DoD's New Handbook for Contingency Contracting Officer Representatives

The DoD just issued the electronic version of its long-awaited "Defense Contingency Contracting Officer (COR) Representative Handbook". It was published as a pocket-sized book and can be ordered through the Government Printing Office. The electronic version can be downloaded here. Although this handbook was written with a particular bent toward contracting challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is a really fine primer on contracting in general. If you have a curiosity about how Government contracting works (or should work), download (or buy) the book for your reference library. Here is the table of contents for selected chapters:

 

Chapter 3 Ethics

• REVIEW OF STANDARDS
• WORKING WITH CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES
• Transportation and Travel
• Awards and Certificates
• PROCUREMENT INTEGRITY
• Compensation after Leaving Federal Employment
• Penalties
• PERSONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
• ORGANIZATIONAL AND CONSULTANT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
• Bribery
• Gratuities
• Gifts
• ANTI-KICKBACK ACT
• EXCEPTIONS TO GIFT PROHIBITION
• REPORTING GIFTS
• Protecting the Integrity of the Acquisition Process

Chapter 4 The Acquisition Team and Process

• THE ACQUISITION TEAM
• Contracting Officer 
• Requiring Activity
• Legal Counsel
• COR (Contracting Officer Representative)
• Resource Manager
• Quality Assurance Representative
• Framework for Team Success
• THE ACQUISITION PROCESS

 

Chapter 7 Contract Administration

• CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITIES KICKOFF
• Necessity of a Kickoff Meeting
• Scheduling and Inviting Attendees to the Kickoff Meeting
• Topics for Discussion at the Kickoff Meeting
• CONTRACTOR/SYSTEM COMPLIANCE
• Contractor Accountability through the SPOT Database
• PERFORMANCE MONITORING
• CONTRACT MODIFICATIONS
• The Changes Clause
• Reasons for Modifications
• Types of Contract Modifications
• Constructive Changes
• Unauthorized Commitments
• RATIFICATION OF UNAUTHORIZED COMMITMENTS
• Technical Evaluation
• CONTRACT OPTIONS
• CORRESPONDENCE AND NOTIFICATIONS
• Correspondence with the Contractor
• Notifications to the Contracting Officer
• COMPLETION/PAYMENT/CLOSEOUT
• Acceptance
• DOCUMENTING ACCEPTANCE
• Wide Area Workflow
• NONCONFORMANCE
• Remedies
• Invoice and Payment
• CONTENTS OF A VALID INVOICE
• VOUCHER AND INVOICE REVIEW
• OVERTIME
• Interest Penalties
• Warranties
• IMPLIED WARRANTIES
• EXPRESS WARRANTIES
• Past Performance
• Contract Closeout
• DO’S AND DON’TS FOR CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

Chapter 8 Monitoring the Contractor

• CONTRACTOR PROGRESS REPORTS
• ASSESSING PERFORMANCE
• Acceptable Inspection Methods
• RANDOM OR STRATIFIED SAMPLING
• 100 PERCENT INSPECTION
• PERIODIC INSPECTION, JUDGMENTAL INSPECTION, OR PLANNED SAMPLING
• USER FEEDBACK
• DOCUMENTING PERFORMANCE
• REMEDIES FOR POOR PERFORMANCE
• Do’s and Don’ts for Remedies
• DELAYS
• Identifying and Verifying a Delay
• Notifying the Contracting Officer of the Technical Impact of a Delay
• Assisting the Contracting Officer with Evaluating the Contractor’s Response
• FRAUD
• GOVERNMENT PROPERTY
• Property Responsibilities
• Property Disposition
• CONTRACT TERMINATION
• Termination for Convenience of the Government
• Termination for Cause/Default
• DISPUTES AND APPEALS
• COR WORKING FILE
• DO’S AND DON’TS FOR CONTRACT MONITORING