Contracting Conversations

In this episode of Contracting Conversations, we explore the complex world of Cost-Plus-Incentive-Fee (CPIF) contracts with Dave Lewis, the Learning Asset Manager for CON 7620. He explains what CPIF contracts are, how to structure them, when to use, comparison between CPIF and FPIF, Range of Incentive Effectiveness (RIE), and what is the target audience. He also shares some insights from the CPIF contracts course, which includes embedded videos and interactive exercises. If you want to learn more about incentive contracts, don’t miss our previous episodes on CON 7600, CON 7610, and CON 7630. And if you enjoy our podcast, please subscribe to our channel on your favorite platform (DAU Media, Apple Podcasts and/or YouTube) and give us a thumbs up. Thank you for listening.
 CON 7620  - Cost-Plus Incentive Fee (CPIF) Contracts Course:   https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=13013
CON 7600 - https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=13108
CON 7610 - Fixed-Price Incentive (Firm Target) Contracts Course: https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=13014
CON 7630 - Award-Fee and Award-Term Contracts Course:  https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=13109
CON 7640 - Coming Soon
Credentials home page: https://www.dau.edu/credentials
Back to Basics: https://www.dau.edu/back-to-basics; BtB Contracting: https://www.dau.edu/functional-areas/contracting
Contract Cost, Price and Finance Community of Practice:  https://www.dau.edu/cop/pricing  
Contracting Community of Practice: https://www.dau.edu/cop/contracting
If you are watching this video on DAU Media, but rather watch on YouTube, go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbF8yqm-r_M5czw5teb0PsA
Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contracting-conversations/id1621567225
 

In this episode of Contracting Conversations, Scott and Jim have the pleasure with speaking with Dave Lewis, the Learning Asset Manager for CON 7610, Fixed-Price Incentive (Firm-Target) (FPIF) Contracts Course.  We continue our conversation with Dave Lewis on his incentive contract courses - this one is on FPIP contracts, where he talks about what this course focuses on, such as limitations of use of FPIP contracts, the geometry (how to structure), how to come up with optimistic and pessimistic cost, how profit is determined, negotiation tips, contract administration, important of conducting a post award conference, how to avoid an administrative nightmare, the target audience and the embedded videos in this course.  A lot compacted into a short 8 minutes.  Be sure to subscribe to the channel, either here or YouTube or Apple Podcasts or all - also, appreciate it if you hit the like button to let us know the podcast was worth your time invested.  Be sure to listen to our CON 7600 podcast, which is an introduction to incentive contracts.  

CON 7610 - Fixed-Price Incentive (Firm Target) Contracts Course: https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=13014
CON 7600 - https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=13108
CON 7620  - Cost-Plus Incentive Fee (CPIF) Contracts Course:   https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=13013
CON 7630 - Award-Fee and Award-Term Contracts Course:  https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=13109
CON 7640 - Coming Soon
Credentials home page: https://www.dau.edu/credentials
Back to Basics: https://www.dau.edu/back-to-basics; BtB Contracting: https://www.dau.edu/functional-areas/contracting
Contract Cost, Price and Finance Community of Practice:  https://www.dau.edu/cop/pricing
Contracting Community of Practice: https://www.dau.edu/cop/contracting
If you are watching this video on DAU Media, but rather watch on YouTube, go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbF8yqm-r_M5czw5teb0PsA
Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contracting-conversations/id1621567225
 

In this episode of Contracting Conversations, Scott and Jim have the pleasure with speaking with Dave Lewis, the Learning Asset Manager for CON 7600, Introduction to Incentive Contracting Course.  Incentive Contracting is Dave's passion in contracting, and this course, along with the other Incentive Contracting courses (7610/7620/7630/7640), are two years in the making.  Dave talks about what this course will focus on, the benefit of taking the course, how evaluated, and why you might be the right person - it is only a 1 hour course, so it might be a great opportunity to learn about the types of incentives - each of the incentives mentioned in this course may lead you to getting more information in another course mentioned above.

CON 7600 - https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=13108
CON 7610 - Fixed-Price Incentive (Firm Target) Contracts Course: https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=13014
CON 7620  - Cost-Plus Incentive Fee (CPIF) Contracts Course:   https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=13013
CON 7630 - Award-Fee and Award-Term Contracts Course:  https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=13109
CON 7640 - Coming Soon
Credentials home page: https://www.dau.edu/credentials
Back to Basics: https://www.dau.edu/back-to-basics; BtB Contracting: https://www.dau.edu/functional-areas/contracting
Contract Cost, Price and Finance Community of Practice:  https://www.dau.edu/cop/pricing
Contracting Community of Practice: https://www.dau.edu/cop/contracting
If you are watching this video on DAU Media, but rather watch on YouTube, go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbF8yqm-r_M5czw5teb0PsA
Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contracting-conversations/id1621567225
 

