Information Technology Project Management

Kamala M. Tiwarri

********@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Professional in Legal/ Contracts and Program Management with extensive experience and strong interest in full-lifecycle contracts management. Capable of providing legal perspective and providing supporting research. Able to organize and manage projects with minimal supervision. Also, able to provide project management.

Skills include:

●Oversight of full-lifecycle contracts administration/management

●Adherence to compliance and due diligence requirements & negotiations

●Development of contracts documentation and tracking systems

●Providing consulting services in procurement and contracting matters

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Mastech Digital May 2024-present

Procurement - Contract Reviewer at KPMG through Mastech Digital Project position to provide contract review and other contract projects as needed.

Information Technology Strategies, LLC June 2023-March 2024

Contracts Manager

Responsible for the review, negotiation and administration of agreements, contracts, and other contractual instruments for the financial and programmatic support of IT-Strat’s activities ensuring all legal and required provisions are included.

●Negotiate or renegotiate new and existing agreements or statements of work. Ensure readability and comprehensibility of procurement documents, agreements, and contracts, while adhering to company standards and legal requirements.

●Review and manage contractual obligations and provide continual review to ensure that all terms and conditions are met and to ensure good customer relations while also representing the interests of the company.

●Monitor supplier and service provider performance; communicate with suppliers and service providers on contract terms and manage dispute resolution.

●Prepare and disseminate information regarding contract status, compliance, and modifications to department directors/managers.

●Analyze impact of modifications and revisions and prepare and communicate recommendations to management. Advise management of contract commitments, deficiencies, commitments, and performance.

●Review the scope of work and other materials related to contracts and procurement; provide guidance to programs in drafting solicitation documents, such as request for proposals (RFPs), documented quotes (DQs), and sole source justifications. Ensure alignment between the proposal narrative, scope of work, evaluation criteria, evaluation scorecard, the contract, and other contract procurement documents.

●Actively partner with stakeholders to understand the scope of work; develop contract language for deliverables and program requirements.

●Provide procurement and contractual guidance to staff, project managers, and contract stakeholders. Recommend and coordinate the implementation of policies and procedures for assigned functions and assist in developing new policies and procedures.

●Provide research services, and analysis as directed by the Executive Leadership.

PolyCon Solutions July 2022-May 2023

Senior Contracts Specialist/Team Lead

●Served as a trusted adviser to the client in all acquisition related matters, from pre-award

strategic planning to contract close out actions, and as the focal point for all communication

on client projects.

• Provided simultaneous support and recommendations to multiple Government COs or

Program offices in a complex procurement environment.

• Managed a portfolio of several contracts in various phases of the acquisition lifecycle

Pre-award: contributed to the preparation, review and revision of acquisition

documents for executive level reviews including Chief Financial Officer and

Acquisition Strategy Board; drafted strategic acquisition documents including

business cases, strategy plans, and high-level briefings; drafts all solicitation

documents including SIRs, IGCEs, Evaluation Plans and criteria, etc.;

o Source Selection: reviewed Source Selection policies and provide recommended

revisions; provides discussion and negotiation support to the Contracting Officer

and Contract Specialist; assists in the Source Selection process by developing

evaluation plans; assisting with cost/price analyses; facilitates evaluation

discussions; drafting evaluation reports and source selection documents, etc.

o Contract Administration: developed and maintained contract and program/project

schedules, highlighting any interdependencies; drafts contract communications

including modifications and memorandums; develops and maintains contract file

databases; reviews invoices and makes payment recommendations; tracks funding

and provides burn rate projections; provides Qualitative and Quantitative (Q&Q)

analysis support

• Developed and maintains acquisition schedules using MS Project and, interprets and reports

progress accordingly.

• Provided recommendations on various contracting issues to include processes, procedures,

and improvements;

• Drafted and reviewed incoming and outgoing contract correspondence and alert the CO/CS of

any contract implications

• Oversaw the preparation, tracking, and archival of all procurement documents using

existing databases or tools such as eDOCs, SharePoint, and PRISM.

• Mentored and supervised work assignments of junior contracting professionals.

