COTR Refresher

Learn How To

• Boost your effectiveness as a contracting officer's technical representative (COTR)
• Team with the contracting officer (CO) and other acquisition team members to accomplish both the project and public goals of federal acquisition
• Prepare a requirements package for submittal to the contracting office that includes at minimum an statement of work (SOW), cost estimate and surveillance plan
• Provide technical assistance to the CO and other acquisition team members during the source selection and award phases
• Perform contract administration duties as authorized by the CO
• Perform contract closeout
• Refer to an updated set of reference materials for on the job use

Course Synopsis

The contracting officer's technical representative (COTR) plays the key roles of technical advisor of the contracting officer, day-to-day communicator with the contractor and overseer of successful performance of the contract.

Effective action by the COTR in these roles is crucial to the success of all government contract programs. This one-day refresher course is designed to renew your knowledge base and provide you with updates on current changes impacting the role of the COTR. The course is designed around the 18 COTR competencies identified by the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI).

Exercises portraying real-life situations in the world of the COTR emphasize the practical aspects of this important function, and take you beyond a mere review of the regulatory and process aspects of performing as a COTR. The importance of ethical behavior is stressed as a critical part of a COTR's performance to help you prepare to deal with the ethical dilemmas which often confront you when carrying out this highly visible and public job.

You will leave this course armed with a current knowledge of recent FAI recommended competencies and an update on any changes in the rules relating to COTR duties. You will also receive practical tips on how to perform more effectively in this crucial position.

Course Topics

1. What Is a COTR?
   1. The COTR role
   2. A COTR by any other name
   3. FAI's 18 essential COTR duties
   4. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
   5. Standards of conduct
2. The COTR Role in Planning and Award
   1. Duty 1: Requirements package
      1. Market research
      2. Statement of work (and writing guidelines)
      3. Independent government estimate (IGE)
      4. Surveillance plan
      5. Evaluation factors
   2. Duty 2: Government property
   3. Duty 3: Technical assistance
   4. Protests
   5. Duty 4: COTR work plan
3. The COTR Role in Contract Administration
   1. Duty 5: Post award orientation
   2. Duty 6: Administering government property
      1. Monitoring government property
   3. Duty 7: Monitoring contractor performance
      1. Government monitoring plan
      2. Types of performance monitoring
      3. COTR recordkeeping
      4. Technical direction
   4. Duty 8: Inspection and acceptance
      1. Inspection
      2. Acceptance
   5. Duty 10: Contract modifications
      1. Types of changes
   6. Duty 11: Options
   7. Duty 12: Delays
      1. Dealing with a delay
   8. Duty 13: Stop work
   9. Duty 14: Claims
   10. Duty 15: Remedies
       1. Types of remedies
   11. Duty 16: Termination
4. Contract Closeout and the Process in Review
   1. Duty 9: Past performance
      1. Performance evaluation
      2. Contractor past performance file
   2. Duty 17: Payment
      1. Contract financing vs. invoice payments
      2. Prompt Payment Act
   3. Duty 18: Closeout
      1. Steps in contract closeout
   4. COTR expert tips