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Overview
The Masters Institute in Government Contracts Cost and Pricing – Current Topics is an advanced program that is designed to address recent developments relating to the complex set of cost accounting rules, regulations, requirements, and practices that government contractors must address in making critical business decisions. This course, which is taught by nationally recognized, government contracting specialists, will enable you to understand the implications of recent government contract cost accounting developments and provide you with practical guidance for applying the changes resulting from recent cost accounting developments to “real-life” scenarios. Each day of The Masters Institute in Government Contracts Cost and Pricing – Current Topics will include lectures, case studies, illustrative examples, group discussions, and consideration and discussion of questions raised relating to recent government contract cost accounting developments. 

Learning Objectives
  • Understand the implications of new developments, rules and regulations to government contract cost and pricing matters, including the following:
    • FAR / DFARS proposed and final rules
    • CAS Board updates
    • FAR Part 31 Cost Principles
    • National Defense Authorization Act
    • Cases and Board decisions
    • Truthful Cost or Pricing Data statute (formerly Truth in Negotiations Act, or “TINA”)
    • Inspector General reports
  • Discuss audit and compliance issues related to cost allowability, cost allocation, DFARS Contractor Business Systems and DCAA/DCMA audits
  • Discuss new DCAA and DCMA initiatives that may impact government contract costs
  • Understand recent government efforts to treat commercial items as requiring (uncertified) cost or pricing data, including the status of a commercial item/product/service as a TINA exemption
  • Apply practical lessons learned from recent interpretations, including legal cases and directives, to cost and pricing matters
  • Understand the implications of special transactions, including terminations, restructurings, joint ventures and intercompany transactions
  • Apply lessons learned from interactive case studies and hypothetical scenarios to cost and pricing matters

 

Dates/Locations
April 9-11, 2025
American Management Association
Arlington, VA, United States
Travel Info
Request Group Quote
Fill out this form and someone from FPS will contact you shortly. You can fill out as much or as little information as you would like. Prefer to talk to us? Call 651.666.2030.
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May 7-9, 2025
Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine
La Jolla, CA, United States
Travel Info
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Fill out this form and someone from FPS will contact you shortly. You can fill out as much or as little information as you would like. Prefer to talk to us? Call 651.666.2030.
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Jul 30 - Aug 01, 2025
The Westin Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island, SC, United States
Travel Info
Request Group Quote
Fill out this form and someone from FPS will contact you shortly. You can fill out as much or as little information as you would like. Prefer to talk to us? Call 651.666.2030.
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September 17-19, 2025
Planet Hollywood
Las Vegas, NV, United States
Travel Info
Request Group Quote
Fill out this form and someone from FPS will contact you shortly. You can fill out as much or as little information as you would like. Prefer to talk to us? Call 651.666.2030.
Submit
Thank You
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Agenda
Day 1
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
La Jolla, CA , Hilton Head, SC and Las Vegas, NV
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Schedule for All Other Locations
 
Day 2
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
La Jolla, CA , Hilton Head, SC and Las Vegas, NV
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Schedule for All Other Locations
 
