Contracting Specialist - Noblis

Responsibilities

Overview: 

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is a research funding agency that supports transformative biomedical and health breakthroughs to provide health solutions for all.  

ARPA-H advances high-potential, high-impact biomedical and health research that cannot be readily accomplished through traditional research or commercial activity. ARPA-H awardees are developing entirely new ways to tackle the hardest challenges in health. With a scope spanning the molecular to the societal, ARPA-H programs have the potential to radically improve everyone's health. Their streamlined awards process enables us to act quickly and catalyze cutting-edge biomedical and health research. ARPA-H creates an environment to support the best ideas from Program Managers that bring together dynamic teams to solve the toughest health challenges.  

As an ARPA-H (Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health) Advanced Contracting Specialist for the Strategic Technical ARPA-H Talent Support (STATS) Program at Noblis, you will be part of our Health Solutions account team, where you will leverage your financial management, budget analysis, and acquisition experience providing planning, execution, monitoring, and oversight of research and development (R&D) programs throughout their lifecycle, directly supporting Federal PM and the ARPA-H leaders to deliver transformative, sustainable, and equitable health solutions for the Nation. 

This is an opportunity for someone with significant government contracting experience in R&D and ARPA settings to work with an exceptionally talented and high-performing team on challenging and cutting-edge healthcare projects.  ARPA-H advances high-potential, high-impact biomedical, healthcare, and health research that cannot be readily accomplished through traditional research or commercial activity. Key focus areas of ARPA-H research portfolio will include Health Science Futures (expanding what’s technically possible), Scalable Solutions (reaching everyone quickly), Proactive Health (keeping people from being patients), and Resilient Systems (building integrated healthcare systems). 

Role Description: 

Noblis is seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Advanced Contracting Specialist to join our team at ARPA-H (Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health).  

As an ARPA-H Intermediate Contracting Specialist (PATIO), you will be responsible for coordinating and assisting in the development of contractor procurements and R&D solicitations, assisting with the development and administration of ARPA-H projects to include tasks such as: development of acquisition documents, solicitation material, administration of source selection reviews, and assessing technical solutions. Assist with monitoring project performance and assists in the review of contract deliverables to ensure technical, programmatic, and financial goals and objectives are met. You will also manage OTA and BAA proposals and contract award negotiations and liaise with ARPA-H’s PATIO office for contract requirements, and coordinate cost proposal and technical proposal evaluations. This role involves both pre- award and post-award support, ensuring effective management and administration of various contractual processes and their related documents and procurement workflow reporting.

Responsibilities and Duties: 

• Provide comprehensive acquisition expertise and hands on support preparation and processing of acquisition documents including actions such as Other Transaction Authority (OTAs) and Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) primarily for research efforts. This includes: 

• Pre-Award Support  

• Assist the Contracting Officer in the organization, management, and administration of complex contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, IDIQ Task Orders, and other contractual documents. 

• Conduct analysis, data collection, and drafting of records. 

• Develop Government prices and terms for analysis. 

• Post synopsis and award announcements on the System for Award Management (SAM) and Federal Grants websites. 

• Coordinate, assemble, and update electronic and hard copy solicitation, contract, and contract-related files. 

• Analyze elements of cost in proposals and coordinate with Offerors or ARPA-H Contracting Officer for clarification. 

• Research contractual issues and draft appropriate correspondence for internal and external distribution. 

• Assist in the development and review process for Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Agreements with the Contracting Officer and technical personnel. 

• Utilize PRISM to draft contract documents and amendments. 

• Post-Award Support 

• Assist the Contracting Officer in preparing contract modifications, including incremental funding, redirection of effort, performance extensions, and change orders. 

• Prepare necessary modifications to clarify scope, specification changes, language ambiguities, and contract clauses. 

• Draft stop work orders, cure notices, show cause letters, and termination notices as required. 

• Monitor the status of Government property and manage invoicing and payment processes. 

• Solicitation Support 

• Assist in coordinating and administratively managing the entire acquisition process, including activities such as BAAs, Special Notices, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and Requests for Information (RFIs). 

• Evaluate proposals and manage the award approval process. 

• Ensure all solicitation-related documents are prepared, drafted, and coordinated effectively and are available to appropriate personnel.  

• Advise ARPA-H on acquisition planning and execution as assigned. 

• Support assigned acquisition efforts including analyses of capabilities, support of proposal cost reasonableness and realism determinations, general proposal reviews and related analytical work. 

• Document acquisition best practices and lessons learned, and makes recommendations to adapt, apply, and embed those practices to the ARPA-H environment. Conducts close-out activities at the end of the period of performance. 

• Assist in tracking acquisition project-essential data. 

