Joanne DeFazio
Rumson,NJ
Summary
Results-driven Contracts Manager with 15+ years executing high-value federal and DoD contracts exceeding $500M, consistently delivering on-time awards, resolving complex contract risks, and driving operational efficiency across enterprise programs. Known for accelerating acquisition timelines, negotiating favorable contract terms, and stabilizing high-visibility programs under tight deadlines. Trusted business partner to program, finance, and legal leadership, recognized for decisive problem-solving, strong stakeholder management, and the ability to deliver measurable contract performance in fast-paced, remote and distributed environments.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Contracts Manager / Management Analyst (GS-13)
Department of Veterans Affairs — Office of Information & Technology (OIT)
01.2020 - 01.2025
- Directed contract planning, execution, and risk management activities supporting enterprise IT modernization programs and mission-critical federal initiatives.
- Managed contract lifecycle execution for complex federal programs, ensuring 100% compliance with FAR/DFARS and successful delivery of high-priority acquisitions
- Standardized contract templates and compliance tools, reducing review cycle time and strengthening audit readiness across program teams
- Identified contract risks and resolved acquisition package deficiencies, preventing award delays and maintaining program schedules
- Served as primary liaison between program management, legal, contracting, and finance teams to resolve contract issues and streamline operations
- Delivered executive-level acquisition briefings informing governance decisions for high-visibility programs
- Managed IDIQ and task order execution across enterprise IT programs, ensuring contractor performance and regulatory compliance
- Accelerated acquisition timelines by proactively resolving contract package deficiencies prior to submission
- Selected Results
Contracts Manager / Contract Specialist (GS-1102-12/13)
Department of Veterans Affairs — Technology Acquisition Center (TAC)
01.2009 - 01.2020
- Led cradle-to-grave contract administration and negotiation activities supporting large-scale federal and interagency programs with cumulative contract values exceeding $500M.
- Negotiated contract pricing, terms, and equitable adjustments for multi-million-dollar procurements, ensuring fair and reasonable pricing and successful contract awards
- Directed competitive acquisitions and best-value source selections for major enterprise initiatives, including financial system modernization and healthcare platform implementation
- Streamlined acquisition workflows for high-profile programs, reducing contract review timelines by 15–20% while improving documentation accuracy
- Developed Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs) supporting defensible budget projections and contract negotiations
- Managed contract modifications and change control processes supporting uninterrupted program delivery
- Led technical and past performance evaluations as Evaluation Lead and Factor Chair for multiple multi-million-dollar procurements
- Provided acquisition guidance and mentoring to junior contract specialists, improving compliance and contract execution consistency
- Maintained contract documentation and reporting accuracy across federal procurement systems supporting audit readiness
- Selected Results
Contract Specialist (GS-1102-11/12)
United States Department of the Army — CECOM Contracting Center
01.2006 - 01.2009
- Managed contract administration and negotiation activities supporting defense systems and technology programs.
- Negotiated contract pricing and performance requirements supporting mission-critical defense programs
- Conducted market research and acquisition planning supporting competitive and sole-source procurements
- Coordinated with program managers, legal counsel, and technical teams to resolve contract issues and maintain schedule performance
- Managed contract modifications and funding adjustments supporting operational readiness requirements
- Selected Results
Project Leader
Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC)
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Evaluated vendor proposals and recommended contract awards supporting U.S. Army communications and infrastructure programs
- Coordinated procurement actions, monitored contractor performance, and resolved delivery and schedule issues across multiple project sites
- Managed project closeout activities, ensuring contract deliverables, funding reconciliation, and documentation compliance were completed accurately
- Partnered with government stakeholders and distributed program teams to maintain contract execution and performance continuity
Project Estimator
Engineering and Professional Services Inc. (EPS)
01.2001 - 01.2004
- Developed compliant cost and pricing proposals in response to government RFQs and RFPs, supporting competitive contract submissions
- Negotiated pricing and cost elements with suppliers and vendors to achieve best-value outcomes and improve proposal competitiveness
- Contributed to successful award of a Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) supporting telecommunications equipment and services
- Coordinated cross-functional inputs to ensure proposal accuracy, schedule adherence, and alignment with federal acquisition requirements
Education
Master of Science (M.S.) - Contract Management
Naval Postgraduate School
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Business Management
Kaplan University
Skills
- Contract Management & Negotiation
- Contract Administration Contract Negotiation Contract Lifecycle Management Change Management Contract Modifications Terms & Conditions Negotiation Contract Closeout Contract Performance Management
- Federal & DoD Contracting
- FAR DFARS Government Contracts DoD Contracts Acquisition Strategy Regulatory Compliance Audit Readiness Procurement Compliance
- Proposal & Program Support
- Proposal Support Capture Support Solicitation Review Source Selection Proposal Evaluation Contract Award Vendor Management Stakeholder Coordination
- Risk & Operations
- Risk Identification Risk Mitigation Contract Risk Analysis Cross-Functional Collaboration Process Improvement Operational Efficiency Customer Relationship Management
- Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS)
- Integrated Financial and Acquisition Management System (iFAMS)
- FPDS-NG IFACP SharePoint Microsoft Office Suite
- Contract Lifecycle Management Systems Federal Procurement Systems
Accomplishments
- Managed federal and DoD contract portfolios exceeding $500M across multiple enterprise programs
- Reduced acquisition processing timelines by 15–20% through workflow improvements and standardized documentation practices
- Led contract execution supporting $12M enterprise financial system integration program, enabling on-time system deployment
- Delivered competitive procurement supporting $8M pharmacy services program, ensuring uninterrupted delivery of critical healthcare services
- Managed interagency agreements exceeding $100M, ensuring funding availability and regulatory compliance
- Delivered high-priority acquisition packages under compressed timelines supporting on-time contract awards
Certification
- Digital IT Acquisition Professional (DITAP) — FAC-C-DS
- Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C Level III — Former)
Timeline
Senior Contracts Manager / Management Analyst (GS-13)
Department of Veterans Affairs — Office of Information & Technology (OIT)
01.2020 - 01.2025
Contracts Manager / Contract Specialist (GS-1102-12/13)
Department of Veterans Affairs — Technology Acquisition Center (TAC)
01.2009 - 01.2020
Contract Specialist (GS-1102-11/12)
United States Department of the Army — CECOM Contracting Center
01.2006 - 01.2009
Project Leader
Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC)
01.2004 - 01.2006
Project Estimator
Engineering and Professional Services Inc. (EPS)
01.2001 - 01.2004
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Business Management
Kaplan University
Master of Science (M.S.) - Contract Management
Naval Postgraduate School
Clearance Eligibility
Eligible to obtain and maintain U.S. DoD Secret Clearance
Work Arrangement
Fully remote or hybrid | Willing to travel as required