COVID brought home the need to address the security of the nation's supply chain. Global conflicts, criminal and nation state actors, and more are challenging the supply chain. Congress and the Executive Branch have taken steps to address these challenges. On April 1, the FAR Council announced they would be amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to add the framework for a new FAR part (Part 40) on information security and supply chain security. NCMA DC is excited to welcome Susan Warshaw Ebner, a partner in Stinson LLP, on Wednesday, April 17 for a discussion of these supply chain challenges and steps being taken to address them.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? Your ticket price includes a networking half hour with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet meal, wine during dinner, and free parking in the Arts Club garage (located off 20th street).

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Susan Warshaw Ebner is a Partner with the firm Stinson LLP where she leads its government contracts and investigations practice. She has vast experience counseling and representing large and small businesses, nonprofits and consortiums on a broad spectrum of complex and emerging issues in government contracts, grants and agreements.

In addition to private practice, Ms. Ebner has served as counsel in government and industry.  In government, she was a trial attorney in the Department of the Navy Office of the General Counsel, Litigation Office, where she represented the Navy and the Department of Defense, where she handled complex litigation and dispute resolution. She subsequently served as Special Assistant United States Attorney in Norris v. Lehman, et al. Ms. Ebner also held positions as in-house counsel for ten years, first at Cincinnati Bell Inc. and its spin-off Convergys Corp., and later NCR.

Ms. Ebner currently serves as a Director of The Procurement Round Table, a Fellow of the ABA Public Contract Law Section (PCLS), a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and Co-Chair of the National Defense Industrial Association’s (NDIA's) Cyber Legal Regulatory Policy Committee.  She previously served as Chair of the ABA PCLS, as President of the Boards of Contract Appeals Bar Association, as National President of Women in Defense, as a member of the Board of Directors of the NDIA, and past Chair, DC Bar Government Contracts & Litigation Section. Ms. Ebner also previously served as a member of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims Advisory Council.

Ms. Ebner attended Cornell University, where she earned her J.D. from Cornell Law School and B.A. from the College of Arts and Sciences.

The courts play an important role in protecting the integrity of government contracts, but no agency or contractor wants to see their procurement end up there. NCMA DC welcomes Jessica Tillipman, Associate Dean at The George Washington University Law School, to discuss what’s new in government contract case law and how those lessons learned can improve your acquisition. Please join us on Wednesday, March 20 at the Arts Club of Washington for this special dinner event.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? Your ticket price includes a networking half hour with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet meal, wine during dinner, and free parking in the Arts Club garage (located off 20th street).

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER:
Jessica Tillipman is the Associate Dean for Government Procurement Law Studies and Government Contracts Advisory Council Distinguished Professorial Lecturer in Government Contracts Law, Practice & Policy and an internationally recognized expert in government procurement integrity and compliance issues.

Prior to joining GW Law, Dean Tillipman served as a law clerk to the Honorable Lawrence S. Margolis of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and was an associate at Jenner & Block, where she specialized in Government Contracts and White-Collar Criminal Defense.

Dean Tillipman is a Senior Editor of the The FCPA Blog - a leading Foreign Corrupt Practices Act resource. She has published articles and book chapters that address legal and policy issues involving anti-corruption, government procurement, white-collar crime, and government ethics law. Dean Tillipman frequently presents at government procurement and anti-corruption conferences and colloquia, and her commentary has been featured in numerous media outlets.

NCMA DC is honored to welcome Charlotte Phelan, Assistant Commissioner for the GSA Office of Strategy and Innovation, as our speaker for the February dinner meeting to be held on Wednesday, February 21 at the Arts Club of Washington. This special fireside chat will cover how GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) is using transaction monitoring, like transactional feedback loops, and data analytics to improve user and customer experience in the FAS ecosystem.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? Your ticket price includes a networking half hour with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet meal, wine during dinner, and free parking in the Arts Club garage (located off 20th street).

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Charlotte Phelan serves as the Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Strategy and Innovation. She directs FAS strategic business planning and is partnering across the agency to improve FAS’ data analytics, governance, and systems modernization, particularly in GSA’s efforts to support governmentwide category management.

Ms. Phelan is the executive sponsor for FAS’ Federal Marketplace strategy, an effort that brings together policy, process, and technology to improve the buying and selling experience for agencies and suppliers of products and services. This effort includes delivering a digital presence to support the improvements.