OCT Consulting, LLC, McLean, VA

Program-Project Manager/Senior Management Analyst October 2021-July 2022

Supporting government client’s Front Office business processes and program management activities for the procurement line of business. Responsibilities and duties included: providing management and oversight of a team of seven (7) working across four distinct tasks, supporting the implementation, and staffing of new processes for official correspondence and task management, conducting research and analysis, producing reports and presentations, and other work, as requested.

DJS Consulting Group, Alexandria, VA

Contracts Manager/ Acquisition Liaison December 2019 through September 2021

●Provide guidance to USDA client(s) regarding Acquisition policies and procedures as well as best practices for implementing procurement/acquisition actions. (Including but not limited to assisting with drafting of statements of work, performance work statements IG forms, etc.)

●Ensuring the client has all documentation needed for successful award of contracts.

USPS OIG, Rosslyn, VA

Sr. Information Technology Procurement Specialist [Contract Position via DYSIS] August 2017 – December 2019

●This position facilitated development and implementation of information technology (IT) capabilities planning and fulfillment strategies to deliver the most efficient, effective, and secure IT solutions practical to meet the needs of the USPS Office of Inspector General.

●The supplier works with stakeholders (both leadership and subject matter experts) and applies IT management fundamentals, as well as strategic planning and contract management, to ensure IT initiatives support current and future agency needs.

●Helped ensure enterprise IT strategies, plans, and activities align with the agency’s business goals.

●Developed multi year sourcing plans and oversees creation and execution of strategic sourcing initiatives.

●Participated in IT strategic planning, savings tracking, supplier development, and service improvements.

●Identified opportunities to improve spend analytics data and insights, use of eSourcing, other IT sourcing processes, contract management, and compliance with USPS OIG procurement regulations.

●Worked with key stakeholders, directors, and managers to determine the agency’s IT product and service requirements and whether they should be fulfilled via in house or contracted efforts or a mix of both.

●Helped develop source selection solicitation documents including statements of work, statements of objectives, requests for information, and other information needed for contractors to understand the agency’s requirements.

●Conducted market research to establish technical requirements and identify vendors and contractors.

●Assisted Contracting Officer Representatives in providing technical oversight and guidance or interpretation of technical requirements to assist project participants, including vendors and contractors, in understanding technical requirements.

●Facilitated technical reviews to ensure statements of work and statements of objectives have complete and accurate technical requirements, to establish sound technical review criteria, and to establish the scope within which all parties to each contract must work.

●Developed pre established sets of criteria to determine which contractors offer the best value for the agency and supports panels evaluating contract proposals and bids against those criteria.

●Worked closely with project teams and contractors to ensure products and services satisfy the agency’s requirements in terms of quality, timeliness, completeness, and cost; coordinates, tracks, reviews, and accepts or rejects deliverables; and certifies funding for contracting actions.

●Prepared government cost estimates, conducted cost benefit analyses, forecasted budget requirements, and recommended funding actions; recommends funds de obligation when appropriate.

●Helped ensure all technical issues relating to projects and contracts are managed effectively, documents project actions, and maintains relevant records.

●Worked hand in hand with Contract Officers to resolve any contract related issues.

●Tracked and reported delay and ensured project teams and contractors correct all defects and omissions.

●Suggested and initiated necessary contract modifications and determines whether new work is within the scope of the project and contract, or the scope should be modified.

●Advised Contract Officers of any need to issue change orders, develop estimates for equitable adjustments, or assist in evaluating contractor claims.

●Performed technical reviews of contractors’ proposed changes.

●Provided technical information for projects and decisions.

●Conducted project and contract close out activities, to include verifying completion of all deliverables, and reviewing and storing records used during the effort, and forwards relevant documentation to Contract Officers upon contract close out.

●Influenced agency policy and guidelines related to selection, development, implementation, and use of IT.

●Fostered shared infrastructure, applications, and processes to eliminate unnecessary duplication, ensure alignment with agency business and IT strategies, reduce costs, and improve information flow.

●Helped ensure projects comply with enterprise configuration management and architectural constructs.

●Assisted in developing measures to evaluate performance and makes recommendations for program improvement.

