April dinner meeting, Tom Burbage (left), executive vice president of the Joint Strike Fighter Program, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, spoke on the status of this JSF program. David McKinney, chapter president, greets him. ...

Middle Georgia chapter.(Albert Berger Award)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... June Nelson, chapter awards chair (left), and Maj Gen Michael Collings, commander of WR-ALC (right), present Henry Goswick, chapter workshop chair (center), with his chapter nomination for the Albert Berger Award. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Texoma chapter.(National Contract Management Association)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... President Vickie Sullivan presents the March speaker, Lt Ed Ruckwardt (chapter vice president), with an NCMA hat and certificate of appreciation. He gave a fascinating talk on his experience as a contracting officer in Iraq, working with the...