In this segment of Contracting Conversations, Jim and Scott talk with Judy Whalen, DAU's Learning Asset Manager for CON 7020, Overhead Should Cost Review Course.  You will learn what the course is all about, what is covered, and how students are assessed. These links are recommended for further information:
 CON 7020:  https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=12795
Credentials home page: https://www.dau.edu/credentials
Back to Basics: https://www.dau.edu/back-to-basics; BtB Contracting: https://www.dau.edu/functional-areas/contracting
Contract Cost, Price and Finance Community of Practice:  https://www.dau.edu/cop/pricing
Contracting Community of Practice: https://www.dau.edu/cop/contracting
If you are watching this video on DAU Media, but rather watch on YouTube, go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbF8yqm-r_M5czw5teb0PsA
Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contracting-conversations/id1621567225

In this episode of Contracting Conversations, Jim and Scott talk with Judy Whalen, DAU's Learning Asset Manager for CON 7310V - the Cost Analysis Course.  You will learn what the course is all about, what is covered, and how it is structured (including all about the new length and why).  If you need to do Cost Analysis for your negotiations or modifications, this course may be the one for you.  This course, along with CON 7300V, the Price Analysis Course, could lead you toward earning the Proposal Analysis Credential, CCON 003.   These links are recommended for further information:

 I-Catalog for more info and to sign up:   https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=12567
CCON 003 Credential (est available in Nov 2022):  https://icatalog.dau.edu/credentials/CredentialConceptCard.aspx?crs_id=64
Credentials home page: https://www.dau.edu/credentials
Back to Basics: https://www.dau.edu/back-to-basics; BtB Contracting: https://www.dau.edu/functional-areas/contracting
Contract Cost, Price and Finance Community of Practice:  https://www.dau.edu/cop/pricing
Contracting Community of Practice: https://www.dau.edu/cop/contracting
When to use Cost and/or Price Analysis tool: https://www.dau.edu/tools/when-use-price-and/or-cost-analysis 
If you are watching this video on DAU Media, but rather watch on YouTube, go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbF8yqm-r_M5czw5teb0PsA
Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contracting-conversations/id1621567225

In this episode of Contracting Conversations, Jim and Scott talk with Judy Whalen, DAU's Learning Asset Manager for CON 7300V - the Price Analysis Course.  You will learn what the course is all about, what is covered, and how it is structured - the course length is changed from 5 to 8 days to allow for more time for students to work on class exercises.  A vast majority of Contracting Professionals may find this course helpful, so please check it out.   These links are recommended for further information:

 CON 7300V:  https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=12565
Credentials home page: https://www.dau.edu/training/pages/credentials.aspx
Back to Basics: https://www.dau.edu/back-to-basics; BtB Contracting: https://www.dau.edu/functional-areas/contracting
Contract Cost, Price and Finance Community of Practice:  https://www.dau.edu/cop/pricing
Contracting Community of Practice: https://www.dau.edu/cop/contracting
When to use Cost and/or Price Analysis Tool:  https://www.dau.edu/tools/when-use-price-and/or-cost-analysis
If you are watching this video on DAU Media, but rather watch on YouTube, go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbF8yqm-r_M5czw5teb0PsA
Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contracting-conversations/id1621567225

In this episode of Contracting Conversations we speak with Amy Timmermann, DAU's Learning Asset Manager for CON 3900V and 3910, the CON Certification Exam Prep Courses. She talks about the changes to occur, starting 1 Oct 2023, to include the new length of CON 3900, and the new pre-requisite - if you are planning on taking CON 3990V, the CON Certification Exam, this is a must video/podcast to listen to.
A few good links for more info on CON 3900V, CON 3910, and CON 3990:  
CON 3900V: https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=12539
CON 3910:  https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=12833
CON 3990V: https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=12540
DAU's Contracting BtB webpage:  https://www.dau.edu/functional-areas/contracting
DAU's iCatalog:   https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/tabnavlas.aspx
UPDATED Dec 2024 CON Webinar Series on CON 3900V, 3910 and 3990:  https://www.dau.edu/events/con-3900v/3910-con-exam-prep-courses-and-con-3990v-certification-exam
Contracting Community of Practice:  https://www.dau.edu/cop/contracting  

If you are watching this video on DAU Media, but rather watch on YouTube, go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbF8yqm-r_M5czw5teb0PsA
If you want to listen in on Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contracting-conversations/id1621567225