Before joining GSA, Ms. Phelan served as the Director for Naval Research and Development Establishment (NR&DE) with the Department of the Navy. In that role she worked on issues associated with the NR&DE technical workforce, technical capabilities, infrastructure, budgets, policies, authorities, and initiatives.

Ms. Phelan has a B.S. in Information Technology and an M.S. in Information Technology with a concentration in Security, Assurance, and Digital Forensics.

NCMA DC is excited to kick off 2024 with an event about re-envisioning the contracting process. Join us Wednesday, January 17 at the Arts Club of Washington as we welcome Bijan Mansoury and Shanna Webbers of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). They will discuss a novel contract clause they have recently leveraged at FDIC called a “Quick Transition Clause.” It enables FDIC to efficiently transition current work on contract without repeating the procurement process. They will also talk about overall FDIC priorities and procurement initiatives.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? Your ticket price includes a networking half hour with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet meal, wine during dinner, and free parking in the Arts Club garage (located off 20th street).

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS:

Bijan Mansoury currently serves as an Assistant Director in the Acquisition Services Branch within the Division of Administration at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). He brings with him over 15 years of extensive experience in various federal government roles, including positions at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Transportation.

Prior to assuming his role at FDIC, Bijan served as the Director of Office of Acquisition Services at the Federal Railroad Administration, where he led initiatives to manage and categorize the Department of Transportation's substantial $2 billion professional services requirements.

Bijan holds a Doctorate in Business Administration with a specific emphasis on resource management from the University of Liverpool. Additionally, he has an MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Shanna Webbers is the Deputy Director, Acquisition Services Branch within the Division of Administration at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).  She is a strong proponent of innovation, seeking new and better ways to meet the changing requirements in federal acquisition.  She provides executive leadership and direction on all matters relating to the planning, direction, coordination and control of Procurement programs at the FDIC.

Prior to joining the FDIC in March 2022, Shanna was the Chief Procurement Officer at the IRS, overseeing annual obligations of $3.3B and over 440 procurement personnel.  Shanna also served as the acting Senior Procurement Executive for Treasury from October 2018 - March 2019, where she oversaw procurement operations with annual contract obligations valued at over $4.6B.  Shanna spent most of her 30-year federal career working throughout the DoD, including the Office of the Secretary Defense, Secretary of the Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and Defense Logistics Agency. 

Shanna is on the Board of Directors at the National Contract Management Association (NCMA). She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from East Carolina University, a Master of Science degree from Central Michigan University and a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University. 

Join NCMA DC on Wednesday, November 15 at the Arts Club of Washington for an engaging discussion on the challenges and impacts of government shutdowns and operating under a Continuing Resolution. Stan Soloway, CEO of Celero, will moderate a panel including Gordon Bitko, EVP of Policy at Information Technology Information (ITI) Council and Stephanie Kostro,  EVP for Policy, at the Professional Services Council. They will explore how both industry and the government can best prepare for potential budget interruptions.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? Your ticket price includes a networking half hour with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet meal, wine during dinner, and free parking in the Arts Club garage (located off 20th street).

ABOUT OUR PANEL:

Gordon Bitko is ITI’s Executive Vice President of Policy, leading the association’s public sector portfolio and serving as the chief policy strategist for the technology industry in the government and public sector market. Bitko joined ITI in 2019 from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). During his tenure, he served as the Chief Information Officer and oversaw key FBI innovation programs. He led the re-organization of FBI Information Technology personnel and resources to a more functional and service-oriented model.

Bitko was with RAND Corporation from 2002-2007, as a policy analyst and doctoral fellow. He began his career with Motorola and two private sector startups. He has a BS in Engineering from Princeton; MS in Mechanical Engineering from University of California, Berkeley; an MBA from Arizona State University; and a PhD from the Pardee RAND Graduate School.

Stephanie Sanok Kostro is Executive Vice President for Policy at the Professional Services Council (PSC). With more than 25 years of experience in federal government and industry, she leads a strong policy team that is committed to advocating for and supporting productive collaboration between the U.S. government and government services industry. Previous positions have included Principal at a small strategic advisory firm (2015-2021), Senior Fellow and Director of the Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (2010-2015), contractor at U.S. Embassy Baghdad (2008-2009), senior Professional Staff Member and Policy Director on the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee (2005-2008), and civil servant at the Pentagon (1998-2005). Ms. Kostro holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s degree in communication from Cornell University.

