Blaine Dickens
Acquisition Professional
Miami,Florida
Summary
Experienced Acquisition & Program Manager with 11 years of experience in project leadership, program development, and process improvement. Administering contracts cradle to grave; contract law; acquisition and contract administration including change orders, supplemental agreements, terminations, claims, and close out of contracts Principles of acquisition planning; contract administration and termination techniques sufficient to administer and close out contracts Cost/price analysis techniques to evaluate contractor proposals, change order proposals Knowledge of various types of contracts, including firm-fixed price; economic price adjustments, and cost reimbursement Contract methods - simplified acquisitions, sealed bidding, negotiations, cost sharing, multiple awards, commercial items, and special provisions Negotiate prices, terms and conditions, contract modifications, and settlements Knowledge of the market and sources to include identification of offerors in specific socio-economic categories. Analyzed the technical complexity of commodities or equipment; commodity shortages; lack of competition among vendors; and in-depth price analysis.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Acquisition Program Manager
United States Air Force
Cannon, NM
07.2021 - Current
Contracts Manager
CoreLogic
Irving, TX
05.2021 - 07.2021
- Prepared, negotiated, and recorded business contracts on behalf of a real estate data firm that provided financial, property, and consumer information, analytics, and business intelligence
- Led research into each contract's terms, and alerted parties to renewals or extensions
- Tracked all communications between employer and accounts
- Collaborated with senior stakeholders to deliver recommendations that supported contract objections and identified commitment and vendor performance deficiencies
- Streamlined the process of compiling large document data sets, allocating resources, and improving overall process time by 25%
- Negotiated renewal of 3 major contracts with clients to increase profitability by an average of 6%
- Drafted and edited complex contractual agreements to protect company interests and maintain compliance with legal and government provisions.
IT Procurement Analyst
Bureau of Engraving & Printing
Washington, DC
12.2020 - 03.2021
- Contract role leading the procurement process for the acquisition of IT hardware, software, and services while maintaining compliance with agency policies, procedures, and standards
- Responsible for the preparation of approved acquisition package documents such as, but not limited to, Acquisition Plan Templates, Quality Assurance Surveillance Plans, Market Research Summary Reports, Independent Government Cost Estimates, Statements of Work, Performance Work Statements or Statements of Objectives, Service Contracts, Sole Source Justification for Acquisitions below the SAT, Limited Sources Justification, Sole Source/Brand Name Acquisitions
- Developed and implemented procurement strategies utilizing best practices to promote cost savings and efficiency, achieving a total cost savings of $221,000 over the procurement process
- Conducted market research and analysis through a formal competitive bid process utilizing the US Government’s Acquisition System and integrating customer feedback into negotiated agreements
- Evaluated final proposals with cost models and concluded successful negotiations resulting in total cost savings of 10%
Specialist
Defense Health Agency
Bethesda, MD
02.2020 - 07.2020
Executive Board Member
Dallas Police & Fire Pension System
Dallas, TX
10.2017 - 10.2019
- Assumed Member position on the Executive Board of Trustees overseeing the retirement, death, and disability benefits of 9K participants and families with $9B under management
- Spearheaded the reformulation of the asset allocation model to decrease portfolio management fees, reduce exposure to illiquid assets, and decrease the investment portfolio by $61M
- Provided leadership in the identification of objectives, deliverables, timelines, and general needs of the pension fund on multiple projects
- Shouldered leadership responsibilities after the passing of Texas HB 3158 and led the identification and recruitment of a new investment consultant and Chief Financial Officer
- Oversaw the restructuring of the asset allocation policies to diversify the fund and decrease the total portfolio fees by 4.5%
- Reduced exposure to illiquid assets by $18M and decreased the total fund investments by $61M
- Key Responsibilities:
- Fiduciary Duties: - Acted in the best interests of the police officers, firefighters, and beneficiaries, demonstrating a high level of integrity, honesty, and ethical conduct
- Exercised due diligence and prudence in managing the pension fund's assets and investments
- Ensured compliance with all legal, regulatory, and fiduciary requirements related to pension fund operations
- Fund Governance: - Participated in board meetings, providing input on pension fund policies, strategies, and investment decisions
- Collaborated with fellow trustees to establish and implement effective governance practices, including risk management, internal controls, and transparency
- Reviewed and approved the pension fund's annual budget, financial statements, and actuarial reports
- Investment Oversight: - Monitored and evaluated the pension fund's investment performance and asset allocation strategies
- Engaged with investment managers, consultants, and advisors to assess portfolio performance, risk management, and compliance with investment guidelines
- Stayed informed about market trends, economic conditions, and regulatory changes that may impact the pension fund's investment strategy
- Compliance and Legal: - Ensured compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and reporting requirements governing pension funds
- Collaborated with legal counsel, auditors, and other professionals to address legal and compliance issues
- Reviewed and approved policies and procedures related to pension fund operations, including benefits administration, eligibility criteria, and distribution processes
- Member Engagement and Communication: - Acted as a liaison between the pension board and police and firefighter unions, providing regular updates on fund performance, policy changes, and retirement planning resources
- Addressed inquiries, concerns, and disputes related to pension benefits in a fair and timely manner.
