The FAR is a complex, constantly changing document that sets the policy for Executive Agencies to acquire supplies, services, and construction. To study the FAR from the government perspective or the contractor perspective is a mandatory task. For this series of nine sessions, we shall be examining the entire document.

Spend, Spend, Spend. Every year the Federal Government spends trillions of dollars. Every year there is a discussion of fiscal issues and political issues surrounding this government spend.  Any series on government spend and regulations begins with the three types of spend, mandatory, discretionary, and supplemental. Mandatory spending is set by law and regulations. Supplemental spending is set by emergency circumstances.  Discretionary spending is based on needs and funds appropriated by Congress in the budgetary process.

Discretionary spending results in yearly spends of hundreds of billions of dollars, both defense and non-defense spending. Since the funding is appropriated each year, one of the first questions centers around control of the acquisition/procurement process.

When federal executive agencies have needs for supplies, services, construction or specific needs for research and development, engineering services, information technology, infrastructure builds and they have received appropriated funding, they must turn to codified regulations for their discretionary spend. They look to the Federal Acquisition Regulations. Any contractor interested in contacting with the government to provide the necessary end-product also needs to know the regulations that will control the acquisition. They too must look to the Federal Acquisition Regulations, the FAR.

The FAR is Chapter One of 48 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) and as a separate recorded document it is over 1700 pages. Federal Publications Seminars is offering a Series of nine ninety-minute sessions highlighting the key elements of the FAR. These sessions will focus on the use of the FAR and the basic understanding of the codified acquisition process. The sessions will open the door to government acquisition definitions, mandatory and non-mandatory clause flowdowns, the matching of the policies in Chapters one through 51 with the Solicitation Provisions and Contractual Clauses of Chapter 52 and the forms of Chapter 53.

The nine sessions will address the complexity of the constantly changing FAR. Every purchase must focus, both the procurement team and the contractor pool, on the elements of the FAR that pertain, based on the Executive Agency and the contract itself, what is being purchased and what is the solicitation process utilized. From that point the sessions will focus on determining the relevant FAR Sections and the determination of the responsibility of the parties.

This series on the FAR will meet the following objectives:

• Understanding the FAR (purpose, language, anticipated usage by the government and contractors)
• Using the FAR in the determination of definitions, terms and conditions, mandatory and non-mandatory flowdowns, relevant processes, relevant Chapters based on the Buying Agency and the proposed end-products, exceptions and deviations, the breakdown of matching a specific procurement with specific requirements of the FAR,….
• Determining the role, as codified by the FAR, of all contractual parties
• Understanding the uniform policies of the FAR System as being advantageous and effective  

Thess live webinars are eligible for both CLE and CPE credit.
NOTE: CPE/CLE credit for attendees are subject to participation and approval by the governing boards. NASBA CPE ACCREDITATION INFORMATION
Learning Level: Beginner
Prerequisites: None
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based

For more information regarding administrative policies such as refunds, cancellations and complaints, please contact Federal Publications Seminars at 888.494.3696.

West Professional Development 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.