The University of Virginia

School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Northern Virginia Center

Course Syllabus

Spring 2014

PC 4040 GOVERNMENT CONTRACT LAW

Credits:                      3 undergraduate credits

Instructor:                  Peter T. McKeen, Adjunct Faculty

 

Instructor’s Email:    pm9z@virginia.edu

                                               

Course Dates:            January 27 – May 10, 2014, 24/7

 

Prerequisite:              None

 

UVaCollab Website:UVaCollab: https://collab.itc.virginia.edu/portal

 

Technical Support:    Email to:  idtteam@virginia.edu

                               Login/Password: scpshelpdesk@virginia.edu

 UVaCollab: idtteam@virginia.edu and/or collab-support@virginia.edu

                               Elluminate Live: idtteam@virginia.edu

Instructional Design and Technology Enhanced Learning for course design and development: idtteam@virginia.edu

 

Student Technical Requirements:

 

UVa Computing IDs and Passwords

Internet Explorer (7.0 or above) or

Mozilla FirefoxHeadset/Mic: Recommended Logitech Headset with USB

 

Class Number:           20700

 

Course Description: 

 

This is the complete Federal Acquisition System law course including formation, management and administration. The student will gain an understanding, valuing, respecting and participating in federal contract law.  The course content has been prepared in concise, plain language for non-lawyers, with a unique section on legal support furnished by the contracts manager. At the completion of the course, the student will have an understanding of the essential elements of federal procurement law and the role of the contracting professional in matters involving procurement law.

 

The class syllabus, resources, assignments, and end of semester evaluations will be accessible through UVaCollab. Online class communication will include email, open discussion, assignment discussion, individual assignments, and scheduled chats. The amounts of contact hours that will be administered online are estimated to be 5 hours for online chat, and 3 hours for discussion boards. The instructor will communicate weekly by email, discussion boards, scheduled chats and announcements.   

 

Students should bookmark https://collab.itc.virginia.edu/portal to access UVA Collab.  Instructions on how to access the UVA Collab Learning System are available below.

 

Course Instruction:

 

UvaCollab

 

To login into UVaCollab using Netbadge:

1. Go to https://collab.itc.virginia.edu/portal

2.  Log in at UVa Login [UVa Login] using your UVa Computing ID and your UVa Generated password.
3.  Once you have successfully logged into Netbadge, you’ll be automatically brought into the UVA Collab Learning System and will be logged into the system with access to the course you are enrolled in. PC 4040

 

Overview: The instructor will upload necessary course resources for all course materials except the required course text(s). The class syllabus, resources, assignments and end of semester course evaluations will be accessible through UVaCollab. The types of instruction will include the textbook, online lectures matching the textbook, links to outside web sites, discussion and individual assignments (approximately 1 per week) and chat room (approximately 4 in the semester) and email as necessary. Communications will include email, discussion boards, individual and student and instructor private communications. The instructor will respond to student email as soon as possible. The instructor will respond to individual required responses within one week. Travel exceptions to this will be by notification to all students.

 

Course Objectives:

 

Through the use of practical exercises, case studies, group and individual required responses, open discussions, and Chats, this course will lead the student of contract management to understand, value, respect, and participate in government contract law as a non-lawyer.  It will familiarize the student with government contract law that affects the complete life cycle of the federal contracting process, and instill an appreciation of the roles of the contract manager and the lawyer.  It will assist the student in developing self-proficiency in basic legal principles. Students who successfully complete this course will develop these knowledge's and skills; develop a personal practical working knowledge of fundamental principles of government contract law; differentiate the roles of the contracts manager and the contract attorney; distinguish the law that relates to the preaward (contract formation) and post-award (contract performance and administration) periods in the federal procurement cycle, and develop a personal intuition open to activities and circumstances that may lead to legal implications, and the need for legal services.

 

Course Methodology Online Courses:

 

 Students are furnished in each online lesson a description of the lesson, the lesson assignment, learning activities, and additional resources outside the required text and online content. The students will perform individual assignments using the assignment feature based upon the course text, and will function as a team recording collective efforts on the exercises, case studies, etc., into the threaded discussion feature based upon the electronic lectures. Each individual student is required to participate by contributing to the class/team recorded results in any threaded discussion. In addition, nearly all eLessons (online lectures) will include required student responses using the assignment feature, and there will be a required final examination. Individual required responses are not individually graded, but worked by the student under the guidance of the instructor until the teaching point is reached. This fosters student analytical abilities and confidence. All mandatory requirements are not more frequent than one per week with no fixed requirement dates except the date the final exam is due, and the course completion date. Final examinations are individually graded. Four scheduled Chats with assigned topics will be scheduled on various dates and will allow a total of approximately 4 hours. The instructor communicates with all students in each of these course features, and in the case of required responses within seven days of student postings.

 

Online course tools:

 

Announcements The course menu button will be use to reduce the amount of email needed during the course.

 

Syllabus The course syllabus provides detais the course requirements, objectives text, grading and related information.