Day 3
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
La Jolla, CA , Hilton Head, SC and Las Vegas, NV
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Schedule for All Other Locations
DAY ONE
  • Policy Issues
    • DCAA Activity 
      • Report to Congress 
      • Memorandums for Regional Directors
      • Peer Review
      • Data Analytics
    • FAR / DFARS Proposed and Final Rules
    • FAR Part 31 Cost Principles
    • CAS Updates
    • CAS / FAR / GAAP Accounting Issues
    • DoD Inspector General Reports
    • GAO Reports
    • Legislative Updates / National Defense Authorization Act 
    • Inflation / Economic Price Adjustments
    • TINA policy – Government efforts to require uncertified cost or pricing data for commercial items
    • Office of Undersecretary of Defense – Defense Pricing and Contracting memoranda
    • Cybersecurity
    • Other Cost and Pricing-Related Issues / Updates
  • Audit and Compliance Issues
    • DFARS Contractor Business Systems
    • TINA / Defective Pricing Audits
    • Commercial Items
    • Cost Allowability / CAS Audits
    • Cost Reasonableness
    • Compensation
    • Other Audits
DAY TWO
  • Audit and Compliance Issues (cont’d)
    • Cases and Board Decisions
    • Cost or Pricing issues that arise in the context of the following:
      • False Claims Act
      • Claims and Terminations
      • Intellectual Property Rights 
    • Audit Access / Record Retention
    • Other Matters
  • Special Transactions
    • Terminations
    • Restructurings
    • Joint Ventures
    • OTAs
    • Intercompany Transactions
DAY THREE
  • Case Studies
  • Hypothetical Scenarios
  • Questions and Answers
Experts
  • Stephen Knight
    Senior Counsel, Haynes Boone
    Stephen Knight has practiced government contract law for more than 40 years, counseling and litigating on behalf of clients in all aspects of that practice. He has significant experience in claims and disputes, with special emphasis on costing and pricing issues involving cost allocability and allow...
    See Full Bio
  • John Polcari
    Director, HKA
    John Polcari is Director in HKA’s Government Contracts practice with more than 13 years of experience in the U.S. government contracts compliance industry. John assists clients with various government contracting regulatory compliance issues. His clients range from start-up businesses to multi...
    See Full Bio
  • Tom Reynolds
    Partner, HKA
    Tom Reynolds is a Partner in HKA’s Government Contracts Practice in Washington, D.C. Tom is a forensic accountant and CPA with 20 years of experience helping government contractors navigate the complex government contracting compliance rules and regulations. Tom has provided government contrac...
    See Full Bio
  • John C. Shire
    Director, Redstone Government Consulting, Inc.
    John is a Director with Redstone Government Consulting, Inc. providing government contract consulting services to our clients primarily related to the DFARS business systems, CAS Disclosure Statements, and DCAA/DCMA compliance preparation, advisory, and defense. Prior to joining Redstone Government...
    See Full Bio
  • James W. Thomas
    Partner, Global Sector Lead, HKA
    James W Thomas (Jim) is a forensic accountant with 35 years of experience providing consulting and dispute resolution services to government contractors. He has been retained as an expert on more than 50 occasions.

    Jim has testified as an expert in proceedings before the Armed Servic...
    See Full Bio
Accreditation
See Individual Courses For Available Credits
Certificates of Completion are provided to all seminar participants who attend Federal Publications Seminars courses following the event, upon request.
CPE: Continuing Professional Education
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Delivery Method: Group-Live Classroom
Federal Publications Seminars is affiliated with West Professional Development and is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.
For more information regarding administrative policies such as refunds, cancellations and complaints, please contact Federal Publications Seminars at 888.494.3696.
CPE Hours
This program is eligible for: 16.5 (CPE) hours of credit
Program Level: Advanced
Program Prerequisite: None
Advance Preparation: None
Method: Group-Live Classroom
CLP: Continuous Learning Points
Approved for CLP by Defense Acquisition University
Defense Acquisition Workforce members must acquire 80 Continuous Learning Points (CLP) every two years from the date of entry into the acquisition workforce for as long as the member remains in an acquisition position per DoD Instruction 5000.66. We will provide you with documentation of points awarded for completing the event.
CLP Hours
This program is eligible for: 17.0 (CLP) hours of credit
CLE: Continuing Legal Education
States have widely varying regulations regarding MCLE credit. LegalEdcenter is an approved provider in AL, AK, AR, CA, GA, IL, ME, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, and WV. Credit may be applied for in other jurisdictions on request and in accordance with state MCLE rules.
Please note that because some states are changing their policy on CLE reporting, you will need to fill out the request for credit from Federal Publications Seminars within 10 business days, or we may not be able to issue credits for the program.
CLE Hours
This program is eligible for: Varies by state (60 minutes), (50 minutes)
Travel
American Management Association
2345 Crystal Drive, Second Floor
Arlington, VA, 22202
5714812208
Hotel & Room Block Info

Federal Publications Seminars doesn’t have a room block for this location. AMA does not arrange hotel accommodation. However, AMA has negotiated preferred rates at the following hotels based upon availability. Be sure to mention that you are an AMA conference attendee to secure your reservation and preferred rates. Contact the hotels below directly. Note: that we recommend that reservations be made early, as the number of rooms at preferred rates is limited.

Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Click here to reserve using the AMA preferred rate. For AMA’s preferred rate enter corporate code 00433. 
Reagan National Airport
2799 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
AMA Reservation Number 1-703-418-1234

Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel
Click here to reserve using the AMA preferred rate by entering corporate code A10
2800 South Potomac Avenue
Arlington, VA 22202
AMA Reservation Number 1-703-413-1300

Hilton Arlington National Landing

Click here to reserve using the AMA preferred rate by entering corporate code N3433483.

