This course provides an in-depth examination of federal acquisition practices, policies and procedures, to acquaint managers and non-contracting personnel with the acquisition process and compliance issues. Contracting and acquisition fundamentals reviews contract planning, contract execution, and contract management as part of the acquisition process. They will learn basic mission support planning strategies, how to research the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS); additionally, students will learn how effective market research and socioeconomic programs support the FAR and DFARS acquisition planning process as well as its implementation. They will examine the process, problems and issues of solicitation and contract award. Instruction will also include: benefits of early industry involvement in shaping requirements; basic procedures for acquisition of commercial and noncommercial requirements; basic competitive acquisitions; awards processing; management of contract award protests; contractor performance metrics; contract changes procedures; disputes; and close out procedures of completed contracts. This course is designed for personnel new to the contracting career field or non-contracting personnel who play a role in the acquisition process.

This course studies the planning and processes involved in an information system project. (Note: Microsoft Project® is not required for this course.) Class topics include planning, scheduling, and controlling aspects of a project during its lifecycle. Also, the course provides in-depth coverage of project management techniques such as the Project Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT), Gantt charts, and other techniques for planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. This course aligns with the knowledge required to pursue the CompTIA Project+® Certification. Microsoft Project® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. CompTIA Project+® is a registered trademark of the Computing Technology Industry Association, Inc.

This course studies the concepts and technology trends of project management. Students explore the principles, practices, features, and functions of the Microsoft Project® application. The course will be taught with a mixture of analytical methods and practical exercises. Students create project plans; organize tasks such as estimating, budgeting, and scheduling; perform and manage resource allocation; identify project constraints; determine a project’s critical path; create Gantt charts and establish a project baseline using Microsoft Project. Students must have access to Microsoft Office Project Standard 2016 or higher. Course software requirements, including the appropriate versions, are listed under the course materials site. This course aligns with the topical requirements for the CompTIA Project+® Certification. Microsoft Project® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. CompTIA Project+® is a registered trademark of the Computing Technology Industry Association, Inc.