# Federal Appropriations Law for Acquisition Professionals Course (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/federal-appropriations-law-for-acquisition-professionals-course-self-paced>

## Overview

Acquisition professionals play a critical role in helping achieve an agency's mission through planning, awarding, and administering contracts. Beyond the FAR, clarity and understanding of appropriations law are particularly important to acquisition professionals who sign their names to obligate funds. It’s also germane to Program and Project Managers who plan and budget for acquisitions that span multiple fiscal years.

Using cases drawn from GAO's Principles of Federal Appropriations Law (the "Red Book"), the instructor will provide essential information regarding the general principles (and key exceptions) that need to be considered when making obligation decisions during the acquisition life cycle. While the basics for federal appropriations law are the same for all government personnel, this course provides acquisition professionals with a base of focused knowledge they need to understand and apply those principles most directly aligned with federal acquisition.

## What you'll learn

- Assess the propriety of administrative decisions.
- Comply with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Apply Comptroller General Decisions.
- Assist in the obligation and payment of funds.
- Properly make scope and severability decisions impacting fiscal year usage.
- Avoid Antideficiency Act violations.

## Curriculum

#### Module 1: Introduction

- Understand the constitutional role of Congress in the appropriation process.
- Explore the sources that condition the use of appropriated funds including statutes, regulations, and GAO decisions.
- Examine the role and binding authority of the Comptroller General and GAO decisions.
- Review rules for statutory interpretation and resolving conflicts between laws.

#### Module 2: Legal Framework

- Learn fiscal terms and classifications of appropriations (e.g., one-year, multi-year, no-year).
- Understand the life cycle of appropriations from apportionment to cancellation.
- Discuss transfers, reprogramming, deferrals, and rescissions under appropriations law.
- Explore authorization vs. appropriation acts and permanent law considerations.

#### Module 3: Availability of Appropriations—Purpose

- Apply the Purpose Statute and the Necessary Expense Doctrine to determine valid uses of funds.
- Review specific categories of expenses: food, clothing, training, travel, attorney fees, and gifts.
- Recognize prohibited uses like lobbying, compensation violations, and insurance purchases.
- Understand GAO guidance on “logical relationship” and agency discretion.

#### Module 4: Under Construction

- This module is intentionally left blank to align with GAO’s ongoing Red Book revisions.

#### Module 5: Availability of Appropriations—Time

- Determine the correct fiscal year for obligations based on the Bona Fide Needs Rule.
- Understand treatment of severable vs. non-severable services and lead time exceptions.
- Learn about replacement contracts, contract modifications, and advance payments.
- Discuss IDIQ, multi-year contracts, and rules for expired and canceled funds.

#### Module 6: Availability of Appropriations—Amount

- Understand earmarks (ceilings, floors, fences) and their implications.
- Apply the Antideficiency Act to prevent over-obligation or unauthorized services.
- Identify augmentation and recognize exceptions like refunds and reimbursements.
- Examine the consequences and penalties of ADA violations.

#### Module 7: Obligation of Appropriations

- Learn criteria for recording obligations under 31 USC 1501(a).
- Discuss nine valid obligation types: contracts, loans, grants, travel, and more.
- Understand ratification of unauthorized commitments and their fiscal implications.
- Review the impact of deobligations, estimates, and employment-related costs.

#### Module 8: Continuing Resolutions

- Explore the nature, purpose, and typical provisions of Continuing Resolutions (CRs).
- Understand the rate for operations and how CRs impact obligation authority.
- Learn the rules for starting new projects or continuing previous fiscal year operations.
- Study how CRs interact with other legislation and agency guidance.

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $1050