Introduction:

As government agencies and companies continue to streamline operations and with the huge growth in public- and private-sector outsourcing, contract management is increasingly taking on many of the elements and responsibilities of project management. When the lines between contract management and project management blur, clear communication and a working knowledge of each discipline’s core elements and competencies are vital to the success of a contract or project. Reflecting the latest practices in the project management field, and viewed from the special perspective of contracting professionals, this course offers concise instruction on project management. Step-by-step, the course covers the entire project life cycle from selection and initiation, through planning, implementation, and control, to termination and closeout. Through case studies, exercises, and an array of practical experiences, you will learn lessons you can relate directly to your procurement activities immediately upon completing the course

The overall aim of this course is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully manage a project executed by contractors throughout its life cycle from initial concept to delivery. Participants in this interactive course will learn all the critical tools required to perform project plans and develop project budgets as well as techniques needed to communicate and manage contractors during the implementation phase.

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, delegates will be able to:

• Use the key elements of procurement management to effectively manage projects
• Identify project management components and processes
• Assemble and manage a high-performance team
• Set realistic, measurable goals and objectives
• Master fundamental project management skills, concepts, and techniques
• Identify the major processes in project management in a related contract framework 
• Outline the major activities, steps and tools needed to manage a contracting partner who is executing the project
• Devise the contracting strategy for a project and recognize the main contractual provisions that can affect it
• Develop detailed project plans to manage contracts and to deal with deviations effectively
• State different types of contracts and their impacts on the relationship with the contractors
• Describe the post award main processes including control techniques, change management, and contract administration

Who Should Attend?

Procurement Managers, Purchasing Staff, Engineering, Operational and Maintenance Personnel, Contracts Engineers, Administrators, and Managers, Commercial, Financial and Insurance Professionals, Project and General Management, Contracts & Contracting Unit Professionals, Project Professionals, Procurement & Purchasing Staff, Purchasing Professionals and Procurement Officers, Commercial Professionals, Contract Administrators, Contract Administration Professionals, Contract Managers and Contract Professionals, Supply officers, Buyers, Project Coordinator’s, Project Managers and other Project Professionals, Claims Personnel, Legal Advisers, Contract Strategists, Business Audit Officers, Engineers, Project Construction Professionals, Contract Administrators, Contract Professionals and Project Coordinators, Buyers, Purchasing Professionals and Procurement Officers, Contracts Managers, Project Managers, Tenders, Contracts, Buyers, Purchasing, Financial Personnel, Tendering, Purchasing, Project Management Professionals, Engineering, Operational, Trade, Finance, and Maintenance Professionals, all others who are involved in the planning, evaluation, preparation and management of tenders, specifications, awards, and contracts that cover the acquisition of materials, equipment, and services and who are in organizations whose leadership want high levels of competency in those involved in these activities, those from a Project Management or General Management background who do not think they have sufficient understanding of contract issues, those new to the function, preparing for a major project, or experienced managers looking for a refresher, anyone involved in the management of risk, those involved in implementing and administering contracts and handling claims and change orders; also those involved in any conflict or dispute with a contracting party and interested to learn how to avoid or resolve these contractual issues, those involved in contract and business related negotiations, those involved in any aspect of implementing, managing or administering contracts in the post-award phase

Course Outline:

Introduction to Project Management

• Definition of a project and project management
• The triple constraints
• Project life cycle
• Project Management process groups
• Contracts
• Types of authority
• Typical roles and responsibilities
• Who is in charge?
• Project and contract relationship
• Project life cycle
• Project stakeholders

Project Initiation

• Influences on a project
• Understanding the roles of senior management
• Assess business needs and opportunities
• Project selection and selection tools
• Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR)
• Present value and net present value
• Payback period
• Formulate good objectives
• Requirements: functional and technical
• Prototyping and progressive elaboration
• Project charter and Project Requirements Document (PRD)

Principles of Contracts

• Definition of a contract
• Elements of a contract
• Objectives of contract management
• Knowing your contract
• Scope of work
• Terms and conditions
• Stages of contracting

Pre-Award Phase

• Developing the business case
• Project charter
• Project scope statement
• Contracting plan
• Locating contractors
• Contractors pre-qualification
• Developing the project plan

Project Planning

• Work breakdown structure
• Duration and resources estimation
• Relationships between activities
• Network diagrams
• Critical path analysis
• Developing a Gantt chart
• Milestone charts
• Resource allocation
• Project budgeting
• Project and contract risk management

Award Phase

• Evaluation plan
• Terms and conditions
• Fixed price contracts
• Cost reimbursable contracts
• Time and material contracts

Post Award Phase

• Contract administration
• Project status reporting
• Managing deviations
• Tools used to manage projects and contracts
• Variation orders
• Claims
• Disputes
• Breach of contract

COURSE LOCATIONS