CON-1400: Contract Post-Award
The capstone of federal contracting certification — master post-award administration with GGS-certified instructors who’ve lived it.
CON-1400: Contract Post-Award is the fourth and final course in the DAU Contracting Certification Training program. It prepares acquisition professionals to manage contracts after award — from administration and quality assurance through subcontract oversight, modifications, disputes, and closeout.
GGS delivers CON-1400 to federal agencies and DoD organizations. Our instructors bring real post-award experience to every lesson, grounding regulations in the decisions and judgment calls contracting professionals make every day.
Course Snapshot
- Course: CON-1400: Contract Post-Award
- Delivered by: Gotham Government Services LLC
- Duration: 7 days (full-time instruction)
- Format: In-person or virtual (client-scheduled)
- Audience: Federal acquisition professionals; contracting specialists and officers
- Prerequisites: CON-1100: Contract Foundational Skills (required); CON-1200 and CON-1300 recommended
- Certification: Fourth and final course in the DAU Contracting Certification Track
- Passing Score: 80% or higher (final exam + class participation)
- Scheduling: Closed enrollment — contact GGS to schedule for your agency or team
Where CON-1400 Fits in Your Contracting Career
★ CON-1400 is the final course before the Contracting Certification Exam — completing it marks your “Initial Readiness” for a career in federal contracting.
The DAU Contracting Certification Training program consists of four courses. CON-1400 is the capstone:
- CON-1100: Contract Foundational Skills ← start here
- CON-1200: Contract Pre-Award
- CON-1300: Contract Award
- CON-1400: Contract Post-Award ← this course
Professionals who successfully complete all four courses and pass the Contracting Certification Exam achieve Initial Readiness — the career milestone that demonstrates they are prepared for independent contracting work in a federal acquisition environment.
Who Should Attend
CON-1400 is designed for:
- Entry-level contracting specialists and officers preparing for certification
- Federal acquisition professionals who have completed CON-1100 (required)
- DoD and civilian agency employees responsible for administering contracts post-award
- Contracting Officers’ Representatives (CORs) seeking deeper post-award knowledge
- Career-changers entering the federal contracting profession
- Personnel transitioning into acquisition roles from other career fields
Prerequisite: CON-1100: Contract Foundational Skills must be completed before attending CON-1400. CON-1200 (Pre-Award) and CON-1300 (Award) are strongly recommended but not required.
What You’ll Learn
Upon completing CON-1400, participants will be able to:
- Describe the full contract administration planning, administration, and post-award process
- Identify government and contractor roles and responsibilities throughout contract oversight
- Apply quality assurance requirements — including surveillance, inspection, and acceptance — in accordance with FAR/DFARS
- Recognize and respond to contractor performance problems before they escalate
- Manage subcontractor relationships and monitor prime contractor small business subcontracting plans
- Prepare and process contract modifications — including changes, options, and unilateral and bilateral actions
- Identify procedures for resolving contract claims and disputes through proper channels
- Execute contract terminations (for default and for convenience) in accordance with FAR Part 49
- Complete contract closeout — including final payment, property disposition, fund reconciliation, and file retention — per FAR 4.804-4.805
Course Modules
The 7-day curriculum walks participants through the full lifecycle of post-award contract management — from day-one administration through final closeout:
| Mod | Topic | Schedule | Key Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Introduction & Overview | Day 1 (AM) | Course orientation; CON-1400’s position as the capstone of the four-course Contracting Certification Training program; DoD Contracting Competency Model; DAU Contracting Subway Map review. |
| 02 | Contract Administration | Days 1–3 | Contract administration planning; delegating administration functions; government and contractor business systems; contractor oversight; payment processes; funds management; government property in contractor possession; post-award cost or pricing data. |
| 03 | Quality Assurance for Post-Award | Days 3–4 | Contractor resource planning; cost/schedule/performance risk management; Government Contract Quality Assurance (GCQA); surveillance requirements; inspection and acceptance; contractor performance monitoring; CPARS reporting; warning signs of contractor failure. |
| 04 | Subcontract Management & Small Business | Days 4–5 | Supply chain management; prime/subcontractor relationships; flow-down requirements; subcontract selection and approval; post-award subcontracting scenarios; small business subcontracting plan compliance and monitoring. |
| 05 | Managing Contract Changes | Day 5–6 | Contract modification policies and procedures; unilateral vs. bilateral modifications; scope determinations; Standard Form 30 completion; option exercises; certified cost or pricing data thresholds. |
| 06 | Interpretations, Disputes & Terminations | Day 6 | Contract claims and dispute resolution; ACO final decision authority; termination for default vs. termination for convenience; contractor proposal letters; ACO response requirements; settlement procedures. |
| 07 | Contract Closeout | Day 7 | Closeout process requirements and FAR time standards; automated vs. manual closeout; contract completion documents (DD-1597, SF-36, SF-1449); government property disposition; fund status review; reconciliation audits; file retention requirements. |
Regulatory Depth: What the FAR Requires Post-Award
CON-1400 trains participants to apply federal regulations — not just read them. Key regulatory areas covered include:
Contract Administration (FAR Part 42)
How to delegate administration functions, manage government property in contractor possession, and handle post-award cost or pricing data submissions.
