Procurement, vendor and contract

ROBERT MERLE HARDISON

**** ********* **** • Columbia, South Carolina 29206

803-***-**** (Cell) • ***********@*****.***

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-hardison-cppo-01bb6318 PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Procurement professional with more than 15 years of public procurement experience and over 10 years of federal (FAR) contracting and project management experience with TVA and DOE (Lockheed Martin Utility Services). Skilled at source selection, contract administration/vendor management, project management, negotiations, warehouse operations, staff management, and training and development. Performed source selection and contract administration for goods, services and construction. Prepared Requests for Proposals and Invitation for Bids for procurement of goods and services, including information technology (IT) hardware and software. Developed evaluation criteria and scorecards for source selection process. Ensured timely completion and suitability of contract deliverables. Responsible for contract terms and conditions and ensuring legal compliance to Procurement Code and Regulations. SKILLS

• Purchasing/Procurement • Inventory Management • Risk Management • Market Research

• Contract Administration/Change Management • Source Selection and Contract Award Process

• Team Leadership / Motivation • Process Improvement • Negotiations • Price/Cost Analysis

• Vendor/Supplier Relations • Cost Savings/Avoidance • Project Management • Planning/Scheduling

• Microsoft Office Suite, Project • IT hardware/software procurement EXPERIENCE

RICHLAND COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE • Columbia, South Carolina • 12/2002 – 05/2019 Director, Procurement and Warehouse Services

• Directed staff of (26) persons, including warehouse, printing, logistics and maintenance support

• Prepared RFPs and evaluated proposals, issued invitation for bids and purchase orders, incorporated instructions, terms and conditions

• Managed commercial and technical portions of contracts, issued contractual/administrative directives for the technical scope of work, managed negotiations, composed contracts (financial, legal, technical), reported contract performance, resolved contract controversies and protests

• Managed sourcing of all goods and services including construction; vetting suppliers, maximizing business with small, women and minority vendors

• Thorough knowledge of source selection process; pre-award and post award

• Excellent relationship builder and analytical person with excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Offer superior judgment, and meticulous organizational skills

• Analytical performer with considerable price dispute, contract controversy and protest resolution experience.

• Thorough knowledge of South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code and District Procurement Code

• Implemented district-wide program to ensure compliance to 2 CFR 200 for federal grant compliance

• Controlled budget and financial management for department

• Performed market research and cost/price analysis to ensure price reasonableness

• Responsible for major IT procurements of software and hardware, including the procurement, consultant oversight, and implementation of an ERP system

Achievements:

• Established P-card program that provided significant purchasing efficiencies, cost savings and rebates

• Recognized with National Institute for Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Outstanding Agency Award for procurement organization in 2006, one of only 88 institutions to receive the award

• Earned designation as a Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO)

• Provided project management and procurement expertise for the successful implementation of an ERP financial system

• Exceeded established district goals for S/W/MBE participation WEBSTER UNIVERSITY • Shaw AFB, Sumter, South Carolina • 1/2008 – 12/2018 (Part Time - Evenings) Adjunct Professor

• Taught government contracting courses for the George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology, Master of Arts program in Procurement and Acquisitions Management at Shaw AFB ROBERT MERLE HARDISON • Page 2 • ***********@*****.***

• Instructed courses Procurement and Acquisitions Management, Pricing, and Negotiations, included Negotiations (FAR Part 15); Sealed Bidding (FAR Part 14), Market Research (FAR Part 10), Cost Principles (FAR Part 31) and Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses (FAR Part 52)

HOWDEN BUFFALO • Camden, South Carolina • 2000 - 2001 Senior Project Manager

• Maintained up to $5 million in heavy-duty industrial fan orders

• Ensured timely order fulfillment to meet company performance and revenue goals

• Directed development of project scheduling and status reporting system

• Supervised, trained, and mentored five project managers, one warranty administrator, and an administrative assistant

• Implemented a corporate-wide Project Management department establishing processes, protocols, and procedures based on the PMI PMBOK

NUKEM NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION • Columbia, South Carolina • 1999 - 2000 Contracts Manager

• Served as company negotiator and representative delivering profitable risk-free contracts

• Provided contract administration to ensure insurance risk management, legal and regulatory compliance, and profitable and efficient business and facility operations

• Ensured contract conformance with FAR provisions and ASME Code requirements

• Managed policies and procedures development and implementation to streamline contract negotiations and pricing

• Developed offices, warehouses, equipment, and company car leases to meet company operational requirements UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL • Batesburg, South Carolina • 1997 - 1999 Buyer

• Performed procurement of materials, commodities, castings, and forgings for company’s main product line LOCKHEED MARTIN UTILITY SERVICES, INC • Piketon, Ohio / Paducah, Kentucky Contracts Buyer

• Competitively awarded large services contracts with values exceeding $100 million

• Managed commercial and technical portions of contracts, prepared and evaluated RFPs and proposals, issued contractual/administrative directives for the technical scope of work, managed negotiations, composed contracts

(financial, legal, technical)

• Reported contract performance

• Resolved contract claims, issued change orders and modifications to contracts

• Issued task orders with scope and pricing.

• Administered cost reimbursement and fixed price contracts, supervised the technical and commercial compliance of tasks and projects from inception to completion, and mastered federal government contracting procedures. Prepared contractual documentation in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Achievements:

• Received Customer Satisfaction Award at Lockheed Martin from internal customers for outstanding performance in meeting critical deadlines

• Negotiated multiple large construction contracts resulting in over $2 million in cost savings TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY (TVA) • Chattanooga, Tennessee / Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Contract Administrator / Project Manager

• Developed scope of work for contracts, issued RFPs, evaluated proposals, made contract award recommendations, supported negotiations, and managed contracts to technical specifications

• Provided direction to contractors to ensure projects were completed on time and within budget; analyzed and settled claims; and determined accuracy of contractor’s records, time, and charges

• Provided direction to contractors, determined acceptability of work and technical adequacy of project deliverables Achievements:

• Established and maintained a contract work package concept for cost plus incentive fee contracts

• Administered award fee program for contractor performance with $16 million award fee potential based on performance and milestone incentives. Implemented award fee strategy which resulted in significant cost savings and allowed additional work to be performed

ROBERT MERLE HARDISON • Page 3 • ***********@*****.*** EDUCATION

Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri • Procurement and Acquisitions Management, M.A. University of Findlay, Findlay, Ohio • Environmental Management, M.S. Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York • Liberal Studies, B.A. University of the State of New York, Albany, New York • Liberal Studies, B.S. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS

Institute for Public Procurement (NIGP)

South Carolina Associate of Governmental Procurement Officers (SCAGPO) Project Management Institute (PMI) * Currently studying to take examination for PMP designation American Society of Public Administration (ASPA)

American Bar Association (ABA)

National Contract Management Association (NCMA)

CERTIFICATIONS

UPPCC Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) Certificate No. 1454 PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS

Presentation on Pricing Methods for Public Procurement 2 CFR 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards

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