Contracting Officer’s Representatives (COR) Course

On-site and off-site Workshops available upon request.  
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This comprehensive training course is designed to provide non-contracting personnel with knowledge of the federal acquisition process as well as the knowledge and skills to execute their responsibilities as a representative of the contracting officer.  It is specifically designed for those who are responsible for assuring that contractors that perform in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.  This course will provide CORs the breadth of knowledge required to perform their role, including knowledge related to COR roles and responsibilities, as well as fundamentals of contracting regulations and awareness of ethical and legal factors that impact COR responsibilities; This course will provide information necessary to effectively evaluate situations, apply knowledge gained, and make correct decisions to carry out COR responsibilities. 

Students can earn 40 CLPs by successfully completing this course.   Contractors Welcome!

Suggested Prerequisite: None
Course Objectives:

After successful completion of this training course, the student will be able to:

  • Describe the COR’s role and authority in the acquisition process
  • Participate in acquisition planning, contract formation, and contract administration
  • Develop a contract administration plan
  • Maintain appropriate documentation and communications
  • Monitor contract performance
  • Assist the contracting officer with processing changes, equitable adjustments, claims, disputes, and appeals

Major Topics:

COR Delegation and Responsibilities

  • The role of the contracting officer’s representative.
  • Actual vs. apparent authority.
  • Responsibilities including limits on authority.
  • Delegation of authority.
  • COR/contracting officer relationship.

Ethics in Government Contracting

  • Principles of ethical conduct.
  • Procurement integrity.
  • Organizational conflicts of interest.
  • Identifying fraud.

The COR’s Role in Acquisition Planning

  • Identifying and defining the requirement.  The acquisition planning process.  Market research.  Funding and fiscal controls.
  • Types of requirements documents. 
  • Independent government cost estimates. 
  • Government-furnished property.
  • Evaluation factors.
  • Creating the purchase request.

Contract Award

  • Basic elements of a contract.
  • The award process.
  • Methods of contracting. 
  • Competition requirements.
  • Contract types.
  • Options.
  • Small business programs.
  • Amending a solicitation.
  • COR responsibilities for evaluation and source selection. 
  • Impact of protests.

What’s in a Contract?

  • Contract numbering.
  • Uniform contract format. 
  • The contractor’s proposal. 
  • Dealing with contract ambiguities.

Communication and Documentation

  • Limits on communications.
  • Post-award orientations.
  • Formal vs. informal communication. 
  • Communicating with subcontractors. 
  • COR files.
  • The COR work plan.

Monitoring Contract Performance


  • Determining how much monitoring is needed. Monitoring actions and techniques.  Responsibilities for quality and surveillance.  Ongoing performance assessment.  Security monitoring.  Safety and compliance monitoring. Property administration.

Inspection, Acceptance, and Payment

  • 
Performing inspection and acceptance.  Non-conforming items.  Reviewing and processing contractor invoices.

Contract Modifications


  • Reasons for modifying a contract.  COR’s role in modifications.  What is in “scope”?  Types of modifications.  Mutual consideration.

Improper Contract Changes

  • 
Constructive changes.  Unauthorized commitments.  How to avoid improper changes.

Dealing with Unsatisfactory Performance


  • COR actions in response to contractor performance problems.  Remedies. Disputes.

Closeout Actions


  • Documenting performance for future source selections.  Other closeout actions.

Special Considerations for Service Contracts


  • Labor statutes.  Personal vs. non-personal services.  Advisory and assistance service contracts. Inherently governmental functions.  Performance-based service acquisition.

Special Considerations for Construction Contracts

  • 
Labor statutes.  Performance and payments bonds.  Differing site conditions. Suspension of work/stop work clauses.

Special Considerations for R&D and Major Systems Contracts


  • Earned value management systems.  Data rights.

 

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