Stan Soloway is the CEO of Celero Strategies, a full-service growth and strategic consultancy focused on the federal market. Prior to founding Celero in 2016, Soloway spent 15 years as the President and CEO of the Professional Services Council. Prior to PSC, he was the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense and Director of Defense Reform and was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medals for Distinguished and Exceptional Public Service. Soloway is a member of the Defense Business Board, a fellow and Vice Chairman of the National Academy of Public Administration, and a Fellow and member of the Board of Advisors of NCMA. He is a four-time winner of the Fed100 Award, received the Consumer Electronics Show/Government Technology Leadership Award, and was the Government Computer News Technology Executive of the Year.

Join NCMA DC on Wednesday, October 25 for a very special Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-focused Fireside Chat with Congressman Don Beyer, representing Virginia’s 8th District.  Facilitated by Mr. Quentin McCoy, Head of Contracting Activity for the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO), the discussion will span topics ranging from Generative AI, to development of rapid AI procurement contract vehicles.

This event offers in-person and virtual options. In-person tickets include a Chick-fil-A sandwich. Adult beverages will be available for purchase. Networking starts at 4:00pm and the fireside chat begins promptly at 5:00pm. Space is LIMITED, so please register ASAP!

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS:

Congressman Don Beyer is serving his fifth term as the U.S. Representative from Virginia’s 8th District, representing Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, and parts of Fairfax County. He serves on Congress' Joint Economic Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means. 

Congressman Beyer is currently a part-time student at George Mason University pursuing a graduate degree in computer science with emphasis on machine learning.

Quentin McCoy serves as the Head of Contracting Activity for the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer.  A 2023 GOVEXEC FED 100 Awardee, Mr. McCoy also served at Head of Contracting Activity for U.S. Cyber Command and Deputy Division Chief (Contracting) for the Defense Intelligence Agency.

 Mr. McCoy earned his M.B.A. from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

The NCMA DC and Bethesda Chapters are excited to join forces for a special event kicking off the 2023-2024 Program Year. Please join us on Wednesday, September 20 at the Arts Club of Washington for an evening of learning, networking, and fellowship. The reception will feature cocktails and heavy hors d’ouevres. We will also welcome Soraya Correa to discuss her new role as Executive Director of NCMA’s Contract Management Institute.

ABOUT THE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE AND OUR SPEAKER:

NCMA recently announced the reinstatement of the Contract Management Institute (CMI) with the appointment of Contract Management veteran, Soraya Correa as the new Executive Director. Soraya brings a wealth of experience and expertise to lead the CMI into a new era of excellence and innovation in contract management. 

The reinstatement of the CMI marks a significant milestone for the industry, as professionals and organizations can once again benefit from a dedicated hub of knowledge, resources, and collaboration opportunities. As the field of contract management continues to evolve and become increasingly critical in today's complex business environment, the reinvigorated CMI will serve as a vital platform for professionals to stay at the forefront of profession trends and best practices.  

Soraya's appointment as Executive Director is a testament to her outstanding leadership and achievements in contract management. As the former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chief Procurement Officer and Senior Procurement Executive, Soraya was responsible for the implementation of the unique acquisition policies, regulations, and standards of the agency.

Her work included direct oversight of all procurement operations, including over 1,500 procurement professionals providing contracting services to DHS components, organizations, and offices. The DHS procurement portfolio exceeded $25 billion per year and consisted of the acquisition of a variety of services and products, including information technology, research and development, construction, law enforcement, and professional, consulting, and advisory services.

Soraya is recognized as a transformational leader who designed several programs at DHS, including the Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL), that were adopted by other federal agencies to improve business processes and support the continued development and growth of the acquisition workforce. She has received many awards from government and industry for her accomplishments.

NCMA DC is excited to announce our 2023 Fellows’ Night will be held on Wednesday, June 21 at the Arts Club of Washington. In addition to recognizing our Fellows, we are honored to welcome Federal News Network host Tom Temin as our speaker. You probably know Tom as the long-time host of the Federal Drive. He will call on his experience in the federal market to discuss the need for good requirements, plus how the government often lacks sustainment of long-term efforts.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER: Tom Temin is a columnist and has hosted of the popular weekday Federal Drive With Tom Temin show on Federal News Network since 2006. He has been reporting on technology markets for more than 30 years. He covers a wide variety of federal topics, including information technology and policy. Before becoming a broadcaster, Tom was editorial director of Government Computer News and Washington Technology.

