Contract Specialist Customer Service

Jose Luis Nunez Grullon

Oakton, VA 703-***-**** ****************@*****.*** LinkedIn

Clearance: Active Public Trust - US Citizen

Summary

Experienced Acquisition and Assistance professional with 15+ years managing USAID contracts and grants portfolios exceeding $800M, optimizing compliance processes, and driving efficiency across multi-million-dollar initiatives. Proven ability to navigate complex regulatory frameworks, ensure compliance with FAR, 2 CFR 200 and ADS guidelines, and deliver results efficiently. Recognized for excellent customer service resolving complex procurement issues, rapid decision-making, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to meeting project deadlines and achieving cost-effectiveness.

Technical Skills

Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

USAID procurement systems (PRISM/GLAAS/Abacus)

Contracts, Grants, and Cooperative Agreements Management

Regulatory Compliance and Donor Communication

Portfolio Management for International Development

Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C Professional)

Education

Dual M.A., Design and Project Management (International Cooperation Projects), Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana (Puerto Rico), and Universidad Europea del Atlántico (Spain), Jul 2023.

B.S., Computer Systems Engineer, Universidad APEC (Dominican Republic), Sep 1993.

Work Experience

Zemitek – USAID Contractor – Washington, DC

Senior Grants Specialist Oct 2024 – Present

Support the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) Grants Unit in the processing of assistance awards in a fast-paced environment. Duties include application compliance review, cost review, negotiation, generation of the award document and processing modifications. Actions include competitive and non-competitive actions for grants and cooperative agreement to Non-Governmental Organizations as well as grants to Private International Organizations (PIOs). Manage a high volume of actions reaching approximately ten actions concurrently requiring special attention to details, prioritization, and quality control.

Subject matter expert on grant processing procedures, agency and bureau policy, and compliance with federal assistance award regulations.

Lead competitive actions for BHA and serve as mentor for peers, enhancing team capacity.

Contribute to the team with best practices as a lead member based on experience with other USAID Bureaus.

Jefferson Consulting – Washington, DC

Senior Acquisition & Assistance Specialist Oct 2017 – Sep 2024

Provided expert advice on Acquisition and Assistance support to federal government clients on regulatory requirements. This includes supporting the award and administration of contracts, grants and cooperative agreements in compliance with applicable USAID regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines.

Managed portfolios exceeding $800 million for the Bureau of Global Health (GH) comprising contracts and assistance awards in dedicated assignments to the Emerging Threats, Malaria and TB teams.

Oversaw a complex notification of funding opportunity and the evaluation process in record time of over 200 applications for multiple countries under an Annual Program Statement (APS).

Experienced in the cradle-to-grave procurement cycle. Teamed with the Technical Office from the activity design to the award execution by supporting the development of pre-solicitation documentation, preparation of the solicitation or the notification of funding opportunity, following its publication in grants.gov/sam.gov, as appropriate. Participated in and supported kick-off meetings with the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) as well as provided meaningful feedback in the preparation of the TEC memo and cost realisms.

Conducted thorough cost analyses and cost reviews for both competitive and non-competitive actions. Provided support to the Contracting Officer in the preparation of the Competitive Range memoranda and the debriefings to offerors/applicants, as applicable. Prepared the award document and assisted in post award orientation meetings.

Experienced with FFP, CPFF, CPAF, PSC and PO types of contracts as well as Assistance awards and their modalities within the Grant and Cooperative Agreement format. Experienced with RFPs, RFTOPs, RFIs, BAAs, RFAs, APSs, GDAs, and BAAs.

Praised for exercising independent judgement in planning, evaluating and negotiating complex actions.

Played a pivotal role in a $3 billion complex performance-based Supply Chain solicitation for a Cost-plus Award Fee (CPAF) Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) Contract involving two Task Orders. Provided advice on procurement planning, including the development of the independent government cost estimate (IGCE), reviewing deviation memoranda, Statement of Objectives, drafting the solicitation, and providing support to technical evaluation team. Actively participated as a key member in the cost analysis of the proposals. Ensured the procurement documentation met the requirements of the Contract Review Board (CRB).

Key player in relevant assistance for the implementation of Infectious Diseases (malaria, tuberculosis, and emerging threats) programs in the Asia and African Region amounting over $85 million each. Supported the planning team in the development of the pre-obligation requirements, Program Description and the Request for Application, evaluation of the applications and negotiation of the award, as well as post award orientation and administration of the resulting awards.

Managed multiple time sensitive actions ensuring timely completion and generally exceeding the Procurement Actions Lead Time (PALTs) including the negotiation of modifications, requests for administrative approvals and processing of letters of approval.

Subject Matter Expert in procurement systems such as GLAAS/PRISM promoting efficiency within the procurement team.

ACDI/VOCA – Washington, DC

Systems Award Manager Jul 2017 – Sep 2017

Managed critical segments to the operation of the Awards Management Services (AMS) unit including prime award administration, support to the Subaward grant Management System (SAMS), and administration and maintenance of AMS information and document management systems.

Provided quality assurance to communications with donors on contractual and regulatory issues concerning award negotiations, modifications, and request for contractual approvals; and reviewed subawards and all supporting documentation including negotiation memos, budgets, program descriptions, and scopes of work.

Delivered expert advice to headquarter staff and field offices on regulatory requirements of prime awards and subawards; research and give interpretations of all donor rules and regulations for assistance and acquisition instruments.

Logical Innovations/Wits Solutions – Silver Spring, MD

Acquisition & Assistance Closeout Specialist Feb 2017 – Jul 2017

Provided acquisition and assistance closeout services for USAID awards in accordance with the Agency’s process and procedures. Accurate and timely processing of documentation, reconciliation, follow-up, and recommendation of awards in closeout status.

Optimized closeout processes, reducing processing time by 40%. Redesigned the closeout database Streamlined documentation and reporting achieving great success with a significant error reduction and improved timeliness. This resulted in successful closeout of multiple difficult long-standing contracts and agreements.

Independent Consultant – Acquisition and Assistance – Vienna, VA

Jefferson Consulting & Claro KC Sep 2016 – Feb 2017

Delivered acquisition and assistance services for USAID procurement actions for Honduras, Kenya, Mozambique and Afghanistan Missions, including cost analysis and cost realism assessments.

Key achievements include leading cost analysis efforts for USAID/Afghanistan and providing actionable recommendations for future projects.

US Agency for International Development/U.S. Embassy – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Acquisition & Assistance (A&A) Specialist Sep 2009 – Jul 2016

Provided acquisition and assistance services for USAID/Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Eastern and Southern Caribbean Missions with a combined portfolio valued at approximately $200 million. Support includes, but is not limited to, procurement planning, management of solicitation process, pre-bid conferences, negotiations with partners on costs, award terms and conditions, and modifications. As well as post award meetings, administrative issues, including waivers and approvals, close out, and property dispositions.

Conducted pre-award surveys to local non-US organizations in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

Provided IT expertise in the development of an award database to manage the regional portfolio. Results included accurate on time reporting on current portfolio and management of awards and actions.

Languages

English (Fluent)

Spanish (Native)

French (Working Knowledge)

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