1. What pitfalls must you recognize when working with data that is utilized in the statistical analysis you are conducting?
2. What are the potential pitfalls in comparing a company's indirect cost to the rate of another firm?
2a. Why evaluate risk in analysis plan development?
3. What major challenges do you face in the role as a contracting officer, negotiation team leader or other leadership role as an Government acquisition procurement representative in successfully communicating your pricing basis with the contractor(s)?
4. What do you think are the major consequences and liabilities you face by doing inept, short cut homework with respect to market research on your acquisition procurement contract?
5. What are the elements associated with determining a fee based on an optimistic and a pessimistic estimate?
5a. What signals do you look for from the other parties that determine fairness in the decision you have or would make concerning equitable adjustments?
6. What is the most effective presentation methodology and style to address with the prospective contractor that the proposed price that they have presented is not realistic? (Assume that you really need this contractor because of the limited competition in your area and you have very little price leverage, but the price is still unreal.)
7. What inherent barriers exist to prevent you from ascertaining that there exists defective pricing? Discuss why these are difficult to assess and what one can do about them.
8. Improvement Curve Theory is an approach. How can you determine whether your approach to learning curve analysis will have merit (is worth the effort) in predicting the quantitative amount of improvement over a fixed amount of prescribed time?
9. What mathematical analysis, documentation and research covered in this course do you think have the most practical application and return on your investment of time as tools to derive a cost-effective and quality contract of services or material for the Government? Why?