Nicole Dent
District Heights,MD
Summary
Professional, collaborative, and energetic GS-1102 Acquisition Professional with an Unlimited Warrant, currently serving as an Acting Branch Chief and Contracting Officer Serving as the primary point of contact for program officials in the Department of Construction Repair and Alteration Services, overseeing a wide range of administrative functions, including procurement planning, contract administration, market analysis, project management, and strategic support for the acquisition department. As Acting Branch Chief, leads and supervises a dedicated team, guiding them through complex contracting activities and ensuring efficient operations within the division. Holds sole authority to solicit proposals, negotiate, award, administer, modify, or terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings on behalf of the U.S. Government. Extensive experience managing acquisition lifecycle activities—from acquisition planning to contract closeout—supporting source selection processes, firm-fixed-price contracts, cost and price analysis, and successful contract negotiations. Highly proficient in the operations of EASI, Pegasys, CLARA, and other essential government procurement databases, committed to advancing government procurement objectives while fostering a collaborative and results-driven work environment. Knowledgeable with extensive background as Contracting Officer. Successfully managed complex contracts, ensuring compliance and maximizing value for stakeholders. Demonstrated negotiation and contract management skills to drive project success.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Contracting Officer, Capital Construction Division
GSA
10.2024 - Current
- Serve as a seasoned GS-1102 Contracting Officer with an Unlimited Warrant, supporting the Capital Acquisition Team in executing high-value, mission-critical procurements.
- Lead cradle-to-grave acquisition actions for all actions that exceed the annual prospectus thresholds projects, including large-scale construction, architectural & engineering (A/E) services, design-build, and capital improvement initiatives.
- Issue, negotiate, and award BPA call orders, construction contracts, A/E contracts, and complex capital program requirements exceeding regional thresholds.
- Coordinate closely with Office of General Counsel (OGC), Project Delivery Teams, and Regional Executives to ensure compliance, mitigate risk, and maintain acquisition integrity.
- Prepare acquisition strategies, IGEs, negotiation memoranda, and source selection documentation for multi-million-dollar capital actions.
- Provide authoritative contracting guidance to program offices, ensuring documentation readiness, regulatory adherence, and on-time execution of high-visibility capital projects.
- Oversee post-award administration, including modifications, claims support, performance evaluations, and resolution of contractual issues.
- 40 hrs/week
Acting Branch Chief, Construction Services Division
GSA
07.2024 - 09.2024
- Provide leadership and supervisory oversight for the Construction Services Division, managing a project portfolio valued at over $100 million.
- Lead a team of 6+ professionals, fostering a collaborative and results-driven work environment while mentoring junior staff and guiding them in the execution of complex contracting actions and decisions.
- Oversee all pre- and post-award activities for major construction contracts, ensuring comprehensive procurement planning, market analysis, and effective negotiations that meet project goals and regulatory requirements.
- Direct project execution, ensuring compliance with procurement regulations, efficient use of resources, and the timely delivery of projects.
- Manage high-value firm-fixed-price, and IDIQ contracts, ensuring alignment with the agency’s acquisition objectives and budget constraints.
- Assist source selection processes and conduct rigorous cost and price analysis, ensuring fair and transparent negotiations to achieve optimal contract terms for the U.S. Government.
- Collaborate with senior leadership and stakeholders across federal agencies to ensure alignment with strategic priorities and seamless project delivery.
- Act as a subject matter expert in EASI, Pegasys, CLARA, and other procurement systems, ensuring streamlined operations and timely execution of contracting actions.
- Monitor contract performance and resolve any issues related to scope, cost, and schedule, while proactively managing risks to prevent project delays and cost overruns.
- 40 hrs/week
Contracting Officer Team Lead
GSA
06.2022 - 07.2024
- Provide leadership skills and mentoring via training of GSA policies, regulations, and guidelines.
- Pre/Post Award contracting functions that help clients achieve results and meet their mission.
- Identifying procurement objectives and methodologies; developing statements of work; performing analyses of elements of cost; making competitive range determinations; conducting pre-proposal conferences; planning comprehensive negotiation strategy; coordinating with technical experts, leading negotiations, and awarding contracts
- Developing, coordinating, and revising a wide variety of Government-wide procurement policies, reviewing proposed changes to existing regulations and determining whether they should be addressed.
