I. General Information

Title of the Course: Procurement and Contract Management

Course Code: MGT 5211

Credits: 3

Required Texts / Materials:

Title: Strategic Global Sourcing Best Practices
Authors: Sollish, F., & Semanik, J.
Edition:  1st
ISBN 13: 978-0-470-94930-6
ISBN 10: 0-470-94930-9
Publisher:  John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

APA Full Reference Format:
Sollish, F., & Semanik, J. (2011). Strategic global sourcing best practices (1^st ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Title: Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
Available through the GSA website at: https://www.acquisition.gov/far

APA Full Reference Format:
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). (2023). Federal Acquisition Regulation. https://www.acquisition.gov/far

OR

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), 48 C.F.R. (2023). https://www.acquisition.gov/far

APA Sample Section Reference Format:
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). (2023). Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.249-2(e) – Termination for convenience of the government (fixed-price). https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-52#FAR_52_249_2

OR

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), 48 C.F.R. §52.249-2(e). (2023). https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-52

Formatting NOTES: The FAR is located in section 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), which is why you list 48 C.F.R. in the reference if you use that format.  It is also available in full at the Acquisition.gov website of the General Services Administration (GSA), which is why you list the specific URLs above after a reference to the FAR, DFARS, or other supplement. The section symbol (§) may be omitted if you are not able to insert it.

When referring to multiple sections of the FAR, DFARS, or other supplements in your writing, list the references in order by section number.

Recommended Resources and Websites:

Additional readings may be posted as announcements in the course in Canvas periodically throughout the term.  These will be voluntary readings to help you expand your knowledge of the federal and commercial contracting processes.  You may use any of these as source materials in your assignments with proper attributions (i.e., in-text citations and references).  In addition, the following list of sources with links is a good place to start when researching topics in procurement and contracting:

Defense Acquisition University. (n.d.). ACQuipedia. https://www.dau.edu/acquipedia

Defense Acquisition University. (n.d.). Contract pricing reference guides. https://www.dau.edu/tools/t/-Contract-Pricing-Reference-Guides-(CPRG)

Defense Acquisition University (n.d.). Provision and clause matrix. https://www.dau.edu/tools/dau-provision-and-clause-matrix

Feldman, S. W. (2020). Principles of government contracts (7^th ed.). West Academic Publishing.

National Contract Management Association. (2023). Contract management body of knowledge (CMBOK; 7^th ed.).

• NOTE: The CMBOK is available through Amazon, but if you’re a member of NCMA, it is less expensive if you order directly from them at: https://www.ncmahq.org/Web/Web/Learning/Bookstore.aspx?hkey=dc956c7d-e3eb-4996-81f9-726b606b8658

U. S. Department of Defense. (2022, August 20). Source selection procedures. https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/policy/policyvault/USA000740-22-DPC.pdf 

U. S. General Services Administration (GSA). (n.d.). https://www.gsa.gov/

U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). (2024). Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). https://www.acquisition.gov/dfars

U. S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). (n.d.). Topics. https://www.gao.gov/topics

• NOTE:  All resources (required and recommended) are listed in APA 7^th edition format.  Feel free to copy and paste into your papers if you use any of these.  You would list the specific section or webpage you use as a source rather than the general webpages listed here.

II. Course Description:

Overviews in depth the federal acquisition process and introduces the basic concepts, policies, and procedures incident to government contracting through the FAR and supplementing directives.

III. Course Objectives:

This course is designed to explore the fundamental concepts of Federal Government Contracting.  Contractual concepts, essential laws and regulations, policies and procedures related to procurement, and the management of contracts will be explored.  Many of the topics will be covered in greater depth in other courses in the degree program, so this course will serve as an introduction and foundation for the program overall.

Students successfully completing this course should be able to:

1. Discern the basic principles of acquisition and contract management, including differentiating various contract types and methods of contracting
2. Determine the needs analysis and market research processes in acquisition and procurement
3. Describe the conditions under which various solicitation methods are used
4. Distinguish between fraudulent and ethical issues and explain their impact on contracting
5. Identify small business concerns and socioeconomic policies in government contracting
6. Apply the principles of acquisition and contract management to the global market
7. Describe sustainable practices and corporate social responsibility as applied to contract management
8. Analyze basic cost and pricing principles as well as payment regulations, laws, and rules
9. Identify various types of risk in contracting as well as risk mitigation processes
10. Contrast Construction, Architect-Engineer(A-E) and Research & Development (R&D) contracts with other contracting methods

IV. Weekly Subject Matter and Assignment Schedule:

V. Grading:

University Grade Scale

Your total point value will be transformed to a percentage. A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, C = 70-79%, D = 60-69%, F = 0-59%. Refer to the catalog for more details.

Assignments received late will be downgraded one letter grade for each week late after it is due without prior arrangement with instructor. 

*An incomplete grade may only be awarded if at least 75% of the coursework has been completed and there is a reasonable expectation that the student will be able to complete the outstanding coursework no later than the fourth (4^th) week of the following term.  In my courses, written documentation is required to verify and justify why the coursework could not be completed within the course time frame (see policy below on Late Assignments).