Quality Assurance (FAR Part 46 / DFARS)
Government Contract Quality Assurance requirements; contractor surveillance methods; Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS); inspection and acceptance documentation including Material Inspection and Receiving Reports (MIRR).
Subcontracting (FAR Part 52)
Flow-down requirements; monitoring prime contractor small business subcontracting plans; Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR); privity rules that govern government-subcontractor relationships.
Contract Modifications (FAR Part 43)
Preparing Standard Form 30 modifications; scope determination; authority limitations for unilateral and bilateral changes; certified cost or pricing data thresholds under FAR Part 15.
Disputes & Terminations (FAR Parts 33 and 49)
Claims submission and ACO final decision timelines; termination for default procedures; termination for convenience settlement; contractor release of claims.
Contract Closeout (FAR 4.804–4.805 / DFARS PGI 204.804)
FAR time standards for closeout; automated vs. manual closeout criteria; required completion documents (DD-1597, SF-36, SF-1449); fund status review; government property disposal; file retention periods.
How GGS Delivers CON-1400
Instructors With Real Post-Award Experience
GGS instructors have worked contract administration in federal acquisition environments. They bring practical context to every regulation — helping participants understand not just what the FAR says, but when and how it applies.
Hands-On With Real Contract Documents
Participants don’t just study theory. CON-1400 uses actual DAU sample contracts, Standard Forms (SF-30, SF-36, SF-1449), and case documents including real contractor proposal letters and ACO responses. Participants complete forms, analyze disputes, and make closeout determinations using the same materials they’ll encounter on the job.
Scenario-Based Learning Throughout
Every module includes realistic scenarios: contract change decisions, surveillance deficiency responses, dispute resolution case studies, and closeout eligibility determinations. This approach builds the judgment and documentation habits that matter in the field.
Flexible Delivery — In-Person or Virtual
CON-1400 is available both in-person and through fully virtual delivery via Adobe Connect Pro. GGS’s virtual format is purpose-built for engagement — not a converted slide deck. All scheduling is handled directly with GGS based on your agency’s needs.
Closed Cohort Model
GGS does not offer open public enrollment. Training is delivered to agency and organizational cohorts, which allows our instructors to tailor examples and discussions to the contracting environment your team actually works in.
Assessment & Certification
Successful completion requires 80% or higher across two graded components:
- 80 points — Final comprehensive exam (2 hours, all seven modules)
- 20 points — Class participation (attendance, engagement, and professional conduct)
100% attendance is required. A certificate of completion is issued upon passing. Combined with the other three courses in the series, CON-1400 qualifies professionals for the Contracting Certification Exam and the Initial Readiness career milestone.
Ready to complete your contracting certification journey?
CON-1400 is available by appointment for federal agencies and DoD organizations. Contact GGS to discuss your training needs, schedule a cohort, and take the final step toward Initial Readiness certification.