- Providing principal policy advice, analyzing comments, and proposed legislative changes.
- Identifying and analyzing acquisition process problems, trends, and emerging needs. Formulating and justifying new statutory initiatives to address unique problems, to meet newly emerging acquisition needs, and to resolve critical procurement process problems.
- Responsible for the full range of contract procurement and administration duties for complex operation and maintenance, construction, professional services A/E, construction management (CM), M&I services, design build, construction manager as contractor (CMC).
- Negotiate settlements for changes, issue delivery orders, assess liquidated or actual damages for non-performance, conduct terminations or conveniences, and issue termination notices and negotiation settlements.
- 40 hrs/week
Contracting Officer
GSA
06.2019 - 06.2022
- Pre/post-award and termination activities, such as: analyzing requirements, recommending revisions to statements of work/specifications, determining the appropriate type of contract, establishing milestones, procurement planning, conducting post-award and contractual terminations, initiating briefings with contractors to ensure full understanding of terms, handling modifications, resolution of issues related to non-compliance, and the termination process.
- Developing, implementing, and analyzing data requirements planning and measurement systems.
- Analyzing performance of procurement activities against various procurement indicators and goals.
- Analyzing data to determine trends.
- Review and signs contractual documents binding the government to an award.
- Assistance in tracking/monitoring contract actions to ensure compliance with GSA policy, administrative procedures, regulations, and statutes.
- Identifying procurement objectives and methodologies; developing statements of work; performing analyses of elements of cost; making competitive range determinations; conducting pre-proposal conferences; planning comprehensive negotiation strategy; coordinating with technical experts, leading negotiations, and awarding contracts
- Developing, coordinating, and revising a wide variety of Government-wide procurement policies, reviewing proposed changes to existing regulations and determining whether they should be addressed.
- Providing principal policy advice, analyzing comments, and proposed legislative changes.
- Developing and presenting presentations and defending complex and often controversial positions which are subject to considerable Congressional scrutiny and preparing expert response to Congressional correspondence.
- Identifying and analyzing acquisition process problems, trends, and emerging needs. Formulating and justifying new statutory initiatives to address unique problems, to meet newly emerging acquisition needs, and to resolve critical procurement process problems.
- 40 hrs/week
Sr. Contract Specialist
Procon Consulting
10.2016 - 06.2019
- Provides guidance to program personnel involved in the development of the statements of work or data requirements.
- Advertises procurements, ensures that the bid schedule is structured properly, prepares solicitations, sources to be solicited, determines the responsiveness of bids and determines the responsibility of the apparent low bidder based on an analysis of financial and technical information gained, and recommends award of the contract. Final determination and findings are forwarded to the GSA Contracting Officer for review and approval.
- Responsible for formal advertising involved in the procurement of supplies, services, or equipment to meet the consolidated requirements of GSA. Products or services include items, which are modified or designed for a specific purpose and are characterized by multiple specifications, testing requirements, bid samples, and production samples.
- Performs market analysis to determine availability of the product or producers. Monitor industry factors related to the commodity, such as strikes, shortages, and inflation. Analyze market trends, distribution patterns, and technological advances. Assess the impact of socioeconomic considerations on the procurement actions.
- Develops new sources, based upon projected needs of GSA and industry analysis. Support the resolution of specification problems, which limit competition among users, aid in modifying contractual clauses, which discourage potential bidders from participating, work with GSA CO to identify the most advantageous time to solicit bids. Under the direction of the CO coordinate with industry associations and the Small Business Administration in efforts to expand competition.
- Advise in the evaluation of bids or offers submitted, determine responsiveness to the solicitation, evaluate bidder's capacity to perform and comply with contract clauses and specifications, coordinate with program specialists on bid samples, and evaluate mistakes in bids
- Prepares contract documentation to include solicitation preparation, request for proposals, award documents, request for audits, price negotiation documentation, contract modifications and pre-negotiation objective memorandums.
- Assist in the developing acquisition plans and procurement schedules.
- Assist in the evaluation of statement of services and scopes of work.
- Assist in reviewing bids and fee proposals, conducting cost and price analysis and conducting negotiations.
- Coordinate pre-validation of funding for contract actions.
