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Zantech is looking for a talented Acquisition Policy Analyst to contribute to the success of our upcoming Service Delivery & Resource Allocation Management Support project for an onsite role based out of Arlington, VA.
The Acquisition Policy Analyst will play a crucial role in supporting the following:
- Manage the administrative lifecycle for all R&D acquisition activities including BAAs, Program Solicitations, Scientific Review Memorandums, Special Notices, and RFIs
- Maintain office-wide BAA and all program documentation templates and SOPs
- Manage acquisition communications and routing between DARPA PMs, CMO, and OGC
- Track and analyze acquisition lifecycle; provide quarterly process improvement recommendations
The Acquisition Policy Analyst is the contract's specialist in R&D acquisition policy, responsible for managing the full administrative lifecycle of acquisition activities. This individual maintains DARPA's preferred solicitation vehicles — including BAAs, Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs), and cooperative agreements — ensures all documentation templates and SOPs remain current, and manages the routing of acquisition communications between the project, the Contracts Management Office, and the Office of General Counsel. Given DARPA's extensive use of non-traditional acquisition authorities, deep familiarity with OTAs is particularly valued.
Designated Impact:
The Acquisition Policy Analyst serves as a single point of failure for the acquisition pipeline. Delays or errors in solicitation management, document routing, or policy compliance directly affect DARPA's ability to fund new programs on schedule.
Responsibilities include, but will not be limited to:
- Support Manage the administrative lifecycle for all R&D acquisition activities from solicitation through proposal evaluation and document routing; achieve 95% error-free processing with no contractor-caused delays exceeding 3 business days
- Maintain office-wide BAA and all required program documentation templates on classified and unclassified repositories; update SOPs at least annually and upon personnel turnover
- Manage all acquisition communications and routing between DARPA Program Managers, Contracts Management Office (CMO), and Office of General Counsel (OGC)
- Track and analyze the acquisition lifecycle for all classified and unclassified acquisitions; provide at least one actionable process improvement recommendation per quarter
- Prepare and route acquisition lifecycle tracking and analysis reports quarterly
- Support preparation of projected program budget allocations for each performer as part of acquisition documentation
- Advise Program Managers and the Program Manager III on acquisition policy questions and compliance requirements
Required Experience or Knowledge of the following technologies/functions:
- Minimum 4 years with direct experience in R&D and/or services contracting policy, including procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and Other Transactions
- Thorough knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and DoD-specific acquisition authorities including Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs)
- Experience managing BAAs, Program Solicitations, Scientific Review Memorandums, Special Notices, and Requests for Information
- Experience evaluating abstracts and proposals for technical and administrative compliance
- Familiarity with DARPA acquisition processes and the Contracts Management Office (CMO) routing procedures preferred
- Strong documentation skills; experience maintaining SOPs, templates, and acquisition lifecycle tracking tools
- Ability to identify process inefficiencies and prepare quarterly improvement recommendations
- Strong interpersonal skills for coordinating across ACO, DARPA legal, and contracts staff
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Project, and classified systems (SIPRNet/JWICS)
- Strong oral and written communication skills
Required Education/Certifications:
- Education Required
- Bachelor's degree in any field
- Education Preferred
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Acquisition, Contract Management, Business, or Public Administration
- Preferred Certifications
- FAC-C (Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting)
- DAU Contracting coursework (CON 170, CON 270, or equivalent)
- DAWIA Level II or III in Contracting
Required Security Clearance:
- US Citizenship required
- Must possess and Active US Top Secret (TS); must be eligible for SCI access
“Outstanding Performance…Always!”
Our corporate motto represents our commitment to build long-term relationships with both our clients and our employees by providing the highest quality service in everything we do. We strive for excellence for our clients and for each other. We embrace the opportunity to hire individuals with new talents and fresh perspectives. Zantech offers competitive compensation, strong benefits, and a vacation package, as well as a fast-paced and exciting work environment. Come join our team!