●Identified and resolved unique issues where no policy exists, taking innovative actions as appropriate.

Fannie Mae (Project Assignment through Aerotek), Herndon, VA

Senior Contracts Management Associate September 2014 – August 2017

●This was a project through Aerotek/Allegis to provide senior level contract management.

●Primary skills for this project include but are not limited to the following management services to Fannie Mae:

●Contract Management/Administration, Review, and Negotiation

●Negotiated and executed contracts, statements of work and/or amendments for Consulting services with contingent workforce suppliers.

●Developed less complex Requests for Information (RFI) and Requests for Proposals (RFP) for competitive bidding (Quick Bids) and communicate terms to prospective Suppliers.

●Developed supplier selection criteria and work with key stakeholders in rating Competitive bids

●Evaluated supplier responses, mitigate risks and make final recommendation to key Internal stakeholders

Tasley Pharmaceuticals (Contract Assignment via RHI), Rockville, MD

Contractor June 2014

●This Project involved providing legal research and the creation of boilerplate, defensible, compliant contract/agreement templates, including General T's & C's, Customer Contracts, Vendor Agreements, Purchase Agreements, Strategic Partner Agreements, NDA's and Outside Counsel Guidelines.

The Pew Charitable Trusts (Contract Position via Peter San Legal Staffing), Washington, DC

Senior Associate, Contracts and Procurement Services September 2013 – May 2014

●Assisted operations and program staff (requestors/buyers) with the purchase requisition process, including: confirming budget availability, source of funding and proper coding; providing market pricing information in support of price negotiations; helping to properly document how contract pricing was derived; assisting with writing scopes of work and deliverables when requested and linking payment schedules to deliverables when appropriate; providing consultative services to requestors, subject matter experts and vendors; assisting in the determination of the appropriate contractual and/or purchasing vehicle to use for each purchase request, in accordance with Pew policy and procedures; and evaluating requisition packages for completeness and proper pre-approvals and sign-offs.

●Facilitated vendor selection and due diligence process, including: deploying an established list of preferred vendors by service-type and related performance evaluations to help requestors with the vendor selection process; developing strategic sourcing plans in consultation with requestors when asked; developing proposal solicitation strategies and managing voluntary RFP processes; and coordinating the distribution and/or collection of vendor due diligence information, including but not limited to self-certification forms and domestic and international tax identification documents.

●Participated in the negotiation of legal terms and conditions and pricing upon request, including assisting with gathering comparable market pricing information and negotiating best price to ensure quality goods and services are being purchased for a reasonable price.

●Created contract packages, including: creating complete, accurate and properly coded contract agreements, purchase orders and related fee and expense line items; performing quality assurance checks; facilitating the review, approval and execution of final contract documents by authorized Pew and vendor signers; properly archiving approved documents; ensuring Pew’s information systems contain complete and accurate vendor, procurement, contracting and coding information; and sending contracts to designated vendors.

●Consistently monitored key contract dates and terms and the contract closeout process, including: assisting with resolution of issues involving contract terms and conditions, deliverables and payments; generating monthly contract aging and other reports to facilitate monitoring and collaborating with requestor to determine if contract should be closed or amended; soliciting requestor confirmation that all deliverables have been received and all invoices paid; and completing contract closeout checklists and securing requestors’ approval to close contracts and/or purchase orders and rescind any remaining encumbrances.

●Actively participated in special projects, as assigned, which may include project coordination, project management, inter and intra-departmental collaboration, research, analysis and writing: and developing solutions and resolving issues based upon abstract thinking and in-depth analysis, collaborating with colleagues and other staff to determine a resolution.

The Nature Conservancy (Contract Position via Sparks), Arlington, VA

Contracts Manager September 2012 – November 2012

●Reviewed, edited, and drafted, and prepared for legal review, moderate to complex non-routine contractual instruments for TIS staff including Requests for Proposals (RFPs), statements of work, contracts, contract amendments and extensions, and other related items.

●Maintained excellent knowledge of TNC corporate policies and procedures and worked to identify needed improvements to established policies in keeping with the underlying principles.

●Interfaced with grants coordinator, philanthropy coordinator and other departments on behalf of the TIS staff to formulate and disseminate best practices with regard to procurement, contracting, grants, and donations.