- Respond to questions posed by legal staff. Keep track of contract fee balances.
- Review all contract delivery orders and modification folders for completeness.
- Ensure that contract files are created and maintained in accordance with related regulations and statutes.
- Maintain responsibility for written and telephonic inquiries.
- Ensure that procurement data is maintained in procurement computer system.
- Prepares the contact file foreclose-out actions.
- 40 hrs/week
Contract Specialist II
Macfadden-USAID/DCHA/Office of Crisis Surge Support Staff
07.2016 - 10.2016
- Provided support to USAID offices in the contracting of humanitarian response personnel worldwide.
- Responsible for the producing and drafting of all contract documents including budgets and memos necessary to execute contracts and contract modifications for assigned actions.
- Monitor and track upcoming contractual actions and deadlines.
- Knowable in USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), FAR regulations)
- Responsible for producing and routing all contract actions through GLAAS to the Contracting Officer.
- Served as the primary POC for DCHA, OAA, and the PSC on all aspects and execution of contract and contract modifications for assigned actions.
- Liaised with DCHA offices and with the OAA Contracting Officers.
- Responded to DCHA and OAA inquiries on PSC contract status, progress, and issues.
- Provided ad hoc and regular reports to OAA and/or DCHA.
- Ensured assigned PSC contracts are in compliance with USAID, USG and DCHA regulations, laws, standards, procedures.
- Obligated government funds via GLAAS.
- Responsible for assuring that all information regarding the status of assigned procurement actions are in the Global Acquisition & Assistance System (GLAAS) databases and/or current systems as applicable for completion of work tasks and as per agency regulatory requirements.
- Assist in updating recruitment policies, and must respond to queries and requests by e-mail or official correspondence.
- 40 hrs/week
Contract Specialist II
CSI-PCORI Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
05.2016 - 07.2016
- Provides assistance and support in the development of the customers’ requirements packages by reviewing and/or editing the procurement documents to define the requirements and to conform to the Client’s needs/specifications.
- Perform review and editorial updates of pre-award synopses and solicitations (including amendments) and post these documents to the appropriate procurement system or application.
- Assists the Contracting Officers with the analyses of the competition requirements that may be best suited to contract actions and consistent with the need to fulfill the customer’s requirements. Performs market research into sources of supply and services to achieve socio-economic goals.
- Reviews, critiques, and/or recommends revisions to complex and non-complex statements of work to add performance-based elements to statements of work or specifications to describe tasks to be performed in results-oriented terms, establish performance standards, incentives and disincentives, acceptable quality level, develop efficient and effective quality assurance surveillance plans.
- Reviews and/or recommends revisions to the evaluation factors for technical evaluations for contractual requirements.
- Prepares and reviews supporting documents for award and administration of contractual documents, i.e., determination and findings, justifications (sole source, brand name), waivers, acquisition strategy review, and approvals for conformance with regulatory requirements and best acquisition practices.
- Conducts necessary research and analysis to assure the accuracy and integrity of the information and recommends corrective actions where necessary.
- Skilled in providing written communication sufficient to the development of a variety of documents that are clear and precise.
- 40 hrs/week
PSC Contract Specialist
Macfadden-USAID/DCHA/Office of Transition Initiatives
08.2014 - 05.2016
- Provided support to USAID offices in the contracting of humanitarian response personnel worldwide.
- Responsible for the producing and drafting of all contract documents including budgets and memos necessary to execute contracts and contract modifications for assigned actions.
- Monitored the progress of PSC actions and deadlines and ensures all assigned contracts/tasks are completed in a timely manner.
- Responsible for producing and routing all contract actions through GLAAS to the Contracting Officer.
- Served as the primary POC for DCHA, OAA, and the PSC on all aspects and execution of contract and contract modifications for assigned actions.
- Liaised with DCHA offices and with the OAA Contracting Officers.
- Responded to DCHA and OAA inquiries on PSC contract status, progress, and issues.
- Provided ad hoc and regular reports to OAA and/or DCHA.
- Ensured assigned PSC contracts are in compliance with USAID, USG and DCHA regulations, laws, standards, procedures.
- Obligated government funds via GLAAS.
- POC for Medical Clearances updates.
- POC for annual performance evaluations.