In this episode of Contracting Conversations, Jim and Scott talk with Judy Whalen, DAU's developer for CCON 003 - the Proposal Analysis Credential.  You will learn the purpose of the credential, how it is structured, the target audience, and when it would need to be renewed. Contracting officers are required to purchase supplies and services from responsible sources at fair and reasonable prices. There are various proposal analysis techniques prescribed in the FAR to guide contracting professionals when conducting the analysis of a contractor’s proposal. This credential will lead the learner through an examination of the techniques used to conduct price and cost analysis, and will provide an overview of the other techniques.  If interested in the courses under this credential, please see CON 7300V, Price Analysis, and CON 7310V, Cost Analysis - the links are provided below -  these courses have increased in length, due to student input, thus new podcasts are being released soon. These links are recommended for further information:
 I-Catalog for more info and to sign up:   https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/CredentialConceptCard.aspx?crs_id=64
Credentials home page: https://www.dau.edu/credentials
CON 7300V-Price Analysis:  https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=12565  (OLD VERSION - New recording coming out within next 3 weeks)
CON 7310V-Cost Analysis:  https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=12567  (OLD VERSION - new version coming out within next 3 weeks))
Back to Basics: https://www.dau.edu/back-to-basics; BtB Contracting: https://www.dau.edu/functional-areas/contracting
Contract Cost, Price and Finance Community of Practice:  https://www.dau.edu/cop/pricing
Contracting Community of Practice: https://www.dau.edu/cop/contracting
If you are watching this video on DAU Media, but rather watch on YouTube, go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbF8yqm-r_M5czw5teb0PsA
Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contracting-conversations/id1621567225

In this episode of Contracting Conversations, it's our last segment, part 4, of our series on Personal Services, Jim and Scott continue the conversation with Dr. Steve Fasko, a Personal Services expert (PHD Dissertation was focused on Personal Services Contracting - see links to his articles below) with DAU.  In Part 1, Dr. Fasko provided an overview of Personal Services, in Part 2, he discussed the Thirteenth Amendment and how it relates to Personal Services Contracts, and in Part 3 he talked about Government Dependence on Contractors, to include Circular A-76, contractor employee recognition, and more.   In Part 4,, Dr. Fasko discusses the Government's responsibility, direct supervision of contract employees, personal relationships with contractor employees, and preventing defacto person services contracts.  We hope you enjoyed the series, please let your CORs know this exists, it will be a big benefit for them since they engage with service contractors regularly and hopefully this series will help them avoid the pitfalls of being a COR and defacto personal services. If you would like to reach out to Dr Fasko for more information, please contact him at [email protected] - he is available for workshops, seminars, and consulting on personal services and other topics. 

These links are recommended for further information:
Personal Services: Is it Time to Lift the Ban?  https://www.dau.edu/sites/default/files/Migrate/DATLFiles/Mar-Apr2016/Fasko.pdf
Physician  Personal Services Contract Enforceability:  The Influence of the Thirteenth Amendment.  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321969576_Physician_Personal_Services_Contract_Enforceability_The_Influence_of_the_Thirteenth_Amendment
GAO Report:  DoD's Increased Reliance on Service Contractors Exacerbates Long-Standing Challenges:  https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-08-621t.pdf
CLC 222 - Contracting Officer Representative Course (COR 222 is the instructor led course):  https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=1731
   
Contracting Community of Practice: https://www.dau.edu/cop/contracting
If you are watching this video on DAU Media, but rather watch on YouTube, go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbF8yqm-r_M5czw5teb0PsA
Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contracting-conversations/id1621567225

In this episode of Contracting Conversations, Jim and Scott have a conversation with Dr. Steve Fasko, a Personal Services expert (PHD Dissertation was focused on Personal Services Contracting - see links to his articles below) with DAU.  In Part 1, Dr. Fasko provided an overview of Personal Services, in Part 2, he discussed the Thirteenth Amendment and how it relates to Personal Services Contracts, and now in Part 3 he talks about Government Dependence on Contractors, to include Circular A-76, contractor employee recognition, and more.   If you would like to reach out to Dr Fasko for more information, please contact him at [email protected] - he is available for workshops, seminars, and consulting on personal services and other topics. 

These links are recommended for further information:
Personal Services: Is it Time to Lift the Ban?  https://www.dau.edu/sites/default/files/Migrate/DATLFiles/Mar-Apr2016/Fasko.pdf
Physician  Personal Services Contract Enforceability:  The Influence of the Thirteenth Amendment.  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321969576_Physician_Personal_Services_Contract_Enforceability_The_Influence_of_the_Thirteenth_Amendment
GAO Report:  DoD's Increased Reliance on Service Contractors Exacerbates Long-Standing Challenges:  https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-08-621t.pdf
CLC 222 - Contracting Officer Representative Course (COR 222 is the instructor led course):  https://icatalog.dau.edu/onlinecatalog/courses.aspx?crs_id=1731
   
Contracting Community of Practice: https://www.dau.edu/cop/contracting
If you are watching this video on DAU Media, but rather watch on YouTube, go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbF8yqm-r_M5czw5teb0PsA
Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/contracting-conversations/id1621567225