Presidential Management Fellow
Internal Revenue Service
Washington, DC
07.2012 - 07.2017
- The Presidential Management Fellowship program is the premiere program for leadership development in the Federal civil service
- This two-year fellowship was established to attract to federal service outstanding individuals who have a clear interest in, and commitment to excellence in, the leadership and management of public policies and programs
- Internal Review Service, Criminal Investigation (CI)
Specialist
Internal Revenue Service
Washington, DC
07.2012 - 04.2017
- Managed the full spectrum of functional operations for contract management, including formation, drafting, negotiations, and costs
- Leveraged understanding of a wide scope of contracts, including firm-fixed price, firm-fixed-price with economic price adjustments, and cost reimbursement; and contract methods to include simplified acquisitions, sealed bidding, negotiations, cost sharing, multiple awards, commercial items, and special provisions
- Led reviews of contract terms and conditions to verify compliance with applicable federal and state regulations
- Contracting assignments included:
- The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- The United States Department of the Treasury Executive Office of Asset Forfeiture (TEOAF)
- The United States Department of the Treasury Office of Technical Assistance (OTA)
- Provided leadership across contracts and vendors for the OTA, Led Global Economic Crimes (Anti-Money Laundering) domestic and international vendor contracts, that supported, U.S
- Department of State missions, other offices within the Treasury, and international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF); collaborated with OTA staff and contractors to administer contracts, ensuring that the customer received the specified services by contract terms and within budget and schedule using agreed delivery methods
- Drafted, negotiated, and administered more than 100 contracts with regional public and private entities and multinational corporations with a total value of over $200M, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and proper risk management practices
- Contracts Executed:
- Inter-Agency Agreements between the IRS and the Executive Office of the President
- Inter-Agency Agreement IRS and U.S
- Army CID
- Antenna Site Lease for Radio Communications
- Cyber Security services for the Chief Information Security Officer for the US Treasury Department Office
- IRS income tax mail robotic system contract
- IRS Mail Courier Services
- Information Technology & Financial Management Support Services
- IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Financial Investigation Services Contract (FISC)
- Sole Source Contract to purchase order for Motorola law enforcement radios
- SYMANTEC software licenses support the IRS Enterprise Operations
- Sole Source - Antenna Site Lease for IRS Criminal Investigation (CI)
- The Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), TEOAF General Property
- The Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), TEOAF Real Property
- The US Department of the Treasury, Office of Technical Assistance (OTA), personal services contracts for its Economic Crimes team.
Program Manager /Presidential Management Fellow
IRS
Washington, DC
02.2013 - 08.2013
- Detail
- Led the, -CI Office of Technology Operations and Investigative Services (TOIS) daily operations
- Contributed to the procurement of IT products and services for CI monitoring needs, meeting all budget performance requirements while assessing probable risks for TOIS
- Liaised between stakeholders, engaged in the development of IT service contracts, and oversaw contractor performance in terms of quality, timeliness, and compliance with the contract
- Aided the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) in ensuring proper contract monitoring, administration, and execution, including initial planning studies and design and analyses applicable to functional responsibilities
- Responsible for strategic communications plans that were key support to the Program Management and enterprise Architecture (PM&EA) section of TOIS during project acquisition
- Managed improvement solutions through comprehensive program analyses and evaluations on the effectiveness of program operations, identifying both employee and organizational levels of efficiency and productivity
- Designed, implemented, and oversaw operating methods and procedures to accomplish project mission, and executed qualitative analysis to resolve inefficiency and malfunctions of the IRS Criminal Investigations IT projects.