2399 Richmond Hwy

Arlington, VA 22202

AMA Reservation Number 1-703-418-6800

METRO RAIL LINE:
Yellow & Blue Line – METRO Stop – Crystal City
From the METRO - AMA is 2 blocks east and 4 blocks south on Crystal Drive
http://www.amaconferencecenter.org/washington-directions-maps.htm

General Information

FOOD & BEVERAGE

DC WEEK ONLY
Continental breakfast and lunch will be served (DC Week ONLY). Coffee (regular and decaf), tea, and water will be served throughout the day, with an afternoon snack (baked goods) break. 

COST AND COMPLIANCE WEEK
Breakfast and lunch are on your own. Coffee (regular & decaf), tea and water will be served throughout the day with an afternoon snack (baked goods) break. 

Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine
3777 La Jolla Village Drive
La Jolla, CA, 92122
8585521234
Hotel & Room Block Info
There is a room block for this location. The rate is $259/night plus taxes. To reserve your room, click here.  Reservations under this room block must be made by April 11, 2025.

If you need additional assistance, please get in touch with the Hyatt at 877.803.7534.

Government Per Diem
There is a government per diem rate for this location. The rate is $194/night plus taxes. To make your reservations, please click here. Reservations under this room block must be made by April 11, 2025.
General Information
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Breakfast and lunch will be served.
Coffee, tea, and water will be served throughout the day.
Planet Hollywood
3667 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV, 89109
8669197472
Hotel & Room Block Info

There is a room block for this location. The rate is $104/night plus taxes. To reserve your room, click here. Reservations must be made by August 11, 2025.

Please note that upon booking your reservation, your credit card will be charged a deposit equal to the first night's room and tax. To avoid forfeiture of deposit, please ensure all changes and cancellations are made at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled arrival date.

General Information

Food & Beverage
Continental breakfast and lunch will be served.

The Westin Hilton Head Island
2 Grasslawn Avenue
Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928
8886278551
Hotel & Room Block Info
There is a room block for this location. The rate is $398/night plus taxes and resort fees. To reserve your room, click here - Federal Publications Government Contract Training 2025 Attendee Room Block. Reservations must be made by June 27, 2025.
Government Per Diem
There is a limited amount of per diem rate rooms for this location. The rate is $215/night plus taxes and resort fees. To reserve your room, click here - Federal Publications Government Contract Training 2025 Per Diem Room Block. Reservations must be made by June 27, 2025.
General Information
Food & Beverage
Continental breakfast and lunch will be served.
In-House
Bring Federal Publications Seminars to your location! If you would like to offer this course in-house, please contact us.
Schedule Training
Schedule Training
Fill out this form and someone from FPS will contact you shortly. You can fill out as much or as little information as you would like. Prefer to talk to us? Call 888.865.9082.
Request a Quote
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You will be contacted shortly.
CMBOK Alignments
Leadership
Character
Collaboration
Competence
Emotional Intelligence
Vision
Management
Business Management
Change Management
Financial Management
Project Management
Risk Management
Supply Chain Management
Guiding Principles
Communication and Documentation
Contract Principles
Regulatory Compliance
Situational Assessment
Skills and Roles
Standards of Conduct
Team Dynamics
Pre-Award
Plan Sales
Plan Solicitation
Prepare Offer
Request Offers
Award
Manage Disagreements
Plan Negotiations
Price or Cost Analysis
Select Source
Post-Award
Administer Contract
Close Out Contract
Ensure Quality
Manage Changes
Manage Subcontracts
Learn
Continuous Learning
Individual Competence
Organizational Capability
Level
  • 100
    Basic or fundamental subject matter is covered. Courses are geared to general knowledge or can be taken as a refresher.
  • 200
    Specific topics or issues within a topic area are covered. Students should be familiar with terms of art and general concepts concerning the course topic.
  • 300
    Workshops and class discussions cover specific subject matter in-depth, and participation is strongly encouraged. Attendees should have at least 2-3 years' experience in the area of study.
  • 400
    Courses build upon students' knowledge and experience, and cover complex issues within the subject matter. Should have 4-5 years' mastery of subject for in-depth analysis.
  • 500
    Masters-level programs designed for professionals with 5+ years' experience. Courses cover in-depth and technical analysis on specific subjects and updates on current issues.