The FAR and Contract Provisions for Protection

Imagine that you are a contracts officer for the Internal Revenue Services
(IRS), and that your supervisor has tasked you with the procurement of a new
software system for processing tax returns. You have recognized that contract
administration involves those activities performed by government officials after
they award a contract. Once an award is made, contractors receive the contract,
which includes provisions to minimize the risk and define rights and
obligations, from the Internal Revenue Service. 

Review Federal Acquisition Review (FAR) “52.246-1
Contractor Inspection Requirements”. 

Note: You may create and/or make all necessary assumptions
needed for the completion of this assignment.

Write a two to three (2-3) page paper in which you:

1. Evaluate the importance of the standard default clause. As a contracts
   officer for the IRS, suggest two (2) ways in which you could combine the
   standard default clause with the FAR’s delay provision for the protection of
   both parties to the contract.
2. Speculate on the impact that a contracting officer’s changes to the payment
   terms within the software contract would exert upon both the government and the
   contractor. Analyze the requirements for a contracts officer to successfully
   effectuate a change order on behalf of the government. Conclude whether or not
   the change order is the most secure method for making a contractual change.
   Justify your response.
3. Examine the inspection criteria that FAR 52.246-1 articulates, and discuss
   the necessity of each requirement. As a contracts officer for the IRS, suggest
   two (2) improvements that you could make to the inspection procedure in order to
   make the procedure more efficient.
4. Use at least three (3) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note:
   Wikipedia does not qualify as an academic resource. 

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch
  margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or
  school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional
  instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s
  name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and
  the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.