Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are designed to allow contractors to propose and implement innovative ways to achieve contract objectives and provide companies with effective tools to objectively assess and enforce contractor performance. The proper use of performance standards, acceptable quality levels, incentives and other performance-based acquisition (PBA) tools can lead to enhanced contractor performance resulting in cost savings to the companies and improvements in customer satisfaction.

Managing Service Level Agreements (SLA) will outline the major processes and tools of developing and managing SLA as a part of a performance-based service contract. This course is designed to equip the personnel involved in developing and managing SLAs with the knowledge needed to maximize the benefits of performance-based service contracts. You will learn to measure and document contractor performance and reach successful contract completion by applying the appropriate incentives.

The course exercises are based on real-life, performance-based contract management scenarios that take participants beyond a mere review of the process aspects of obtaining effective contractor performance. By completing these practical, interactive exercises, you will have an opportunity to observe the key activities of developing and managing SLAs and apply that knowledge to your day-to-day contracting environment.

·         Perform a job analysis

·         Prepare performance work statement (PWS)

·         Develop and apply an effective quality assurance plan (QAP)

·         Develop performance measures

·         Use the key tools of PBA to effectively manage contract performance

·         Facilitate a partnering relationship between the buyer and contractor

·         Monitor SLAs using key tools of PBA

·         Authorize payment properly and close out the contract

·         Contract Officers

·         Procurement Officers

·         Service Department Personnel

SLA Basics

·         SLA definition

·         SLA purposes

·         SLA types

·         Levels of SLA

·         SLA vs. contract

·         SLA format

·         SLA management tasks

·         SLA management process

·         SLA management tools

·         Roles & responsibilities of SLA management

·         SLA in a PBA context

Performance-Based Acquisition

·         Definition of performance-based acquisition

·         Why Use performance-based acquisition?

·         Requirements for PBA

·         Services acquired through PBA

·         Key elements of PBA

·         Performance indicator/measure/standard

·         PBA within the contracting process

·         Benefits and challenges of PBA

·         Developing performance-based requirements performance-based business relationship

·         Instituting a business alliance for performance management

·         Strategic communication mechanisms

·         Tactical communication mechanisms

·         Post award orientation conference

·         Performance Monitoring and Management

Performance-based monitoring

·         Methods

·         Ways to measure

·         Use the QAP to monitor performance

·         EV: a sophisticated way to monitor contractor performance

·         Conduct progress meetings with the contractor

·         Manage contract performance

·         Applying incentives to manage performance

·         Using the award term incentive

·         Past performance as an incentive

·         Change happens

·         Risk management in PBA

·         Modifications

·         Contract change modifications

·         Contract change process

·         Change management in PBA

·         Impact on QASP

·         Contractor claims

·         Buyer claims

·         PBA as a conflict avoidance strategy

·         Beyond disputes and litigation

·         ADR in PBA

Payment and Closeout

·         Payment in PBA

·         Performance-based payments

·         Advance payments

·         Invoice

·         Executing the payment process

·         The importance of final payment

·         Withholding payment

·         Contract closeout

·         Steps in contract closeout

A variety of methodologies will be used during the course that includes:

·         (30%) Based on Case Studies

·         (30%) Techniques 

·         (30%) Role Play

·         (10%) Concepts

·         Pre-test and Post-test

·         Variety of Learning Methods

·         Lectures

·         Case Studies and Self Questionaires

·         Group Work

·         Discussion

·         Presentation

This rate includes participant’s manual, Hand-Outs, buffet lunch, coffee/tea on arrival, morning & afternoon of each day.

Daily Course Timings:

    08:00 - 08:20       Morning Coffee / Tea

    08:20 - 10:00       First Session

    10:00 - 10:20       Coffee / Tea / Snacks

    10:20 - 12:20       Second Session

    12:20 - 13:30       Lunch Break & Prayer Break

    13:30 - 15:00       Last Session