Christi Dame

Attorney-Advisor

NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center

12.2000 - Current

Serves as the lead procurement attorney for all contracts in support of the SLS Core and Exploration Upper Stages (Tankage Support Office), RL-10 and RS-25 Engines (Engine Support Office), Boosters (Solid Propulsion Support Office), and Launch Vehicle Stage Adapter, Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage, and Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) efforts (Spacecraft, Payload, Integration and Evolution Office) for the Space Launch System/Artemis Program.
Serves as subject matter expert and Agency-wide mentor when advising on complex and sensitive Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) reviews, to include the Space Shuttle Columbia and the Ocean Gate Titan submersible accidents.
Serves as the real property expert for enhanced use leasing and construction-related litigation at the 829-acre MAF, which is a space flight hardware assembly and storage, corporate, and industrial business complex.
Provides rapid legal representation, counsel, and advice with a problem-solving approach for complex procurement and FOIA-related matters, thereby ensuring the availability and continued advancement of the strategic, technical, institutional, and programmatic capabilities necessary to sustain NASA's mission.
Provides legal and business advice directly to management, Center Ombudsman, Procurement, Partnerships, Real Property, Chief Information Officer, Office of Inspector General, Public Affairs, program offices, attorneys (including DOJ), and support staff on a variety of legal, environmental, fiscal, policy, FOIA, procurement integrity, and related ethics issues that affect MSFC contracts and agreements.
Served as legal advisor on Invitation for Bid construction, architecture and engineering projects, and multi-year, leading edge programs, such as NRA8-30 Space Launch Initiative, Space Shuttle (External Tanks, Solid Rocket Booster, Reusable Solid Rocket Motor, Booster Separation Motor, and Space Shuttle Main Engines), Next Generation Launch Technologies, Constellation (Ares I and I-X), Space Launch System elements, and major support contracts.
Served as attorney on both the Hurricane Katrina Recovery efforts and the Return to Flight efforts post-Columbia accident while reviewing contract reformations, transitions, phase-out, and termination of contracts under the Vision for Space Exploration.
Reviewed extensive indemnification requests for Space Shuttle contracts, Ares I-X Reusable Solid Rocket Motors and avionics, Space Launch System components, and the BWXT nuclear efforts.
Served as attorney on multiple, sensitive mishap investigation boards related to the Space Shuttle and Space Launch System/Artemis Programs.
Monitors program requirements and interprets complex contract laws, regulations, and policies to establish and maintain strong attorney-client relationships with the Office of Procurement.
Supports all phases of acquisitions from pre-solicitation to award and contract administration. Advised ~30 Source Evaluation Boards on FAR and NFS procedures, procurement integrity, ethics, and source selection sensitive information; evaluated organizational conflicts of interest; drafted RFP/Q and model contract provisions/clauses, evaluation plans, and statements of work/performance work statements; advised at industry briefings and debriefings; reviewed solicitations, external communications, cost/price, data rights, labor issues, responsiveness, and scoring; drafted 1,000s of findings, competitive range memoranda, and source selection statements; participated in discussions and negotiations with offerors, and supported all aspects of the administrative protests to the Agency and GAO. Successfully resolved ~8 GAO protests and 3 ASBCA cases.
Supports daily administration of all contracts matters and interprets complex fiscal law requirements in relation to the Space Launch System/Artemis Program; gathers facts and drafts communications for terminations (T4C and T4D/breach of contract); serves as the Center's representative in high-profile discussions and negotiation of disputes; and acts as lead counsel in all aspects of contract litigation and settlements in order to resolve disputes, such as requests for equitable adjustment, certified claims, and extraordinary contractual relief to the Contracting Officer, Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, or Court of Federal Claims.
Served as lead and co-counsel on 3 disputes before the ASBCA and proactively resolved numerous fee disputes and requests for equitable adjustment at the CO level (e.g., Space Shuttle RSRM train derailment and closure of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet route from MAF to Kennedy Space Center).
Provides legal counsel on non-procurement agreements, including SAAs, out-leases, and other transactions such as grants, cooperative agreements, and concessionaire agreements in support of the MSFC Exchange (retail development lease and cafeteria services).
Collaborates with the Acquisition Integrity Program, Office of Inspector General, and DOJ to retrieve contract information, support investigations, and participate in all aspects of litigation while providing expert legal advice and counsel on procurement fraud matters, corruption, bribery, kickbacks, qui tams, standards of ethical conduct, and resolution of False Claim Act violations.

Overview

Work History

Attorney-Advisor

Education

J.D. - Law

Bachelor of Science - Biology And History/Pre-med Course of Study

Skills

Accomplishments

Timeline

Attorney-Advisor

J.D. - Law

Bachelor of Science - Biology And History/Pre-med Course of Study

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