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CON 090


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  • 4 months later...
Does anybody have any feedback on CON 090? It looks like the first class is about to complete the training program. I am about to sign up for it, so I would like to get an idea of what to expect. I will be the first in my office to attend the training, so I have no point of reference.

Thoughts?

Is anyone able to provide feedback on CON 090?

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Is anyone able to provide feedback on CON 090?

From an article:

CON 090: Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Fundamentals ? an infamous Defense Acquisition University course that seems to have an unfortunate reputation due to its four week in class requirement. The course is aimed at new hires and provides a total immersion into the Federal Acquisition Regulation (Parts 1-53) and the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). The course is designed to prepare the 21st century acquisition workforce to operate success-fully in a web enabled environment. CON 090 is a limited lecture, re-search-intensive, exercised-based curriculum. Participants will analyze contracting business scenarios developed through research of the FAR and its supplements. I had applied for and was as-signed a reservation for the course when the determination had been made that October 1, 2010 would mark the start date for the new CON090 requirement. The new guidance directed that the course must be completed for new hires hired on or after 1 October 2010 to the Contracting Career Field within the first 24 months of employment. Being that I had been Level 1 certified and on board prior to October, I was part of the exemption. At first I thought I should perhaps with-draw from the course since I?m sure someone else could have used my slot, but then I gave it a 2nd thought. My series, 1102, and my career path, Contract Administration/Specialist, had a foundation based upon what the FAR dictates. Therefore, wouldn?t it be in my best interest to attend? Regardless of when you achieved your Level 1 status, this course provides a wealth of information that anyone in the Contract Administration/Specialist field will benefit from. I attended CON 90 in August of 2010, in Kettering, Ohio. The class was a fairly standard size, with three instructors taking part in the instruction, and four weeks to learn the FAR. Our instructors were very well educated, and provided knowledge and insight; not just based on the text, but rather their real life experiences. Every day, they pro-vided us with homework for that evening and a quiz to prepare for the next day. Each and every Friday morning we had a test, sectioned off in two parts, open and closed book. The course material was challenging, and there was a fair amount of work. Being that there are 52 parts to the FAR, the pres-sure of memorizing them all be-came apparent as we were increasingly asked to know more and more for quizzes as the days went by. The instructors did, however, provide us the opportunity to complete the FAR CHALLENGE: memorize all 52 parts, and if we could, in one sitting, provide all parts in their entirety, we never had to complete the FAR portion of the quizzes or tests for the rest of the course. There were several students (I being one?it?s ok to be jealous) who took advantage of this, and were able to complete the task successfully. In all honesty, it was well worth the repetitiveness of review-ing flash cards until you were dreaming about FAR parts and mumbling them under your breath in public ? the points accounted for by the FAR portion of quizzes and tests were a given as you had already completed the FAR CHALLENGE. Having disciplined myself to memorize them also made it a lot easier when it came to participating in class, looking things up for tests, and completing our daily homework assignments. Reflecting back on the four weeks, I am grateful for having taken the course. I have noticed a difference in how I look information up in the FAR and how I relate to certain sections. It has even aided me in classes I have had to complete after graduating from CON 090. If my opinion is much to any, it is to take advantage of the course. Two thumbs up from this Contract Administration/Specialist Keystone! FAR Fundamentals is a 4 week, resident, foundational course for that provides a total immersion into the FAR (Parts 1-53) and the DFARS.

By Kathy Novak

DCMA Keynote Volume VI Issue I Feb 2011

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52 parts?!

I believe that there are actually 50 Parts, plus 3 that are "reserved" (20, 21 and 40). Does anyone know why these were reserved or what they were reserved for? Were they originally designated for something that was deleted or reorganized under other Parts?

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  • 3 months later...
I believe that there are actually 50 Parts, plus 3 that are "reserved" (20, 21 and 40). Does anyone know why these were reserved or what they were reserved for? Were they originally designated for something that was deleted or reorganized under other Parts?

seems to me, one of 'em was for the "Indian Preference" Program.

maybe I'm hallucinatin'.

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Vbus, not that it is a particularly burning topic, but what do you mean by the statement "Woe is me! -Part 53?" Just curious

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Guest Vern Edwards

Hence the challenge.

Memorizing the names of the 53 parts in a month is no "challenge," especially for a college graduate. It may be a chore, but it's not a challenge. Twenty-five of the names contain only three words or less. Nine contain only four words, one being a word like "and." It should take no more than three or four days to memorize the names.

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Guest Vern Edwards
I believe that there are actually 50 Parts, plus 3 that are "reserved" (20, 21 and 40). Does anyone know why these were reserved or what they were reserved for? Were they originally designated for something that was deleted or reorganized under other Parts?

There are 53 parts, three of which are reserved. In the original FAR, published on September 19, 1983, parts 6, 18, 21, 26, 40, and 41, and several subparts throughout the regulation, were reserved for future topical coverage. Part 20, which is now reserved, had contained the rules for labor surplus area set-asides, which are no longer used. Part 6 was used in 1985 to implement the competition rules of CICA. Part 18 was used in 2006 for "Emergency Acquisitions." Part 26 was used in 1991 for "Other Socio-Economics Programs." Part 41 was used in 1994 for "Acquisition of Utility Services," which used to be in Subpart 8.3.

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Vbus, not that it is a particularly burning topic, but what do you mean by the statement "Woe is me! -Part 53?" Just curious

The FAR has 53 parts. People often think it ends at 52 and forget 'Forms'. An anthropomorphized Part 53 might say, "Woe is me" as a way to express its sadness over constantly being forgotten and/or disrespected. If you're not sure that 'Part 53' would feel that way, consider a similar story: http://www.amazon.com/Little-Red-Caboose-G...k/dp/0307021521

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