Government Contract Management Certificate Program
The Government Contract Management Certificate program provides students with the knowledge and understanding of government contract acquisition and management. The program is designed for those new to government contracting, as well as current contract administrators and managers responsible for government contracting projects with a desire to advance in their career.
Student Comments - "I feel much more competent in the area of Government Contracting than I did prior. The lecture style worked great. I would not change the way you ran the class." JB
Course Schedule
Students will meet each Friday from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm for eight weeks, September 20 – November 8, 2019. Meetings occur on campus at the Meinders School of Business. Distance students may also attend via live-stream from home, office, or anywhere in the world.
Course Descriptions
Fundamentals of Government Contracting
Introduction to government contracting, providing information needed to understand procurement from acquisition planning through contract closeout. This course will give you additional basic insight into the requirements to become a Program Manager and covers acquisition team roles and responsibilities.
Small and Minority Owned Businesses & Gov't Contracting
Small and Minority Owned Businesses and Government Contracting – Learn the importance of small and minority-owned businesses in government. You will gain the understanding of how to form a small or minority business, become familiar with the SBA, DOD and other government agency requirements for forming and operating a small or minority business to secure government contracts.
Federal Acquisition Planning and Strategy
Gain an in-depth understanding of contract structure, strategy and analysis of pricing. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the proposal preparation process including the writing and pricing concepts, proposal submission requirements, negotiations and insight into government contract awards and GAO processes for protest of awards.
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Analysis
Provides a detailed explanation and analysis of several FAR standards and tests applied to contracting decisions. Students will also gain an understanding of the Department of Defense’s Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and the FAA’s Acquisition Management System (AMS). This session introduces the legal foundations and source of law relevant to the procurement process. You’ll get an analysis of issues that may develop during the various phases of a contract, including subcontracting considerations, protests, inspection and acceptance, fraud and contract termination.
Admission Requirements
Prerequisites are not required.
- Enrollment is open to all students and professionals interested in learning more about government contracting, acquisition, and management.
- The curriculum consists of four courses. Upon successful completion of the program, participants are awarded a certificate.
Tuition
Tuition is $1,000 plus $175 for books for the entire certificate program. Prices subject to change.
Meet our Faculty
Sonja Watts
Sonja is currently employed at the Federal Aviation Administration Mike Monroney Aeronautical Logistics Center in Oklahoma City. Her background includes serving as a Contracting Officer, Management and Program Analyst, and Contracting Officer Representative for the FAA and Department of Defense at Tinker AFB. Sonja holds the highest Level III Certification for both Acquisition and a Contracting Officer Representative.
Sonja held an Unlimited Contracting Warrant and worked multiple multi-million dollar acquisitions and contract management. Programs and acquisitions include: IT Software and Support Services, Engine Overhaul & Repair, Aircraft & Missile Program Support, MRO & Supply Chain Programs. She has also managed several small businesses in the private sector.
She is currently responsible for managing the ISG Information Systems Group Service Orders, Financial Planning, Software and Equipment Purchases and Renewals, and Contract Management. Sonja has a Bachelor of Science in Business and Management from the University of Maryland, with a Masters in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma with a focus in Organization Communication and Organization Change & Development. She holds a CFCM Certification from NCMA National Contracts Management Association on Federal Acquisition Regulations. Sonja has over 20 years of experience in Contracting and Contract Management.
Ann Long
Ann is currently employed by Devon Energy where she is working as a program manager in two of the company’s top five corporate objective areas. Prior to joining Devon, she was at the Federal Aviation Administration Logistics Center managing an enterprise resource planning software implementation program modernizing a portion of the Agency’s supply chain. This involved managing a project team of nearly 50 government full time project team members and subject matter experts with a $70 million dollar program budget. Prior to her FAA assignment, Ann worked with a leading Oklahoma City-based car rental agency, one of the Oklahoma state agencies, and one of the leading wholesale food distribution companies in the country, also Oklahoma City-based. During the past decade Ann served as director of membership, president, and past president of the PMI OKC board of directors.
She received a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Development from the Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and holds a Level 3 federal acquisition certification for program and project managers. She has served as an instructor for the PMP Prep course at Oklahoma City University since 2003 and was the Lead Instructor from 2007 to 2011.
Contact Information
Trudi Cunningham
Program Specialist
(405) 208-5590
tcunningham@okcu.edu