• Maintain awareness of, and performs analyses of, evolving acquisition policy type matters such as best practices, acquisition reform efforts, updates to acquisition and procurement policy, regulations, and legislative changes. 

• Provide expertise and advice regarding acquisition policies and approaches. 

• Proactively identify acquisition risk areas highlighting impact to mission and proactively developing solutions. 

• Capture meeting minutes and lessons learned and incorporates solutions to action items and acquisition process improvement methodologies. 

• Manage and respond to program-aligned data calls, compiling information, and preparing information for reporting to senior leadership. 

• Provide Noblis-internal leadership, including: 

• Possible line management responsibilities. 

• Providing professional development and mentorship for teammates. 

• Development of new Business Development (BD) opportunities and related capture management, in close collaboration with Noblis’ BD team. 

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 8 years past work experience in contract management role, such as a Contracting Specialist or acquisitions coordinator preferably in a governmental research or scientific organization  

• Bachelors degree (any field) is required. Business administration, management, finance, or a related field is preferred.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Experience with federal contracting (R&D contracting highly desirable).  

• Experience in federal acquisition regulations required.   

• Experience in program/contract management and knowledge of Other Transaction Authority contracting vehicles preferred. 

Examples of Specialized Contracting Experience:  

• Developing, preparing terms and conditions in proposals related to the award of contracts. 

• Negotiating and awarding contracts, contract modifications, and/or subcontracts. 

• Participation in negotiating, awarding, or administering contracts, or the analysis of procurement policies and procedures. 

• Administering the terms and conditions of contracts, including such aspects as preparing contract modifications, evaluation of performance under the contract, and contract termination. 

• Analyzing proposed prices or costs, including such aspects as evaluating technical and audit reports, forecasting price trends, evaluating economic factors, estimating production. 

• Efficiencies and evaluating methods of allocating cost through various types of overhead and general and administrative expense. 

• Formulating policies and procedures for the acquisition of goods or services, participating in procurement management reviews and contract clearance, or developing positions on claims and protests related to contracts. 

• Experience supporting cradle-to-grave contracting is highly desired.  

• Experience independently managing source selections is highly desired. 

Desired Qualifications

• Proficiency in PRISM or similar government acquisitions/ contract management software. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite 

• Strong organizational and analytical skills 

• Knowledge of R&D industry procurement trends, policies and procedures. 

• Ability to adapt quickly to changing requirements and handle frequent changes as needed. 

• Demonstrated creativity, foresight, initiative, and mature judgment in anticipating and solving problems. 

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal abilities to mediate priorities and negotiate with vendors, team members, and stakeholders  

• Experience from existing Advanced Research Projects Agencies (e.g. IARPA, DARPA, HSARPA, ARPA-E) is strongly desired.  

• Experience supporting federal agency program managers and leaders is preferred. 

• Ability to work on multiple projects which includes prioritizing, tracking, attention to detail, follow-up and follow-through to project completion.  

• Proven results-oriented problem-solving abilities.  

• Ability to work in a dynamic team-oriented environment, demonstrate teamwork and initiative, and function productively in the face of new assignments and the re-prioritization of existing assignments.   

• Experience preparing and reports, schedules and status inputs 

Overview

Noblis and our wholly owned subsidiaries, Noblis ESI, and Noblis MSD tackle the nation's toughest problems and apply advanced solutions to our clients' most critical missions. We bring the best of scientific thought, management, and engineering expertise together in an environment of independence and objectivity to deliver enduring impact on federal missions. Noblis works with a wide range of government clients in the defense, intelligence and federal civil sectors. Learn more at Noblis -About Us

Why work at a Noblis company?

Our employees find greater meaning in their work and balance the other things in life that matter to them. Our people are our greatest asset. They are exceptionally skilled, knowledgeable, team-oriented, and mission-driven individuals who want to do work that matters and benefits the public. Noblis has won numerous workplace awards. Noblis maintains a drug-free workplace.

*Remote/hybrid status is subject to change based on Noblis and/or government requirements

Total Rewards

At Noblis we recognize and reward your contributions, provide you with growth opportunities, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, and work-life programs. Our award programs acknowledge employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our service standards. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in our benefit programs. Other offerings may be provided for employees not within this category. We encourage you to learn more about our total benefits by visiting the Benefits page on our Careers site.

Compensation at Noblis is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the combination of education, certifications, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, internal and external equity, location, clearance level, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements and applicable employment laws. The projected compensation range for this position is based on full time status. For part time or on-call staff, compensation is proportionately adjusted based on hours worked. While monetary compensation is important, it's just one component of Noblis’ total compensation package.

Posted Salary Range

Equal Employment Opportunity

Noblis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race (as well as because of or on the basis of traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

Noblis is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Noblis will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact employee-relations@noblis.org.