Russell Keiser
Fountain Hill,PA
Summary
Warranted Contracting Officer/Team Leader with over 6 years of experience in cradle-to-grave acquisitions involving small, large, and long-term contracts. Selected as Employee of the month for October 2023. Managerial experience with excellent analytical abilities to resolve complex contract issues. Successful at building relationships with customers, coworkers, and outside agencies.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Contract Specialist
DLA Troop Support
08.2017 - Current
- Serves as a warranted GS12 Contracting Officer / Team Leader in Class IV Construction and Equipment as well as in Lumber & Operational Equipment. Performs Cradle-To-Grave contracting actions to resolve a wide variety of complex acquisition issues. Creates solicitations and posts them onto the Defense Logistics Agency Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS); then evaluates the abstract, solicitation, and vendor quotes to award contracts that are fair and reasonable. Conducts extensive market research to confirm that the proposed awardee offers the best value for the Government. Successfully negotiates with contractors for lower prices and shorter delivery times; thus, saving the Government thousands of dollars while providing war fighters expedited shipments on urgently required back-ordered items.
- Administrates C&E’s most high-priority long-term contract for Laminated Glass, which is valued at
$3,000,000.00. Fulfilled inventories for all backorders and satisfied the estimated stock demand through
November 2024 by exercising 3 out of the 4 contract options. Briefs the Director of Supplier Operations &
Division Chief regarding Smart Card updates and exercised options. Collaborates with the material planner to discuss the annual demand requirements. Plans for future purchase orders under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) to fulfill any estimated demand after November 2024. Maintains digital records to comply with company policies. - Functions as team leader for highly visible orders and time sensitive projects. Recently awarded a large buy valued $672,200.00 for Observation Windows to be used on HEMMIT and Hummer military vehicles. This special order fulfilled 38 lines and 122 EA of backorders. Negotiated a shorter delivery time with expedited large partial shipments to maintain stock.
- Prepares Acquisition Plans, Source Selection Plans, Commerciality Determinations, Pre-Negotiation
Briefing Memorandums (PBM), Price Negotiation Briefing Memorandums (PNM), Source Selection
Decision Documents, and determinations of responsibility for large procurements. Completed documents rarely require rework or input from the Contracting Officer. - Trains, influences, and motivates new employees. Serves as a backup for management during holidays. Works a flexible schedule. Reviews work performance, monitors buyer metrics, and assists contract specialists with making responsible award decisions. Assures that the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) maximizes its operations by recommending only qualified candidates for graduation from the Pathways to Career Excellence (PaCE) Program. Submits quarterly progress reports to the Section Chief and Program Administrator of the PaCE Program. Informs human resources managers and upper management regarding the viability, effectiveness, and efficiency of the training as well as the progress of the trainees.
- Oversees day-to-day funding requests for team members to ensure financial appropriations are approved. Saves time for upper management, facilitates the tracking of funds, promotes prompt awards, and guarantees that our division follows the correct funding protocol to prevent overspending.
- Modifies contracts to address a variety of post award issues, which includes extending deliveries, changing
line items, and canceling orders. Negotiates settlements to make contractual changes, such as equitable adjustments and supplemental agreements. References the appropriate Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and/ or Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to provide contract
resolution. - Identifies procurement issues, submits referrals to product specialists, and resolves all problems before
issuing contract awards. Contacts manufacturers to verify if the parts are obsolete or superseded. This has
resulted in numerous National Stock Numbers (NSNs) being revised or Proposal Requests (PRs) being
cancelled; thus, allowing the supply chain to reorder the correct part and avoid warehouse rejections. - Tracks status on critical contracts for program management staff. Performs in-depth market research,
identifies optimal acquisition strategies, and prepares contracts for approval. Reduces the backlog of solicitations. - Identifies potentially fraudulent activities, requests vendor traceability documentation, notifies the Legal
Department for when suspicious activity is detected. This helps prevent post award protests and the submission of defective items to the customers. - Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
Adjudication Examiner
PA Commonwealth Department Of Labor
01.2009 - 08.2016
- Interviewed claimants filing for unemployment benefits, then determined the types of claims to be processed. Assigned to work on special projects, which involved analyzing interstate data bases to determine claimants' eligibility for federal emergency benefits. Processed hundreds of interstate claims during the high emergency unemployment period of 2009 through 2012, which resulted in saving the PA Commonwealth thousands of dollars in payments. Investigated disputed claims, then rendered decisions on unemployment benefits, over-payments, and appeal cases by interpreting unemployment laws and following federal guidelines. Exceeded the quality of standards by averaging 11.56 counts per day. The minimal expectation was 9 counts per day. Consistently completed determinations within the mandated 21 day period, thus meeting all federal Quality Performance Indicators (QPI). As a result, the UC Service Center met its federal funding expectations and increased QPI by 6% in 2016 from the previous year.