Procurement Analyst / Agency Program Coordinator
- A/OPC) I managed the development and coordination of program acquisition planning, currently serving as the Government Purchase Card Program Manager for Cannon Air Force Base and the 27th Specials Operation Wing
- Monitor and facilitate the spending s $25M in annual operation expenditures
- Managed quality assurance and logistic support, providing recommendations of best practices involved in acquisition program management and identifying potential improvements for processes used in the internal acquisition program
- Responsible for acting as the key point of contact for unit commanders and government purchase card program participants
- Critical liaison for the US Bank and the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) to mitigate issues, cultivated new vendor relationships and conducted audits that ensured continued program compliance quickly and seamlessly
- Responsible for the communications between the finance section and the contracting squadron at the micro-purchase level, managing the scope across the GSA Smart-Pay contract
- Member of the Inspector General's Wing Inspection Team
- Successfully turned around a troubled program by increasing engagement, transparency, and accountability with customers and their stakeholders
- The GPC office met and exceeded all financial metrics in FY 2022 and FY 2023
- Developed and implemented standardized operating plans associated with the Accounts Payable, Purchasing, and Customer Service functions
- Analyzed operating budgets for all areas of wing procure-to-pay activities
- Developed the creation of training materials for all areas of Purchase card use including facilitation with finance and education
- Directed and conducted operational assessments for acquisitions using purchase cards
- Responsible for GPC procurement activity for Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT)
- Successfully implemented acquisition strategies to reduce procurement costs by 35%
- Managed the design and development of SharePoint master pages and create new SharePoint web content
- Developed and implemented a global strategic acquisition program with 30 projects across, Africa, West Asia, and North America, resulting in a 12% year-on-year reduction in acquisition costs
- Recognized as the best Government Purchase Card Manager in the Air Force Special Operation Command for fiscal year 2023, achieving a 99% performance rating and saving over $716K in procurement costs
- Security Clearance Level: Secret.
Contractor, Lead Analyst
Department of Defense
- (DoD), that served as the crucial point of contact for all military medical treatment facilities across the National Capital Regions, including Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Md.; Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, Va.; Joint Base Andrews Medical Clinics, and the Pentagon
- Led strategic planning, research, communications, performance measurement, and policy development for the Component Acquisition Executive (J4) at Defense Health Agency (DHA) projects
- Analyzed procurement and contracting data and identify trends to recommend contracting activity changes to formulate long-term plans consolidating DOD health care services
- Advanced strong understanding of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and the Department of Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)
- Designed and deployed the emergency acquisition strategy, data analysis, and market research to target medical countermeasures to combat COVID-19 throughout the pandemic
- Led a Contract Analysis team challenged with developing program and pre-award documents for the Facilities Contract for the New DHA Command Staff Headquarters
- Operated as the Lead Procurement Analyst for the MHS Genesis Electronic Health Records integration project within the National Capital Region
- Responsible for weekly team training program that ensured the full understanding of composing pre-award contract documents
- Renovation of Dalecarlia Annex project, Bethesda, Maryland
- Facilitated identifying and evaluating potential contractors by conducting in-depth market research, developing statements of work, and performing contract negotiations.
Education
Department of Defense, Defense Acquisition Professional - undefined
2023
Certificate in Government Contracting - undefined
Harvard Business School
2018
Certificate in Finance - undefined
2014
CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSE Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) - undefined
Villanova University
2010
Master of Public Administration MPA & Health Policy - undefined
American Military UniversityUS
Bachelor of Science - Legal Studies BSLS
American Military University
Skills
- Microsoft Office/Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Project/Outlook/Access, SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat, Insight on Demand, ECARS, FPDS-NG, CON-IT, PIEE, PRISM Program Manager, Priorities, Track Cost, Performance Milestones, Minimal Direction Principal Program Manager, Interface, Program Plans, Regulatory Guidance, Tactical Planning Execution, Multiple Organizations, Program Scope, Component Production Activities, Portfolio Risks, Risk Mitigation Strategies, Corrective Actions, Risk Acceptance, Avoidance, Safety, Environmental Compliance, Vendor Manager, Imperatives
Timeline
Acquisition Program Manager
United States Air Force
07.2021 - Current
Contracts Manager
CoreLogic
05.2021 - 07.2021
IT Procurement Analyst
Bureau of Engraving & Printing
12.2020 - 03.2021
Specialist
Defense Health Agency
02.2020 - 07.2020
Executive Board Member
Dallas Police & Fire Pension System
10.2017 - 10.2019
Program Manager /Presidential Management Fellow
IRS
02.2013 - 08.2013
Presidential Management Fellow
Internal Revenue Service
07.2012 - 07.2017
Specialist
Internal Revenue Service
07.2012 - 04.2017
Procurement Analyst / Agency Program Coordinator
Contractor, Lead Analyst
Department of Defense
Department of Defense, Defense Acquisition Professional - undefined
Certificate in Government Contracting - undefined
Harvard Business School
Certificate in Finance - undefined
CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSE Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) - undefined
Villanova University
Master of Public Administration MPA & Health Policy - undefined
American Military UniversityUS
Bachelor of Science - Legal Studies BSLS
American Military University
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