- 40 hrs/week
Contract Specialist
Midtown Personnel-GSA Central Heating Operations & Transmissions Division
08.2012 - 08.2014
- Served as a Contract Specialist for Office of Contracting and Procurement, in solicitation analysis, negotiation, awarding and administration of groups of contracts, such as definite quantity, indefinite quantity, indefinite delivery, multi-year, option year, direct vendor supply, and Federal Supply Schedules.
- Reviewed Statements of Work (SOW), modifications and amendments, task orders and purchase orders.
- Conducted pre-proposal and bid conference(s) to arrive at a clear understanding of what is required under the proposed contract. Serves as advisor to program officials in procurement planning.
- Issued necessary amendments to clarify questions concerning such topics as specification changes, language ambiguities, or clarification of contract clauses.
- Conducted market research and assembling supporting documentation to resolution and making quality recommendation.
- Performed simplifies and complex contracting for procurement of goods and services thru the use of federal acquisitions (FAR) and supplements.
- Drafted Solicitation and Source Selection plans approved by GSA Legal Team.
- Developed, prepared, and presented terms and conditions in bids or proposals related to the award of contracts.
- Selected clauses to cover special terms and conditions, such as inspection and acceptance, marking and packaging, quantity variation, price differential, or transportation costs.
- Negotiated and awarded contracts, contract modifications, and/or subcontracts.
- Performed source selection, evaluates bids, quotes, or proposals for compliance with specifications or purchase descriptions and applicable clauses.
- Considered financial responsibility of suppliers by evaluating contract performance on previous contracts.
- Analyzed proposed prices or costs, including such aspects as evaluating technical and audit reports, forecasting price trends, evaluating economic factors, estimating production efficiencies, and evaluating methods of allocating costs through various types of overhead to include general and administrative.
- Drafted final contract including specifications, packing, and shipping requirements, inspection instructions, and all other special and standard clauses.
- 40 hrs/week
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Acquisition Management
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)
Largo, MDBachelor of Science - Mass Communications
Kentucky State University
Frankfort, KY08.2011
Skills
- Computer Skills:
- Windows XP & 7; Mac OS 106 & 1015; Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook; SharePoint; Global Acquisition and Assistance Systems (PRISM); Momentum; People Trak; OTI Anywhere; GSA procurement databases including Comprizon EASi and Pegasys
- Compliance & Regulatory:
- Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR); Non-Procurement Common Rule (NCR); Administrative Compliance Agreements; Suspension & Debarment Procedures; Regulatory & Legal Research
- Technical & Investigative Tools:
- Westlaw; LexisNexis; Case Logistik; Law Enforcement Databases; Surveillance & Evidence Review Platforms; Financial Analysis Tools; Gemini Copilot; Process Automation & AI Integration; Google Workspace Suite; Microsoft Office Suite; SharePoint; SAM; FAPIIS; ChatGPT; AI Policy Awareness & Governance
- Clearance:
- Secret Clearance-2014 to 2019
- Warrant Level:
- Unlimited Contracting Officer Warrant – Issued August 15, 2022
- Simplified Acquisition Warrant, Level II – Issued June 9, 2020
Certification
- FAC-C (Professional) – February 1, 2023
- Leaders Emerging and Developing (LEAD) Program, Cohort 7 Graduate – July 11, 2023
Timeline
Contracting Officer, Capital Construction Division
GSA
10.2024 - Current
Acting Branch Chief, Construction Services Division
GSA
07.2024 - 09.2024
Contracting Officer Team Lead
GSA
06.2022 - 07.2024
Contracting Officer
GSA
06.2019 - 06.2022
Sr. Contract Specialist
Procon Consulting
10.2016 - 06.2019
Contract Specialist II
Macfadden-USAID/DCHA/Office of Crisis Surge Support Staff
07.2016 - 10.2016
Contract Specialist II
CSI-PCORI Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
05.2016 - 07.2016
PSC Contract Specialist
Macfadden-USAID/DCHA/Office of Transition Initiatives
08.2014 - 05.2016
Contract Specialist
Midtown Personnel-GSA Central Heating Operations & Transmissions Division
08.2012 - 08.2014
Bachelor of Science - Mass Communications
Kentucky State University
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Acquisition Management
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)