- Testified technical analysis of facts regarding fraudulent cases and represented the Office of UC Service Centers before district magistrates. Negotiated with attorneys and claimants to persuade Guilty or No Contest pleas. Convictions increased by 31.7% in 2016 from the previous year, resulting in over $471,915.00 of prosecution awards recouped by the PA Commonwealth.
- Reviewed employer/employee contractual agreements, then rendered unemployment eligibility decisions based on self-employment, sideline business, and independent contract work.
- Evaluated claimant pension plans and severance agreements, then calculated UC benefit revisions and over-payments.
- Retrieved and paid weekly benefits by accessing and inputting data in digital based records. Tracked the status of payments via the Department of Treasury data base to inform claimants of payment history.
Manager of Marketing & Business Development
Knopf Automotive
03.2006 - 04.2008
- Controlled negotiations with active questioning, while providing patrons with realistic lease and finance alternatives for vehicles. Reviewed and calculated payment plans and provided price and cost analysis of competing brands to customers. Closed deals on automotive lease and finance contracts, averaging 7 sales per week.
- Maintained a customer satisfaction rating of 99.6% and lease loyalty of 82% through consistent follow-ups, offering special incentives, meticulous needs assessment, solid product knowledge, and exceptional interpersonal skills.
- Acquired new customers by offering referral incentives, cold calling, direct mailings, advertising, Internet leads and networking with the service department clientèle.
- Received inbound vehicle sales calls and provided vehicle information, then scheduled appointments with prospective customers.
- Maintained a customer satisfaction rating of 99.6% and lease loyalty of 82% through consistent follow-ups, offering special incentives, meticulous needs assessment, solid product knowledge, and exceptional interpersonal skills.
- Acquired new customers by offering referral incentives, cold calling, direct mailings, advertising, Internet leads and networking with the service department clientèle.
- Trained, motivated, and managed 10 sales team representatives. Followed up with thank-you letters at correspondence of 30, 60, and 90 days, with regular satisfaction surveys, promotional offers, and product information offerings.
- Received inbound vehicle sales calls and provided vehicle information, then scheduled appointments with prospective customers.
- Performed client-specific research, account management, and client support.
- Designed direct mailings, magazine advertisements and radio ad scripts.
- Planned and coordinated Porsche Club meetings and special marketing events.
- Listened to customer complaints, then resolved issues by answering questions using calm discourse.
Education
Defense Acquisition University
Fort Belvoir, VABBA - Marketing
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA05.2005
Associate of Arts - Business Administration
Bucks County Community College
Newtown, PA05.2003
Skills
Following Contracting Policies and Regulations
Customer Service
Needs assessments & Conflict Management
Contract Performance Monitoring
Strategic/Critical Thinking
Interpersonal Skills
Developing/Mentoring Others
Problem Solving
Influencing/Negotiating
Resilience & Flexibility
Certification
- Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level I Certified Acquisition Professional in Contracting, 6/19/2019, Philadelphia, PA
- Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level II Certified Acquisition Professional
in Contracting, 1/24/2020, Philadelphia, PA
Timeline
Contract Specialist
DLA Troop Support
08.2017 - Current
Adjudication Examiner
PA Commonwealth Department Of Labor
01.2009 - 08.2016
Manager of Marketing & Business Development
Knopf Automotive
03.2006 - 04.2008
Defense Acquisition University
BBA - Marketing
Temple University
Associate of Arts - Business Administration
Bucks County Community College
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