Nicole J. Edwards

• Serves as Program Director to the RESTORE Act team
• Provides expert technical and procedural advice, guidance, and interpretation to the program staff, awardees, prospective awardees, pertaining to grants issued and multiyear plans accepted under the RESTORE Act
• Authorizes and administers pre- and post-award operations (e.g., new awards, amendments, Satisfaction of Special Award Conditions, Notice to Proceed with Constructions approvals) and exercises oversight of such operations to ensure coordination, efficiency, responsiveness and adherence to sound servicing principles, policies, and operating methods in the awards program
• Approves OGCR Compliance Results Letter and Reports completed by OGCR Compliance and TRAC (now ACT Team) that address RESTORE grantees’ compliance and noncompliance with appropriate federal and state regulations, that trust fund monies are used according to the purposes outlined in the RESTORE Act, and appropriate measures are taken by grantees to prevent fraud, waste, and misuse of resources
• Oversees and provides input on the development of single post award procedures document for program and financial reporting, OGCR-led compliance reviews, and site visits which will ensure effective monitoring and management of RESTORE grants
• Identification and development of program implementation strategies and procedural alternatives for new initiatives and activities, pertaining to the implementation of OGCR’s new standardized performance metrics, and the new RGMS development features under Sprint 3 development
• Disseminated OGCR revised Internal and External RGMS User Guides to OGCR staff, and the eligible RESTORE entities (External User Guide), which are applicable to the administration of procedures and oversight of grant awards
• Submits monthly DATA Act assurances at the request of Treasury’s Financial Management Branch (FMB) POC pertaining to USASpending uploads by OGCR for both OGCR grant programs
• Provides OGCR's decision in response to FMB’s bi-monthly requests for RESTORE decision on investment options to reinvest maturing securities from the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund.
• Oversees the recruitment of OGCR RESTORE Engineer (currently underway) and a Treasury short-term detail opportunity for an OGCR Awards Program Analyst position. Realigned workload among OGCR Awards Team to ensure continued operations with the extended military leave and a departure of OGCR Award Staff
• Oversees the receipt and processing of final financial and performance reports required from awardees, and closing out awards when all requirements are met
• Begun the process of updating OGCR’s policies and procedures document to ensure OGCR’s implementation of the new 2 CFR 200 updates
• Provide update on OGCR operations/priorities during OCA Weekly Meetings with OCA’s Chief Program Officer; during bi-weekly meetings with OCA’s Deputy Chief Program Officer. Lead weekly meetings with OGCR Senior Awards Manager and Compliance Manager regarding OGCR operations and management priorities. Lead weekly meetings with OGCR staff to discuss management priorities, status of workload, priorities Program Director tasks, etc
• Work collaboratively with Treasury’s Office of General Counsel, Office of Civil Rights, Human Resources, FMB, Budget Staff, and other stakeholders on RESTORE related grants actions
• Work effectively with Treasury’s Human Resources staff, on matters pertaining to OGCR budget, hiring, travel, promotion, special act awards, etc
• Ensured that Treasury’s Internal Control Team has the requested information to complete their annual A-123 review of internal controls of RESTORE

Office of Gulf Coast Restoration (OGCR), 40 hrs./week, GS-1109, $180,359.00

• Supervise, coach, and mentor a grants team, offer technical and administrative oversight and support.
• Manage the implementation of the full grant life cycle of OGCR grants with portfolios that include programs and projects that restore and protect the environment within eligible Gulf Coast regions
• Ensure projects and programs are in compliance with 2 CFR 200, RESTORE Act and regulation, award terms and condition, and other laws pertaining to grants
• Provide expert recommendation to internal and external stakeholders on grants related actions; resolve complex and difficult grants issues
• Prepare and deliver expert oral and written feedback/presentations on complex issues to Treasury’s internal and external stakeholders that are exceptionally, clear, effective, and appropriate for the audience; review staffs’ oral and written materials to ensure similar outcome
• Provide expert recommendations on agency-wide policies and procedures to internal and external stakeholders
• Leverage available resources to ensure that the grants team is appropriately staffed
• Assists with the development of OGCR’s new grants management system. Effectively served as the proxy for the OGCR Program Director for decisions regarding the RGMS development under Sprint 3
• Conducts and Coordinate briefings and reports to upper management
• Provide expert guidance during OGCR’s trainings, site visits, townhalls, and webinars
• Monitor and analyze changing laws, regulations and policies pertaining to grants; continuously provide expert guidance on the update and development of OGCR’s policies and procedures
• Works effectively with Treasury's Employee and Labor Relations Staff on staff performance issues; and with Treasury's Equal Employment Manager to establish a reasonable accommodation for staff
• Received recognition from the prior OGCR RESTORE Director for effectively serving as the Acting Program Director on multiple occasions in her absence

