Protests, Disputes, and Terminations
Day One — Protests (RFO FAR Part 33). Covers what a protest is and the three venues where one may be filed: the agency, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC). It covers who may protest and when, the timeframes that govern each venue, and the automatic stay that can suspend performance. It covers how the government responds — the agency report, corrective action, and defending the award — and the RFO FAR's emphasis on resolving protests at the lowest level possible.
Day Two — Disputes (RFO FAR Part 33 and the Contract Disputes Act). Covers what makes a claim, who may bring one, and the certification requirements. It covers the contracting officer's final decision, the timeframes that govern claims and appeals, and the two forums that hear them — the Boards of Contract Appeals (the ASBCA and the CBCA) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims — including where their decisions can be found. It covers interest, penalties, and alternative dispute resolution, and what the government must do to issue a decision that holds up.
Day Three — Terminations (RFO FAR Parts 49 and 12). Covers the decision to terminate — what to weigh, and when terminating is the right move and when it is not. It covers all three types — convenience, default, and cause — and which RFO FAR part governs each. It covers what each side does at each step, the timeframes that govern those steps, and the appeal route, which runs through the Contract Disputes Act process covered on Day Two. It also covers the conversion risk when a default termination does not hold up.
Throughout, participants learn to navigate the RFO FAR — Parts 33, 49, and 12, their Practitioner Albums, and the FAR Companion — to find the most current requirements in a quickly evolving 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. 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 develop expertise in the government protest, disputes, and terminations processes so they can handle them with confidence and precision.
Format: Available as a three-day course, delivered in person or virtually. Eligible attendees earn 8 CLPs per day (24 total). 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 each day as a standalone one-day course: Bid Protests — One-Day Essentials, Contract Disputes — One Day Essentials, and Contract Terminations — One-Day Essentials — for those who need a single topic with less time away from the desk.
Pricing is set per engagement. Contact Phoenix Canyon to request a quote.
Day One — Protests (RFO FAR Part 33). Covers what a protest is and the three venues where one may be filed: the agency, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC). It covers who may protest and when, the timeframes that govern each venue, and the automatic stay that can suspend performance. It covers how the government responds — the agency report, corrective action, and defending the award — and the RFO FAR's emphasis on resolving protests at the lowest level possible.
Day Two — Disputes (RFO FAR Part 33 and the Contract Disputes Act). Covers what makes a claim, who may bring one, and the certification requirements. It covers the contracting officer's final decision, the timeframes that govern claims and appeals, and the two forums that hear them — the Boards of Contract Appeals (the ASBCA and the CBCA) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims — including where their decisions can be found. It covers interest, penalties, and alternative dispute resolution, and what the government must do to issue a decision that holds up.
Day Three — Terminations (RFO FAR Parts 49 and 12). Covers the decision to terminate — what to weigh, and when terminating is the right move and when it is not. It covers all three types — convenience, default, and cause — and which RFO FAR part governs each. It covers what each side does at each step, the timeframes that govern those steps, and the appeal route, which runs through the Contract Disputes Act process covered on Day Two. It also covers the conversion risk when a default termination does not hold up.
Throughout, participants learn to navigate the RFO FAR — Parts 33, 49, and 12, their Practitioner Albums, and the FAR Companion — to find the most current requirements in a quickly evolving 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. 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 develop expertise in the government protest, disputes, and terminations processes so they can handle them with confidence and precision.
Format: Available as a three-day course, delivered in person or virtually. Eligible attendees earn 8 CLPs per day (24 total). 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 each day as a standalone one-day course: Bid Protests — One-Day Essentials, Contract Disputes — One Day Essentials, and Contract Terminations — One-Day Essentials — for those who need a single topic with less time away from the desk.
Pricing is set per engagement. Contact Phoenix Canyon to request a quote.