Registration

Proposal Writing Workshop (2-day)

$1400 for one participant
$1150 per person when registering  2 or more participants

Registration closes 2/20/12

Contractors’ lack of understanding of what it takes to acquire federal projects is a federal problem. It’s necessary to understand recent changes regarding how the government selects bids for large contracts. This 2-day seminar and workshop will combine lecture and team exercises to strengthen your team’s proposal management success. Topics will include:

• How not to lose your award to bid protest
• Understanding the source-selection process
• Review of statutory requirements for agencies
• Review of mandates for the solicitation process
• Interpreting RFP requirements in full detail
• Analyzing standard sections of solicitations
• Examining most effective technical proposal approaches (including management approach, past performance hurdles, effective subcontractors and teaming partners, and key personnel)
• Understanding trade-off criteria under FAR and determining value
• Converting employee benefits into best value
• Handling delays and schedules

Event Fees:

1st Registrant - Proposal Writing Workshop Mar 1-2, 2012 $ 1400.00
2 or more Registrants - Proposal Writing Workshop - Mar. 1-2, 2012 $ 1150.00

Proposal Writing Workshop (2-day)

$1400 for 1 participant
$2300 per person when registering  2 or more participants

Registration closes 2/27/12

Contractors’ lack of understanding of what it takes to acquire federal projects is a federal problem. It’s necessary to understand recent changes regarding how the government selects bids for large contracts. This 2-day seminar and workshop will combine lecture and team exercises to strengthen your team’s proposal management success. Topics will include:

• How not to lose your award to bid protest
• Understanding the source-selection process
• Review of statutory requirements for agencies
• Review of mandates for the solicitation process
• Interpreting RFP requirements in full detail
• Analyzing standard sections of solicitations
• Examining most effective technical proposal approaches (including management approach, past performance hurdles, effective subcontractors and teaming partners, and key personnel)
• Understanding trade-off criteria under FAR and determining value
• Converting employee benefits into best value
• Handling delays and schedules

Event Fees:

1 Registrant - Proposal Writing Workshop Mar 7-8, 2012 $ 1400.00
2 or more Registrants - Proposal Writing Workshop - Mar. 7-8, 2012 $ 1150.00

Marketing to the Federal Government

$1400 for 1 participant
$1150 per person when registering  2 or more participants

Registration closes 2/27/12

Contractors’ lack of understanding of what it takes to acquire federal projects is a federal problem. It’s necessary to understand recent changes regarding how the government selects bids for large contracts. This 2-day seminar and workshop will combine lecture and team exercises to strengthen your team’s proposal management success. Topics will include:

• How not to lose your award to bid protest
• Understanding the source-selection process
• Review of statutory requirements for agencies
• Review of mandates for the solicitation process
• Interpreting RFP requirements in full detail
• Analyzing standard sections of solicitations
• Examining most effective technical proposal approaches (including management approach, past performance hurdles, effective subcontractors and teaming partners, and key personnel)
• Understanding trade-off criteria under FAR and determining value
• Converting employee benefits into best value
• Handling delays and schedules

Event Fees:

8a Application Preparation

$1000 for 1 participant
$1700 per person when registering  2 or more participants

Registration closes 3/28/12

Companies are struggling with 8(a) certification and success in the 8(a) program. At Watson & Associates, we frequently hear of representatives misinterpreting how to approach the 8(a) program and/or misinterpreting what the government is looking for in applications. The topics of this seminar will include:

• Overview of the 8(a) program
• Congressional mandates
• Breakdown of the requirements for the 8(a) program
• Writing effective narratives
• Avoiding mistakes in business ownership and control
• Effective strategies for obtaining net worth requirements
• Understanding actual or implied control by other businesses
• Avoiding common mistakes in affiliation
• Submitting effective reconsideration requests
• Approaching sole-sourcing in the 8(a) program
• Using case law to help write 8(a) challenges
• Avoiding misrepresentation and fraud in the application process

Event Fees:

Success in the 8a Program

$1200 each,  for 1 participant
$1000 per person when registering  2 or more participants

Registration closes 3/28/12

In addition to complications with 8(a) application, at Watson & Associates we frequently hear from frustrated companies who are in the 8(a) program but have never seen a single contract opportunity. Learn the difference between those who are disappointed and those who find success in the program. Topics will include:

• Learning how to effectively market your business as 8(a) certified
• Balancing sole-source expectations with competitive bidding
• Effectively using teaming partners, joint ventures, and teaming protégés
• Avoiding the perils of affiliation and how to protect yourself in affiliation
• Forcing the SBA to help you secure projects while understanding the limits of SBA involvement
• Crossing over from small contracts to large contracts
• Review of annual requirements necessary to maintain your 8(a) status
• Handling terminations and appeals

Event Fees:

Bid Protest Avoidance

$1850 for 1 participant
$1600 per person when registering  2 or more participants

registration closes 4/27/12

In addition to being costly, bid protests are likely to have an effect on your company’s reputation. Because the law firm of Watson & Associates works in litigation involving both sides of bid protests, this class will help participants understand the caveats of this process and how to avoid it; and, similarly, what to do if you need to file. Topics will include:

• Overview of the bid protest process
• Understanding valid reasons for filing a bid protest
• Evaluating when filing a bid protest can impact relationships
• Learning the benefits of filing to one forum or another
• Protesting technical evaluations
• Understanding the automatic stay provisions—how does it impact your decision?
• Learning the legal grounds for a bid protest in a factual manner
• Understanding the latitude of government officials during source selection
• Pre-award protests
• Understanding best-value and trade-off analysis
• How to write your proposal to withstand a bid protest
• Identifying what is speculation and what is not
• Changes in court decisions

Event Fees:

Compliance and Termination Avoidance

$1300 for 1 participant
$2200 per person when registering  2 or more participants

Registration closes 4/27/12

Every day, the courts are filled with appeals and litigation related to termination of federal contracts. The source of this problem may involve companies not fully understanding the depth of their responsibilities and obligations with regard to compliance. This training seminar will give you an extra edge on preemptively avoiding termination. Topics will include:

• Understanding requirements and legal responsibilities when you get a government contract
• Training key personnel for compliance
• Avoiding the most costly mistakes for non-compliance
• Developing internal policies and control to avoid default terminations
• Understanding “termination for convenience” and your rights to damages
• Avoiding common loopholes when the agency terminates you
• Adding strength and ability in the writing of your proposal
• Reducing the government’s risk and bolster compliance policies in your proposal
• Avoiding suspension and debarment

Event Fees:

Marketing to the Federal Government

$750  for 1 participant
$600  per person when registering  2 or more participants

Registration closes 2/27/12

Large companies are wasting time, money, and valuable resources by ineffectively marketing their services to the federal government. This seminar will equip you with tools and strategies that will help you in federal acquisition. Find out what the winning companies won’t tell you. Topics will include:

• Overview of congressional mandates to federal agencies
• Understanding the roles of procurement officials
• Learning the difference between commercial and federal marketing
• Creating effective capability statements
• Finding upcoming projects before your competitors
• Effectively planning and preparing for future ventures
• Performing capability briefings to contracting officials
• Marketing under the GSA program
• Effectively marketing your 8(a) certification
• Strengthening your marketing skills by using teaming partners
• The Dos and Don’ts of working with the federal government

Event Fees:

One Attendee $ 750.00
Two or more attendees $ 600.00