Late Assignments:

For assignments with a rubric, late assignments will receive zero points for timeliness.  Assignments submitted more than a week after the due date and assignments without a rubric will not be accepted without documentation.  Documentation should be official (i.e., not an email explanation) and must include the student’s name (or close relative’s name), the dates involved, and the circumstances.  All other personally identifying information (PII) may be redacted.  Examples of documentation include but are not limited to medical statements and reports, doctors’ notes, PCS or TDY orders, and death certificates.  The final knowledge check test cannot be taken late. Please note that tests will shut down after the due date/time, and the student will receive the grade earned on the questions completed to that point.  For documentation submitted prior to the end of a term, the late waiver will apply to all subsequent assignments provided all assignments are submitted prior to the official last day of classes.

Discussion Boards and General Assignments:

Much of the class is built around the readings, discussion boards, and general assignments. We will utilize the online discussion boards to exchange knowledge and invoke dialogue within the class. The responses to the general assignments will be submitted using Turnitin integration, which checks the percentage of the paper that is similar to known sources.  The “Similarity Score” is the percentage of the paper that matches those sources; thus, a similarity score of 15% indicates that 15% of the assignment matches other sources.  If you copy and paste material directly from a source, or if you paraphrase material from a source (i.e., take the information and put it in your own words), you must provide proper attribution (in-text citation and reference); otherwise, you have plagiarized. In addition, no more than 20% of any assignment can be AI-generated material. AI may be used for research and to check writing format, but it should not be used to write entire assignments. Please note: If you use a grammar-checking application such as Grammarly or Microsoft Editor, do NOT accept all the changes suggested by the app. That will artificially inflate your AI-generation percentage. Instead, take the suggestions from the app and rewrite, edit, or change your writing based on the suggestions. Percentages will be checked using the average of three different generative AI-checking apps.

For each assignment, you should expect to provide a substantive answer which completely addresses the topic, prompts, and questions.  You must include outside sources to support your responses (the minimum number is specified in each assignment).  While the textbook may be used as a source for assignments, you must ALSO include outside sources to support your answers (see the assignment instructions for the number of outside sources to include). Please use APA 7^th edition formatting when citing and referencing your sources.  All initial posts on discussion boards are due on Fridays of the week they are assigned by 11:59 PM Eastern Time, and responses to at least two other students’ initial discussion board posts plus all other assignment submissions are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Sunday of the week they are assigned to receive full credit.

The APA Publication Manual (7^th ed.) is the guiding manual for form and style; however, to avoid having to purchase the manual, an excellent online source for APA style is the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL), which may be found at: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_style_introduction.html

You are expected to find relevant, recent, and credible research for these assignments, a majority of which is no older than 5 years. Dictionaries or encyclopedias should NOT be used. The Florida Tech library is an excellent source for finding current academic research and may be found at: https://lib.fit.edu

Case Studies:

Students will complete two case studies during the term. Each case study summary, analysis, and response to questions must be 2-4 pages minimum (double-spaced, Times New Roman 12-pt. font or Arial 11-pt. font) not including any ancillary pages (title page, table of contents, abstract (if required), tables and graphics (if needed), and references).

Students must submit papers through CANVAS by uploading to the corresponding “Assignment” tab.  Note that these will be checked through the Turnitin application (as discussed above) for similarity and AI-generated content.

Article Summary and Analysis:

You will find a current (< 3 years old) article on a trend or issue in procurement or contract management to summarize, research, and analyze.  The paper should be 3-5 pages (double-spaced, Times New Roman 12-pt. font or Arial 11-pt. font) NOT including ancillary pages (title page, table of contents, tables and graphics [if needed], and references).  These should NOT be “book reports” that only summarize the article.  Provide supported (in-text citations and references) information on the topic. Apply the article to what you’ve learned in the course or, at the very least, provide an example of how the article applies to your current position or organization (or one with which you are familiar if you’re not currently working for an organization that utilizes procurement and contracting).  Be sure to include proper in-text citations and references in APA 7^th edition formatting to the article and any outside sources you use. No more than 20% of the paper may be copied and pasted from sources or generated using AI. See the instructions in the assignment for all parameters.

Exams

Both the midterm and final exams will consist of a series of short-answer, true/false, multiple choice, and short essay questions.  Each question is weighted equally, and each exam is worth 100 total points toward your final grade.  The exams must be completed by Sunday of the week they are due.  Some questions are very easy to answer, and others will require some research, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time.  The exams are “open book”, so you may use any and all resources to answer the questions. The questions are not difficult, but they will require that you know the material before you begin, since you will not have time to look up every answer.  These exams serve as knowledge checks to ensure you understand the material.

