Discussion 1: Contract Modifications

Give your opinion as to whether the procedures in government contracting provide a foolproof method of ensuring that all parties receive adequate notice of changes to a contract. Explain whether the contract modification methods available are effective in providing notice to all parties of a contract change.

Suggest alternative procedures that would be necessary and effective in providing notice of a contract change to all parties. Provide a rationale to support your suggestion.

Discussion 2: Bilateral versus Unilateral Changes

Imagine you are administering a construction contract. The contracting officer informs you that there is a conflict over the interpretation of one of the architectural drawings / elements as displayed in the contract drawings. The contracting officer relates that no further work can be performed on the contract until the dispute is resolved. As the contract administrator, determine which modification type (bilateral or unilateral) should be used to suspend work until the dispute is resolved and explain why.

Compare and contrast bilateral modification and unilateral modification. Provide an example or scenario of each that clearly demonstrates how each modification type is used.