●Analyzed and identified issues in preparation for collaboration with legal staff with regard to complex contract negotiations and works with legal staff to develop strategies to work the issues to resolution.

●Used independent judgment and creativity to resolve contract issues in keeping with the organizational hierarchy of authority.

●Created and maintained reference materials, training materials and provides training and guidance to TIS staff regarding contracts/grants/donations workflow process.

●Streamlined and systematized contracts workflow.

●Maintained and reviewed a central repository (both electronic and hard copy) of all TIS legal documents including contracts, grants, donations, RFPs, delegation of authority, etc.

●Interfaced with business unit management teams, project or product managers, mid-to senior level TIS management, and vendor/supplier legal department.

Booz Allen Hamilton (Contract Position via Aerotek), McLean, VA

Senior Subcontracts Administrator December 2011 – June 2012

●Provided strategy advice, counsel, and recommendations to staff and potential subcontractors on systems and integration procurement issues.

●Supported and facilitated proposal process and RFP drafting and review.

●Assisted with the identification and formulation of teaming strategies with Fortune 500 software and hardware providers and their integration into proposals and project delivery.

●Reviewed proposal and RFP/RFQ’s for compliance and accuracy.

●Supported new business development initiatives.

●Negotiated and administered subcontracts and teaming and non-disclosure agreements within the company. Ensure compliance with Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR) and self-governance requirements.

Grant Thornton, LLC, Alexandria, VA

Senior Associate (Contracts Manager) February 2011 – May 2011

●In this role as Senior Contracts Manager, I was responsible for supporting the Grant Thornton, Global Public Sector (GPS) business unit and all other business units within the company involving State and Local market from pre-award and post award contracts.

●Responsible for leading and conducting proposal preparation, contract negotiation and the administration of major state and local contracts and subcontracts in accordance with company policies and procedures, applicable laws, and customer requirements.

●Provided advice to project teams on contract management and policy compliance matters.

●Served as the subject matter expert on State and Local contracts and subcontract agreements.

●Provided advice on complex requirements of the Requests for Proposals, contracts, and subcontracts, and providing continual review to ensure that all terms and conditions are met while identifying areas of risk.

●Negotiated and finalized contract and subcontract documents with contracting officers and other contracting representatives to ensure consistency with the solicitation and proposal.

●Prepared and disseminated information regarding contract status, compliance, and modifications.

●Developed and integrated contract management tools, templates, and processes for companywide engagements.

Ceridian Corporation, Arlington, VA

Government Contracts Manager December 2008 – November 2010

●"Cradle to Grave" administration responsibility of all Ceridian federal, state and local government and public sector contracts for non-personal services, including Ceridian's GSA HR/EEO and MOBIS contracts.

●Acted as liaison with all areas of Ceridian's business to ensure compliance with GSA requirements as well as requirements of contracts issued pursuant to the FAR.

●Assisted with proposal preparation/drafting and review for successful re-bid/WIN of the largest EAP contract ever awarded by DOD administered through DOI.

●Performed all duties of Small Business Liaison Officer in absence of this position being filled at Ceridian.

●(From 12/2008-12/2009)

●Worked to develop and maintain a subcontractor tracking and reporting system within Ceridian’s available systems.

●Worked with various departments within Ceridian including Finance, Sales, and Human Resources to gather data and develop processes for keeping data up to date and compliant.

●Maintained compliance with federal requirements on all major contracts awarded under the FAR and private sector contracts that have embedded federal requirements.

●Maintained an active leadership role in all public sector submissions responding to Request for Proposals issued under both FAR and individual agency criteria, ensuring that Ceridian will be compliant with all requirements.

●Responsible for tracking and coordinating billing, and for issuance and collection of invoices for standalone services and/or one-time events e.g., Performance Learning Training

●Assisted with updating annual registrations for Central Contractor Registration and GSA Advantage.

EDUCATION

University of Baltimore School of Law, Baltimore, MD

Juris Doctor, Concentration in International & Comparative Law 2000

University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Bachelor of Arts, Criminology and Criminal Justice 1994

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