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:
- 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
- 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