 

Assignments Students are furnished in each online lesson a description of the lesson, the lesson assignment, learning activities, and additional resources outside the required text and online content. The students will perform individual assignments using the assignment feature based upon the course text, and will function as a team recording collective efforts on the exercises, case studies, etc., into the threaded discussion feature based upon the electronic lectures. Each individual student is required to participate by contributing to the class/team recorded results in any threaded discussion. In addition, nearly all eLessons (online lectures) will include required student responses using the assignment feature, and there will be both a paper and a required final examination. Individual required responses are not individually graded, but worked by the student under the guidance of the instructor until the teaching point is reached. This fosters student analytical abilities and confidence. All mandatory requirements are not more frequent than one per week with no fixed requirement dates except the date the final exam is due, and the course completion date. Final examinations are individually graded. The instructor communicates with all students in each of these course features, and in the case of required responses within three days of student postings.

 

Online Discussions They will be Discussion Board (not live) and Collaboration Chats (live). The, case studies, lesson discussions, individual responses, chats and the final examination will provide the setting to improve the students’ ability to understand and implement relevant facts and procedures, and analyze alternate solutions. 

 

Discussions (not live). Student introductions will appear in the feature Open Discussion. Selected student assignments, as identified in those Lessons, will be placed into individual lesson discussions (not live).

 

Live Chat. Student participation includes the use of live, scheduled chats. For example, scheduled chats will allow a minimum of one week for the students to study and prepare for the discussion of specific topics. 

 

Private Messages. Individual Required Responses IRR’s (those not posted to a Lesson Discussion) are submitted via Private Message. The instructor will provide comments on each individual assignment.

 

Email. Email service is provided amongst all course registrants.

 

Faculty Information. The biographical of the instructor is located within the course, or within the required text.

 

General Course Navigation.

 

·         Announcements - lists information related to the course, including dates and times for course Chats.

·        Syllabus - The Syllabus, including information on the required text, is located on the Course Menu items of the same name. 

·        Lesson Assignments - is a separate listing of the course assignments for your convenience. The Assignment are posted either in a Lesson Discussion, found the Discussion Board, or submitted individually in the Individual RRs.  

·        Individual RRs - Your Individual Required Responses are posted in the Private Messages feature of the course.

·         Discussion and Private Messages - takes you to the Discussion Board, which includes an introductory feature Open Discussion which is available for later discussion of any course related subjects, and the Lesson Discussions, where a number of your assignments are posted. Participation in this feature is obtained by clicking on a Discussion section until the Reply button appears, or use of the Thread or Add New Thread buttons for the student to enter an initial introduction and later comments. The Private Messages feature is also available in this section of the course, and as noted above, is used to post Individual RRs.

·         Chats - To participate in a scheduled live Chat the student must click on Chat Room in the main menu which will take you directly to the live chat. 

·         Features Navigation. Required Response (RR) is a mandatory assignment. They are found in each online eLesson (lecture), or in the required text. Each RR instructs the student to use either the Lesson Discussion feature or the Private Messages (PM) feature for the student response. Lesson Discussion (LD) is the feature the student places designated responses and requires clicking on the Lesson Discussion button on the main menu, and scrolling to each specific eLesson RR requiring the use of the LD feature. These responses, and instructor comments, are open for all the students to view. Private Messages (PM) is the course assignment feature where the student and instructor exchange views on each IRR. The student response appears with the other student previous or later responses. Final Examination is posted in the last eLesson at least two week before the end of the semester, and student answers are placed into the PM assignment feature. 

 

Required Textbook: 

 

Federal Procurement Law For The Contracts Professional by Michael E. Giboney and Peter T. McKeen

ISBN-13: 978-0-9792246-0-7

ISBN-10: 0-9792246-0-8

 

The required text is available from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Federal-<wbr />Procurement-Law-Contracts-<wbr />Professional/dp/0979224608/<wbr />ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&<wbr />qid=1413817161&sr=1-1&<wbr />keywords=federal+procurement+<wbr />law+for+the+contracts+<wbr />professional

 

The text may also be purchased from the University of Virginia Bookstore located in Charlottesville, VA. To order you may call the Bookstore at 1-800-759-4667 (choose option #5 when prompted).  Proceeds from books purchased from the University bookstore go directly to scholarships, grants, and other needs of the University.

 

Course Requirements:

 

Regular attendance by participation in the required responses (assignments) and interactive features of the course Open and Lesson Discussions is required. Participation in Chats or Elluminate Live sessions is not mandatory. Regular attendance is established through regular, timely Required Responses (RRs) which are evaluated in accordance with the required text, course content, and published law, policy, principles and procedure authorities. All Required Responses (RRs) built into the course and the final examination must be completed before the end of the semester. Timeliness of participation in all aspects of the course is required. An instructor message to an individual student urging timely progress or completion of any of the course requirements, or completion of a large amount of work at the end of the semester may result in the final grade lowered at least a whole grade. Optional extra credit is available for participation in Elluminate Live sessions and in course embedded offers of extra credit located in the required text, or individual online lessons.

