Multi-year and Multiple Year Funding FAR Part 17

[formerfed]

5 hours ago, Vern Edwards said:

You cannot understand government contracting and funding without knowledge of the authorization and appropriations process.

Most contracting people are dunces when it comes to funding. I consider myself to be a dunce compared to others I know.

Research, read, study. Make yourself an "expert" and the go-to person in your office for answers to important questions. It pays off in the long run.

So true.  I’ll add that knowledge of the budget process, financial commitments, obligations, and apportionments is also important.  Someone doesn’t have to be an expert but you need to know enough to understand the basics.

[C Culham]

23 hours ago, Vern Edwards said:

All of this and much more is explained in the GAO Red Book, Volume I and III, which the OP's colleagues apparently have not heard of.

One of the most frustrating changes that occurred during my career was to watch an agency with no year appropriations manage same as if it were one year appropriations.  

[formerfed]

4 hours ago, C Culham said:

One of the most frustrating changes that occurred during my career was to watch an agency with no year appropriations manage same as if it were one year appropriations.  

I agree.  But there are reasons (the necessity is debatable) many agencies funded in whole or in part by user fees do that.  One is they are required to do annual fiscal reporting.  Avoiding a large surplus on the books is important to them.  Second it forces program offices to spend so senior management has a better financial picture of what’s going on.  Third, it shows Congress and oversight groups that revenue at existing fee structures is needed.  Otherwise user fees can be reduced.