ACCT 621: GovCon Acquisition Regulations and Reporting Master Syllabus
Course Instructor:
Office Number:
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Course Website: Canvas
Course Description
This course will provide students with an understanding on the regulation governing government agency procurement contracts. Students will gain knowledge about various acquisition regulations and requirements applicable to government contracts.
Course Objectives
- To provide students a framework to understand financial accounting in the government contracting industry
- To enable students to assess contract proposals in terms of allowability and reasonableness while understanding related costs and risks
Course Materials
- Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) handbook
- Select readings and cases
Curriculum/Topics
Proposed topics include:
- Introduction to Government Contracting
- Acquisition Lifecycle
- How Government Agencies Buy Differently than Commercial Organizations
- Understanding Selling at Price vs. Cost
- Overview of the Federal Acquisition Regulations
- FAR Part 2 – Definitions of Words and Terms
- FAR Part 12 - Acquisition of Commercial Items
- FAR Part 15 - Contracting by Negotiation
- FAR Part 16 – Types of Contracts
- FAR Part 30 – Cost Accounting Standards Administration
- FAR Part 31 – Contract Cost Principles and Procedures
- FAR Part 42 – Contract Administration and Audit Services
- FAR Part 44 – Subcontracting Policies and Procedures
- FAR Part 49 – Termination of Contracts
- FAR Part 52 – Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses
- Introduction to the Differences between Contract Accounting & Grant Accounting
Technology Requirements
Laptop Access with Zoom, MS Word, MS Excel, & MS PowerPoint
Course Policies
This course will be completed over 8 classes. Some course instruction will be delivered online using Canvas. Please refer to the most recent course schedule posted on Canvas and any additional announcements for detailed information.
Virtual Classroom Etiquitte
Video: Students are required to have their camera on during class
Background: Please make sure you do not have anything distracting or inappropriate.
Mute: Please keep yourself on mute except when you are speaking
Chat: Please use this feature to ask questions. I will monitor the chat periodically during class. If I miss something, please let me know before class ends.
Grading
Grades will be determined by exams, in-class quizzes, case study exercises, and homework assignments
- A 90-100%
- B 80-89%
- C 70-79%
- F Below 70%
| Assessment Description | Due Dates | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Six Quizzes (25 points Each) | Weeks 2-8 except Mid-Term Week | 150 |
| Mid-Term Exam | Between Classes 4-5 | 275 |
| Indirect Rate Development Case Study | After Class 4 | 100 |
| Termination Claim Case Study | After Class 6 | 100 |
| Final Exam | After Final Class | 275 |
| Participation/Message Board | All weeks | 100 |
| 1000 |
Quizzes: Six Quizzes
Exams: Mid-Term & Final Exams
Quiz and Exam Make-Up Policy: Within 5 Days
Assignments: Due before next class
Assignment Make-Up Policy: Extraordinary Circumstances
Class Engagement/Participation: Ongoing
Student Responsibilities
You are expected to have read the assigned readings before responding to any posted discussion questions and attempting the related assignments. The amount of effort you put into studying the assigned materials before attempting classwork would determine the quality of your responses to questions, as well as how much you learn about the course topics. We encourage you to not only read the assigned materials but to analyze them carefully. Think about each reading from both a conceptual and a practical perspective.
George Mason Email Communication: Students must use their George Mason email accounts to receive important University information, including messages related to this class and correspondence with the faculty. See Mason Email to obtain your personal George Mason e-mail account. George Mason policy requires faculty to communicate exclusively through the Mason email system. This means I can respond to email from your George Mason account only and cannot respond to emails you send from your personal or work email.
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