VI. RESOURCES

• Where to Find Extra Help: Student Success and Support Center
• Library Support: Evans Library – refer to the online librarian
• The use of library facilities and resources can be an important aid in completing course assignments and in meeting the course requirements.  Library support includes online tutorials on library use, training in the library technologies and resources available, and access to a wide variety of academic and professional databases with journals, etc.  Library support is available to all FIT adult learners (students) through the John H. Evans Library & Learning Commons.  Access the John H. Evans Library & Learning Commons by using your TRACKS/PAWS user and password. 
• Computer Requirements/Technical Support: Telecommunications Help Desk Email or 321-674-7284

• CANVAS Help: CANVAS Student User Guide

VII. INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES

Academic Accommodations:  Florida Tech is committed to equal opportunity for persons w/disabilities in the participation of activities operated/sponsored by the university. Therefore, students w/documented disabilities are entitled to reasonable educational accommodations. The Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) supports students by assisting w/accommodations, providing recommended interventions, and engaging in case management services. It is the student’s responsibility to make a request to OAR before any accommodations can be approved/implemented. Also, students w/approved accommodations are encouraged to speak w/the course instructor to discuss any arrangements and/or concerns relating to their accommodations for the class. 

Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR):

• Phone: 321-674-8285
• Email: accessibilityresources@fit.edu
• Website: edu - Accessibility Resources

Academic Honesty: Located in the Student Handbook

Academic honesty is highly valued in Florida Tech's online courses. The student must always submit work that represents original words or ideas. If any words or ideas are used that do not represent those original words or ideas, the student must cite all relevant sources and provide a clear definition of the extent to which such sources were used. Words or ideas that require citation include, but are not limited to, all hard copy or electronic publications, whether copyrighted or not, and all verbal or visual communication when the content of such communication clearly originates from an identifiable source. In the Florida Tech online course, all submissions to any public meeting bulletin board or private mailbox fall within the scope of words and ideas that require citations if used by someone other than the original author.

Academic dishonesty in an online learning environment could involve:

• Having a tutor or friend complete a portion of the student's assignments
• Having a reviewer make extensive revisions to an assignment
• Copying work submitted by another student to another public class meeting
• Using information from online information services without proper citation

Any of these practices could result in charges of academic dishonesty. For the complete Florida Tech policy on academic dishonesty, cheating, and plagiarism, see the Florida Tech Student Handbook.

Attendance: Attendance is required on a weekly basis. Students are expected to view the online lectures in the week they are offered, and to log onto the site often enough to remain abreast of the communication in the Inbox/Discussion or Announcements tab or direct information from the professor. It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of everything happening in the class online.  The university policy on Student Course Attendance and Absence is located at https://www.fit.edu/policies/academic/policies/student-course-attendance-and-absence-policy.

Course withdrawal: To withdraw prior to the start of class, you must contact your advisor. Once class begins, you must withdraw using Florida Tech's online student account system (PAWS). If you are a new student, PAWS access information will be provided prior to class start. You have the prerogative of dropping a course until the end of the first week of classes without receiving a grade of "W." After the first week, a grade of "W" will be assigned up until the final published date for withdrawing (the last day of Week 6). That grade will be reflected on your transcript, but not calculated into your grade point average. Withdrawals after Week 6 will result in a grade of "F." You are responsible for maintaining written evidence of all drops/withdrawals.

Telephone and email drops/withdrawals will not be accepted. The following table clearly outlines Florida Tech's withdrawal and refund policies. PAWS is accessible through the university portal TRACKS Florida Tech.

Student Code of Conduct: Florida Tech values a community based on the principles of integrity, civility, and respect. As such, the FIT community expects students to behave in a manner that supports these principles. The Student Code of Conduct is a document that describes behavior that is counteractive to these principles and how the university will hold students accountable to those inappropriate behaviors. See the Code of Conduct/Grounds for Disciplinary Action.

Sexual Harassment: Florida Tech is committed to the fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity and human dignity. To fulfill its multiple missions as an institution of higher learning, FIT encourages a climate that values and nurtures collegiality, diversity, pluralism, and the uniqueness of the individual within our state, nation, and world. All decisions and actions involving students and employees should be based on applicable law and individual merit. FIT, in accordance with applicable federal and state law, prohibits discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, disability, age, or veteran status.

Title IX Statement: The university’s Title IX policy is available on the fit.edu website. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs and activities. Florida Institute of Technology policy also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.

Florida Tech faculty are committed to helping create a safe learning environment for all students that is free from all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. If you, or someone you know, have experienced or is experiencing any of these behaviors, know that help and support are available. Florida Tech strongly encourages all members of the community to take action, seek support, and report any incident of sexual harassment or gender discrimination to the Title IX Coordinator at 321-309-3068.

Please note that your professor must report any incidents to the Title IX Coordinator. 

If you wish to speak to an employee who does not have this reporting responsibility, please contact the Student Counseling Center at 321-674-8050.

Disaster Statement

School Closure

Florida Tech observes national holidays, and students are not required to participate in classes on such days. In the case of an emergency closure of Florida Tech, if classes can still operate, they will continue. If the Learning Management System is unavailable for maintenance reasons, classes will resume as quickly as possible, and students should check the Florida Tech Security website regularly for updates.

Natural Disaster

If a natural disaster impacts the Melbourne, Florida, area, all students should check the Florida Tech Security website or call (800) 888-4348 for updates.

If a natural disaster occurs near students’ residences, they should contact their professor and advisor. Final decisions on the appropriate timeline to complete course requirements are at the discretion of each professor.