How to Write Contracts for Procurement Professionals

How to Write Contracts for Procurement Professionals. Many times, procurement professionals are required to draft or review contracts while not being contract specialists. At the end of the procurement award process, the next step is to draft a contract with the vendor. This contract will determine whether the vendor is controlled by the terms of the contract or are able to avoid being responsible.
This program is from the perspective of a procurement professional with many years of experience dealing with contracts and not from an attorney. Areas covered will be terms to use in drafting a contract, some common term definitions, as well as terms to include and terms to avoid. While this is mainly covering how to draft a contract the issues around vendor-initiated contracts will also be discussed. Part of the program will include reviewing a sample contract and discussing the various parts of the contract including such things as payment terms, cancellation provisions, renewals, and escalation clauses. 
Attendees will know the different sections and attachments of a contract and how to arrange them. Participants will learn how to prevent creating problems for themselves in the way they create their contracts and know what terms to include to protect your organization.
The program will conclude with information on how to manage your vendor contract and how to avoid pitfalls.
 

• How to Draft a Contract    
• Vendor terms to avoid
• Terms for you to include
• How to Amend/Renew a Contract
• How to manage a Contract
   

• Drafting a Contract
• Scope of Work
• Payment Terms
• Term Dates & Renewals
• Necessary Clauses
• Contract Administration
   

Learn terms that may impact your contract and your employer. Get a head start on what to look out for in a common vendor agreement. Discover what terms to include to strengthen the position of your company or agency. Gain an understanding of what terms may be considered deal breakers vs. a business decision. Receive information on the importance of terms to be used to prevent being held hostage by an underperforming vendor under contract.

• Purchasing Agents
• Account Managers
• Contract Officers
• Buyers
• Procurement Officers
• Administrators
• Counsel

Kenneth Jones has been working in the public and non-profit procurement field for over 30 years. He worked for the New York State Office of Taxation and Finance as a Purchasing Assistant from 1985-87 and left there to work for the University at Albany, SUNY where he served as a Purchasing Agent and in 1999 was the Assistant Director supervising and providing training for the Office of Purchasing and Contracts.

This included proving training for both State procurement and The Research Foundation for SUNY procurement rules and regulations. His previous purchasing experience included procuring commodities, services and construction for the departments on campus. A past Director of the SUNY Purchasing Association, Ken retired from the position of Assistant Director in January of 2014. However he was requested to continue to assist the office through the end of 2014.

Ken worked part time for the SUNY Center for International Development as a Procurement Specialist assisting primarily with their program in Kenya, Africa. Ken has trained many University staff on procurement rules and regulations. He established online ordering processes with vendors ranging from Office supplies to Lab chemicals and continues to provide training in his current position to procurement staff at the University at Albany, SUNY. Ken has presented on various procurement topics both in person and on the Web for over 10 years.