Dwayne Cross
UPPER MARLBORO,MD
Summary
Over 14 years of experience in federal contracting and procurement, demonstrating strategic leadership and financial analysis. Successfully managed over $10 million in grant funding, driving organizational objectives and fostering partnerships that enhance operational efficiency and compliance with regulatory standards.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Contracting Officer & Agreements Officer
U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
Washington, DC
10.2017 - Current
- In my role at PHMSA, I have been entrusted with comprehensive responsibilities encompassing both pre-award and post-award phases of the acquisition lifecycle. My key functions include:
- Market research initiatives, formulating acquisition plans, and developing milestone schedules for alignment with organizational objectives. Oversight of the source selection process, including drafting and issuing solicitations, evaluating proposals, awarding contracts, and managing modifications.
- Conducting analyses of proposals, performing price and cost evaluations, and negotiating contract terms to secure favorable outcomes for the agency.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring all contract management activities adhere strictly to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) guidelines. My proficiency extends to systems such as the System for Award Management (SAM), Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation (FPDS-NG), USA Spending, and the PRISM Contract Writing System.
- Administering grants for PHMSA programs, ensuring compliance and proper documentation. As Agreements Officer for Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) and Pipeline Emergency Response Grant (PERG) programs, I conduct budgetary reviews, determined eligibility, liaised with stakeholders, and completed grant closeouts.
- Small Business Advocacy: As the Small Business Specialist for PHMSA (since 2017), I champion the inclusion of small businesses in the acquisition process. Under my stewardship, PHMSA has consistently met and exceeded departmental small business goals for 8 of the last 9 years. Notably, I was honored as the Department of Transportation's Small Business Specialist of the Year in 2023.
Contracting Officer
U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary (OST)
Washington, DC
01.2017 - 09.2017
- Executed pre-award and post-award acquisition duties, including market research and acquisition planning, while preparing procurement vehicles such as Fixed-Price, Labor-Hour, and Time-and-Materials contracts, along with Interagency Agreements.
- Managed contracts at OST, performing market research, acquisition planning, and contract closeout to ensure compliance and efficiency.
- Led Source Selection procurements, managing Technical Evaluation Teams from initiation to contract award, ensuring timely and compliant processes.
- Served as the Small Business Specialist, facilitating robust participation of small businesses in OST's acquisition processes. My contributions were recognized with the OST Leader of the Year Award in 2017. Additionally, I am a proud graduate of American University's Key Executive Leadership Program.
Contract Specialist/Officer
U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary (OST)
09.2012 - 12.2016
- My duties as a contract specialist included:
- End-to-End Contract Administration. Assisted Contracting Officers with developing procurement packages, managing Technical Evaluation Panels, reviewing proposals, and facilitating contract awards. Provided counsel to program offices on best procurement practices, including vendor selection methods and statement of work creation.
- Financial Oversight: Conducted cost and price analyses to ensure procurement actions aligned with government interests and complied with FAR guidelines.
- Earned OST's People's Choice Award in 2015 and 2016 for exceptional service.
Contract Specialist
Hanks, Hanks and Associates LLC (Government Contractor), U.S. Department of Transportation/Acquisitions
10.2010 - 09.2012
- At Hanks, Hanks and Associates, I:
- Assisted Contracting Officers with contract administration tasks, including market research, Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) calls, purchase order creation, and contract closeout, ensuring compliance and smooth operations.
- Coordinated preparation and review of Requests for Proposals and Quotes, while executing closeout duties on completed contracts, facilitating timely project completion.
- Led team initiatives as Team Lead, demonstrating commitment to excellence and effective leadership in driving team objectives since 2011.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
North Carolina A&T State University
Greensboro, NC05-1991
Key Accomplishments
Since being a Federal Employee at the Department of Transportation, some of My highlights include:
- DOT's Peoples Choice Award Winner for exceptional service 2016 and 2017.
- Graduate of American University's Key Executive Leadership program.
- DOT's Small Business Specialist of the Year in 2023. (As PHMSA's Small Business specialist, led PHMSA in reaching its small business goals for 7 of the past 8 years).
- Market Research Lead for the STEP-C department wide BPA 2023.
- Completed the Government Contracting Master's Academy course at George Mason University in 2026.
Timeline
Senior Contracting Officer & Agreements Officer
U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
10.2017 - Current
Contracting Officer
U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary (OST)
01.2017 - 09.2017
Contract Specialist/Officer
U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary (OST)
09.2012 - 12.2016
Contract Specialist
Hanks, Hanks and Associates LLC (Government Contractor), U.S. Department of Transportation/Acquisitions
10.2010 - 09.2012
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
North Carolina A&T State University