Acquisition and Contract Administration Online Certificate

Acquisition and Contract Administration Certificate Overview

The University of West Florida’s Acquisition and Contract Administration Certificate prepares you to enter positions in public acquisition management, with coursework that can create additional opportunities for career professionals. The curriculum acquaints you with contracting from pre-award to contract close-out, providing both practical and theoretical knowledge to create a solid foundation for a rewarding career in government contracting, nonprofits or with civilian contractors who engage in public sector contracts.

In your coursework, you will study the entire public contracting life cycle, including planning, solicitation, selection, negotiation, award, post-award administration and close-out. Your classes will also examine the underlying legal and theoretical basis of public purchasing, considering the place and importance of acquisitions within the larger government structure. Through individual work products and team-based interactions, you and your classmates will apply your knowledge to real-world circumstances. Ultimately, your ability to see a contracting situation from various perspectives will be invaluable, because you will achieve outcomes that are fair to all parties with the best value for your client.

The Acquisition and Contract Administration Certificate is one of two certificate options included in the MSA in Public Administration program. Graduate non-degree seeking students may also opt to complete the certificate independently. Students selecting this path who later enroll in the degree program may be able to apply the credits to the degree.

Candidates for This Program Include:

• Graduate Non-degree seeking students
• Students new to procurement and contracting
• Those already working in acquisition and contract administration who seek career advancement

You Will Be Able To:

• Work with expert faculty to choose topics of interest for class assignments
• Apply classroom material in real-life scenarios
• Generate a more thoughtful, considered approach to contracting and procurement decisions

Program Resources

• Download the Acquisition and Contract Administration Academic Learning Plan: MSA-Acquisition-Contract-Administration-ALP (PDF)
• View the Acquisition and Contract Administration Curriculum Map: MSA-Acquisitions-and-Contract-Administration-CMGR (PDF)

Courses and Requirements

Required Courses (9 credit hours)

• PAD 5635 - Government Contract Law+View more about the Government Contract Law course

  3.0 Credit Hours

  Government Contract Law

  Examination of government contract law and ethics including major provisions of the federal Procurement Integrity Act and general federal acquisition contract principles. Authority of contracting officers, delegation of contracting officer authority, and impact of delegation. Procedures for formation of government contracts and contract protest, government property fundamentals, government contract funding and fiscal matters, labor, social, economic, environmental concerns and fraud are explored. Legal aspects of inspection, acceptance, delivery, warranties, changes, terminations and contract disputes are also examined.

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• PAD 5855 - Contract Planning and Formulation+View more about the Contract Planning and Formulation course

  3.0 Credit Hours

  Contract Planning and Formulation

  Working knowledge of government contracting policies and procedures needed to evaluate and analyze methods of solicitation and awarding of federal government contracts in the most advantageous manner for the government client.

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• PAD 5862 - Contract Award and Administration+View more about the Contract Award and Administration course

  3.0 Credit Hours

  Contract Award and Administration

  Government Cost and Pricing policies and procedures needed to prepare or evaluate and analyze cost proposals and costs incurred in Federal Government Contracts. Components of government cost and price analysis in federal contracting as defined by the Defense Contracting Auditing Agency (DCAA). Contracts from the contractor's and the federal Contracting Officer's perspective. Indirect costs and cost allocation bases. Methods utilized by the federal government to establish estimates of fair and competitive prices for goods and services.

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Course Availability

Courses are offered in the Summer and Fall semesters. There are no certificate courses offered in the Spring semester.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission into the University of West Florida’s online Acquisition and Contract Administration Certificate program, you must be admitted into the University as a graduate non-degree seeking student.

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition waivers cover up to 90 percent of the non-resident portion of your tuition and are available to non-Florida residents (including international students) admitted to online programs and registered for online courses in active pursuit of that degree or certificate. You must pay all other assessed tuition and fees.

Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress. Fees are charged per semester unless otherwise noted. This program takes up to two semesters to complete, depending on course availability.

* Tuition and fees are subject to change.

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Alabama Differential Out-of-State Tuition

Residents of Alabama are eligible for Alabama Differential Tuition, a reduced out-of-state tuition rate. For more information and to verify residency status for tuition purposes, new undergraduate students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and new graduate students should contact the Graduate School. Current enrolled students should contact the Office of the Registrar.

Career Outcomes

With an Acquisition and Contract Administration Certificate, you can work in an acquisition position or pursue career advancement.

* Salary and job outlook information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and PayScale.

Contract Specialists

Contract specialists negotiate between employers and clients to secure the best deal for both parties. They must know which legislative and regulatory issues impact each contract, and be prepared to adjust contracts as necessary. These employees make an average yearly salary of $60,767. Job outlook is expected to decrease 6 percent through 2028, because most reporting contract specialists are at the mid-career level.

Buyers and Purchasing Agents

Purchasing agents, or procurement agents, make purchases for their clients. They must shop around for the best prices, solicit proposals from vendors, compare and contrast options and maintain records of all transactions. Procurement-focused employees make a median annual salary of $67,600 in 2018, and job outlook is expected to decline 6 percent through 2028.

Contract Negotiators

Contract negotiators are employed by many companies and organizations in order to communicate with stakeholders and determine the terms of contracts for various purposes including sales, distribution and employment. These employees need outstanding communication skills. They make an average annual salary of $70,491.

Purchasing Managers

Purchasing Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services. In 2020, these employees made a median annual salary of $72,270.