 

Topical Outline:

 

Topic  

                                                           

Lesson 1

Introduction to Government Contract Law      

                                                                                              

Lesson 2

The Essentials of Federal Contracting                                               

 

Lesson 3

The Law of Competition                               

 

Lesson 4

Contract Interpretation                                                                      

 

Lesson 5

Socioeconomic Programs                               

 

Lesson 6

Ethics and Fraud                                                                                

 

Lesson 7

Documentation                                              

 

Lesson 8                                                                                             

Contract Management Principles

 

Lesson 9                                             

Quality Assurance

 

Lesson 10                                                                                           

Government and Intellectual Property

 

Lesson 11                                                       

Modifying the Contract After Award

 

Lesson 12                                                                               

Termination of Contracts

 

Lesson 13                                                       

Protests, Disputes and Appeals And Other Remedies

 

Lesson 14                                                       

Payment, Discharge, Contractor Performance Information and Closeout

 

Lesson 15                                                                   

Final Exam                                                                                         

 

           

Course Sequence:

Lesson Dates, Topics, Assignments, Student Activity (135 hours expressed as in class/out of class). Assignments are worked/re-worked by the student until approved by the instructor, and there are no fixed dates for assignments.

 

 

 

Legend: P - Review Lecture Notes, R - Reading Assignment, CSR – Case Study Response, RR Required Response, Optional Response

 

Student Evaluation and Grading:

 

Individual required responses are not individually graded, but worked by the student under the guidance of the instructor until the teaching point is reached. This fosters student analytical abilities and confidence. All mandatory requirements are not more frequent than one per week with no fixed requirement dates except the date the final exam is due, and the course completion date. This student schedule flexibility has proven successful with professional level students for nine years. Final examinations are individually graded.  

 

Evaluation of student performance will result from individual and group written and discussion responses and an independently prepared final examination. The grading system will include the use of grades A, B, C, D, and F, including the use of plus (+) and minus (-) for each grade. The instructor will inform students of final grades within three days of the end of the course, and how to access their official UVA transcript.

 

Final grades will be based upon the following evaluation criteria: 

A. Completion of all course requirements before the end date of the course. 

B. Timeliness of participation in all aspects of the course. An instructor message to an individual student urging timely progress or completion of any of the course requirements, or completion of a large amount of work at the end of the semester may result in the final grade lowered a whole grade.

 

Grading Scale:

 

The Required Responses, participation in the Threaded Discussion feature, participation in the Chat feature, optional Extra Credit work, all combined, will constitute about fifty percent (50%) of the final grade.

 

The Final Examination will constitute about fifty percent (50%) of the final grade.

 

Letter grades used are: A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D F

 

Purpose Statement:

 

The central purpose of the University of Virginia is to enrich the mind by stimulating and sustaining a spirit of free inquiry directed to understanding the nature of the universe and the role of mankind in it. Activities designed to quicken, discipline, and enlarge the intellectual and creative capacities, as well as the aesthetic and ethical awareness, of the members of the University and to record, preserve, and disseminate the results of intellectual discovery and creative endeavor serve this purpose.  In fulfilling it, the University places the highest priority on achieving eminence as a center of higher learning.

 

Content and Discourse in Professional Education Courses (Classes): 

 

Study of the role of public schools in society, including the content of the PreK-12 curriculum, raises complex issues about which thoughtful people may disagree. Students are expected to discuss issues respectfully and to honor differing points of view. The University and its School of Continuing and Professional Studies do not discriminate in any of their programs, procedures, or practices against any person on the basis of age, citizenship, color, handicap, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era. The University operates equal opportunity and affirmative action programs for faculty, staff, and students. The University of Virginia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Any applicant for admission or employment, or any student who feels discriminated against should contact the University’s Office of Equal Opportunity Programs (EOP) at Poe Alley, West Lawn, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903.

 

University of Virginia Honor Code: 

 

Each individual is assumed honorable and trustworthy unless proved otherwise to be lying, cheating, and engaging in plagiarism.   A full expression of the Honor Code is available at http://www.virginia.edu/honor/. The following pledge should be electronically sent by the student at the end of all quizzes, examinations, individual assignments and papers: “I pledge that I have neither given nor received help on this examination (quiz, assignment, etc.)”. The student should sign the pledge. All work should be pledged in the spirit of the Honor System of the University of Virginia. The instructor will indicate which assignments and activities are to be done individually and which permit collaboration. The following pledge should be written out at the end of all quizzes, examinations, individual assignments and papers: “I pledge that I have neither given nor received help on this examination (quiz, assignment, etc.)”.   The pledge should be signed by the student. Students should refer to the University Graduate Record (pages 36 & 37) for more information concerning the Honor Code.

 

Special Needs:

 

If you are a student with special needs you should let the instructor know within the first week of class. Written documentation will be required. You should also visit the following website to review your rights and responsibilities as a student (http://www.virginia.edu/vpsa/rights.html) and the following website for the Learning Needs and Evaluation Center (http://www.virginia.edu/studenthealth/lnec/).

 

FERPA

 

Academic Policy

–http://www.virginia.edu/registrar/privacy.html

Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)

Annual Notification

Students attending, or who have attended, the University of Virginia are given certain rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended (20 U.S.C. 1232g) and Rules of the Department of Education (34 C.F.R. Part 99) implementing this Act.