Contract Disputes — One-Day Essentials
Everything you need to know about the dreaded contract dispute — in one day.
This course covers what constitutes a claim, who may bring one, and the process beginning to end. We will discuss certification requirements and the contracting officer's final decision: what it must contain, the timeframes that govern it, and the best practices that help the decision stand up throughout the legal procedures that follow. We look at the Contract Disputes Act (CDA), the statute the whole disputes and appeals process is built on, and the two forums that hear an appeal — the Boards of Contract Appeals (the ASBCA and the CBCA) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC) — including the timeframes for each, and where their decisions can be found. We also cover interest, penalties, and the alternative dispute resolution options that can resolve a claim before it ever reaches a board or court. Finally, we cover perhaps the most important part of the curriculum: the best practices that can help prevent a claim from escalating into a dispute in the first place. Throughout the day, we also learn to navigate RFO FAR Part 33, its Practitioner Album, and the FAR Companion, so every participant can find the answers they need in this quickly changing regulatory landscape.
This course is taught by Melinda Milheim, JD, who spent her federal career in the acquisition workforce. She served as a Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer's Representative for the U.S. Navy and the Department of Health and Human Services / Indian Health Service, where she worked on more than $7.7 billion in federal contracts, spanning RDT&E, engineering, medical, and major weapon-system programs. She draws on that experience, along with her law degree and MBA studies, to teach the why behind the how — so participants leave with sharper judgment, not just a stack of slides. An award-winning DAU/WarU (DAWIA and FAI) instructor, she has taught more than 1,000 federal acquisition workforce students across 20-plus agencies.
Best for: contracting officers, contract specialists, CORs, and program and project managers who want to handle contract disputes — from the contracting officer's final decision through appeals at the Boards of Contract Appeals and the Court of Federal Claims — with confidence and precision.
Format: Available as a one-day course, delivered in person or virtually. Eligible attendees earn 8 CLPs. A note on CLPs: This course earns continuous learning points (CLPs) that both defense (DAWIA) and civilian (FAC-C, FAC-COR, and FAC-P/PM) acquisition professionals can apply toward the continuous learning required to maintain certification. Because agencies set their own rules on what qualifies for CLP credit, check with your Acquisition Career Manager (ACM) or component training office to confirm how it applies to your plan. Phoenix Canyon also offers this material as part of Protests, Disputes, and Terminations, a three-day course covering all three contested areas of federal contracting.
Phoenix Canyon also offers companion courses: Bid Protests — One-Day Essentials, Contract Terminations — One Day Essentials, and The Changes Clause — One-Day Essentials for those who would like additional expertise.
Pricing is set per engagement. Contact Phoenix Canyon to request a quote.
Everything you need to know about the dreaded contract dispute — in one day.
This course covers what constitutes a claim, who may bring one, and the process beginning to end. We will discuss certification requirements and the contracting officer's final decision: what it must contain, the timeframes that govern it, and the best practices that help the decision stand up throughout the legal procedures that follow. We look at the Contract Disputes Act (CDA), the statute the whole disputes and appeals process is built on, and the two forums that hear an appeal — the Boards of Contract Appeals (the ASBCA and the CBCA) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC) — including the timeframes for each, and where their decisions can be found. We also cover interest, penalties, and the alternative dispute resolution options that can resolve a claim before it ever reaches a board or court. Finally, we cover perhaps the most important part of the curriculum: the best practices that can help prevent a claim from escalating into a dispute in the first place. Throughout the day, we also learn to navigate RFO FAR Part 33, its Practitioner Album, and the FAR Companion, so every participant can find the answers they need in this quickly changing regulatory landscape.
This course is taught by Melinda Milheim, JD, who spent her federal career in the acquisition workforce. She served as a Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer's Representative for the U.S. Navy and the Department of Health and Human Services / Indian Health Service, where she worked on more than $7.7 billion in federal contracts, spanning RDT&E, engineering, medical, and major weapon-system programs. She draws on that experience, along with her law degree and MBA studies, to teach the why behind the how — so participants leave with sharper judgment, not just a stack of slides. An award-winning DAU/WarU (DAWIA and FAI) instructor, she has taught more than 1,000 federal acquisition workforce students across 20-plus agencies.
Best for: contracting officers, contract specialists, CORs, and program and project managers who want to handle contract disputes — from the contracting officer's final decision through appeals at the Boards of Contract Appeals and the Court of Federal Claims — with confidence and precision.
Format: Available as a one-day course, delivered in person or virtually. Eligible attendees earn 8 CLPs. A note on CLPs: This course earns continuous learning points (CLPs) that both defense (DAWIA) and civilian (FAC-C, FAC-COR, and FAC-P/PM) acquisition professionals can apply toward the continuous learning required to maintain certification. Because agencies set their own rules on what qualifies for CLP credit, check with your Acquisition Career Manager (ACM) or component training office to confirm how it applies to your plan. Phoenix Canyon also offers this material as part of Protests, Disputes, and Terminations, a three-day course covering all three contested areas of federal contracting.
Phoenix Canyon also offers companion courses: Bid Protests — One-Day Essentials, Contract Terminations — One Day Essentials, and The Changes Clause — One-Day Essentials for those who would like additional expertise.
Pricing is set per engagement. Contact Phoenix Canyon to request a quote.