Office of Gulf Coast Restoration (OGCR), 40 hrs./week, GS-0343-14, $138,866.00

· Served as OGCR Federal Project Officer, Grant Management Specialist, and Acting Supervisory Grants Management Specialist (as needed)

· Served as OGCR Program Manager on a contract for Federal grant trainings on 2 C.F.R.200 requirements to all eligible RESTORE entities and their subrecipients

· Served as OGCR Program Manager on Best Available Science, Environmental Compliance, and Onsite Construction Reviews

· Reviewed contractors' invoices to verify costs against deliverables

· Managed construction and non-construction grants portfolios from pre-award through grant closeout

· Analyzed Direct Component applications for reasonableness of the scope of work, environmental compliance, grant performance, and compliance with Federal regulations and RESTORE Act program requirements

· Coordinated the reviews of grant related actions with Treasury's OGCR Compliance Team, Office of General Counsel, and Office of Civil Rights Division

· Made recommendations to OGCR Grant Review Panel for approval or disapproval of grant applications

· Provided expert technical support to internal and external stakeholders

· Recruited and trained new staff

· Represented OGCR during internal and external meetings

Key Accomplishments:

· Assisted with the formation of Treasury’s OGCR grant programs

· Developed and updated OGCR policies and procedures

Compliance Division, 40 hrs./week, GS-0343-13, $92,922

• Analyzed administrative and financial capabilities of non-profit organizations whose pending EPA award(s) exceeded the pre-award threshold of $200,000; pre-award certified non-profits for four years
• Led onsite and desk reviews of EPA HQ grantees
• Trained Headquarters and Regional Staff on Grants Compliance and Grantee Compliance Database
• Performed Audit Follow-up Coordinator duties for EPA HQ
• Participating in Agency-wide and regional working groups on the development of guidance, procedures, and policies

Office of Grants and Debarment, 40 hrs./week, GS-1109-12, $74,872

• Managed portfolio of over 100 EPA HQ grants from pre-award to grant closeout
• Ensured that assigned grants followed applicable EPA statutes, federal regulations, OMB Cost Principles, and EPA assistance policies and procedures
• Provided technical expert advice to EPA Program Offices and grantees and worked closely with them to resolve issues that surfaced in all phases of grants administration
• Trained new Grants Management Specialist staff on OGD's grants management processes
• Conducted Onsite and Desk reviews of grantees
• Kept abreast of the applicable regulations, policies, procedures related to pre-award review, post-award monitoring, and closeout of EPA assistance agreements

Other

• Organized EPA's first Office of Grants and Debarment Health Awareness/Walkathon with other EPA HQ Offices to improve employee health and awareness

Suspension and Debarment Division (SDD), 40 hrs./week, GS-1109-12, $74,872

• Assisted SDD Debarment Attorneys with researching and evaluating information and evidence
• Established nexus needed to open and pursue cases that may involve fraud, waste, abuse, poor performance, or environmental crimes; and generated written documents reporting review results
• Conducted checks with Intergovernmental Suspension and Debarment Committee to coordinate assignment of lead agency on cases; and with other agencies (e.g., DOJ) to acquire Personal Identifiable Information
• Maintained SDD Case Management System Repository for tracking and storing each case
• Prepared investigatory reports and recommendations for case closures

Office of Personnel Management, 40 hrs./week, GS-0301-09, $49,712

• Assisted with administrative functions related to personnel matters on human resources operations and programs
• Reviewed internal and external correspondence to ensure compliance with established regulations, guidelines, timeliness, and regulatory references
• Maintained records management system
• Participated in audits of Division's component human resources operations and programs

703rd Logistical Support Division, 40+/week

• Supervised and managed a team of 10 personnel, which consisted of assigning daily workload, coordinating and leading military training, evaluating soldiers and contractors performance
• Utilized Army Retail Supply System to maintain inventory, procurement, and distribution of supplies valued at more than $100M
• Distributed Supplies to Operating Base Falcon and Forward Logistics Elements within International Zones of Baghdad, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom III
• Maintained inventory accuracy rate of over 98% on all warehouse parts during Operations Iraqi Freedom III deployment

Community Development Department, 40 hrs./week, $40,000

• Served as the Team Lead for the Village of Mount Prospect Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), coordinating with Village Departments on administrating the grant program
• Administered the Village's CDBG program that includes projects and programs that provide after school activities for at-risk youths, and employment training for low income population
• Coordinated with Village staff to prepare the Village's annual Comprehensive Planning Document for CDBG program as required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Conducted onsite visits and desk reviews of the Village's CDBG grantees
• Coordinated with HUD's Community Development Planning Representative on all matters of the Village's CDBG Program.

Executive Office of the Mayor, 40 hrs./week, $10/hr., Supervisor: Assistants to the Mayor (4)

• Worked directly with the Mayor's Office staff on matters related to budgetary, legislative, and programmatic areas of the City of Chicago government