NCMA DC is honored to welcome Diane M. Sidebottom, Senior Policy Advisor at Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), as the speaker for the fourth event in our new Technology Acquisition Series. Diane will focus on the historical background and current application of the Department of Defense’s Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs).

According to the Defense Acquisition University (DAU), “[t]he OT authorities were created to give DoD the flexibility necessary to adopt and incorporate business practices that reflect commercial industry standards and best practices into its award instruments. When leveraged appropriately, OTs provide the Government with access to state-of-the-art technology solutions from traditional and non-traditional defense contractors, through a multitude of potential teaming arrangements tailored to the particular project and the needs of the participants.”

Please join us on Thursday, May 25 for this virtual event. The webinar will take place on Zoom from 12:15-1:00pm Eastern. Attendees are eligible for 1.0 CPE hour.

NCMA DC is honored to welcome Keith J. O’Neill, the Head of Contracting Activity for the United States Coast Guard, as our speaker for May. The dinner meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 17 at the Arts Club of Washington. Mr. O’Neill will be discussing his vision for developing and implementing innovative procurement programs at the Coast Guard. He will also do a little myth-busting along the way!

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? Your ticket price includes a networking half hour with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet meal, wine during dinner, and free parking in the Arts Club garage (located off 20th street).

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Keith J. O’Neill currently serves as the Head of Contracting Activity (HCA) for the United States Coast Guard. In this capacity, he has responsibility for all contracting functions within the agency, including functional responsibility for over 500 civilian and military personnel throughout the United States and abroad. The U.S. Coast Guard spends approximately $3.5 billion each year through more than 40,000 procurement transactions.

Mr. O’Neill has more than 25 years of accomplished acquisition experience with expertise in the areas of contract operations, procurement policy, small business advocacy and leadership. Prior to his current position, Mr. O’Neill served at the Department of Interior, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Department of Transportation, and the United States Post Office.

Mr. O’Neill holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from George Mason University and a Master of Business Administration Degree from George Washington University. He maintains a Level 3 Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting.

NCMA DC is pleased to announce a new session of its CCCM Study Class will be offered in SUMMER 2023. Classes will be held virtually via MS Teams and led by Dr. Jayati Sendasgupta. Classes will run from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM on Tuesday evenings from May 16, 2023 – June 20, 2023. As always, the class is free to NCMA members. Non-members may also participate for a nominal fee.

NCMA certifications are the gold standard for contract management excellence. These certifications are awarded to candidates who meet rigorous standards including work experience, education, training, and knowledge. A CCCM™ certificate holder exhibits knowledge as a contract manager as it relates to the training and knowledge of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC).

Minimum Qualifications for Exam:

• Bachelor’s Degree. Non-degreed candidates with at least five years of verifiable contract management experience plus 24 college credits that align with CMBOK competencies may request a waiver.

• Two years of work experience in contract management or related field.

• A minimum of 80 hours of CPE/CLP (see our Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Guide for details).

Required : The Complete Guide to UCC Terms and Definitions

If you have any questions about the course, please feel free contact Dr. Sendasgupta at rumarchi@gmail.com.

Please join NCMA DC on Wednesday, April 19 at the Arts Club of Washington for a special dinner meeting about improving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) through federal procurement. Our panel will discuss efforts in the federal procurement ecosystem to support new strategic contracting vehicles and partnerships, such as those with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and socio-economically classified (SEC) businesses. Hear federal and private industry perspectives, ask questions, and provide your ideas on this important topic.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? Your ticket price includes a networking half hour with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet meal, wine during dinner, and free parking in the Arts Club garage (located off 20th street).

MEET THE PANELISTS:

• Tom Dawson, Senior Director for i3

• Kerry Neal, Senior Procurement Executive and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Grants, and Risk Management at the Department of Education

• Greg Parchment, founder Buchanan & Edwards

• Cordell E. Smith, Deputy Director for Acquisition Policy in the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

• Julia B. Wise, Director, Procurement Management and Policy Division NASA – Headquarters, Office of Procurement

NCMA DC is pleased to announce the Spring 2023 session of its Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM) Study Class. Classes will be held virtually via MS Teams and led by Dr. Jayati Sendasgupta. Classes will take place weekly from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM on Tuesdays from April 11-May 9. As always, the class is free to NCMA members. Non-members may participate for a nominal fee. Space is limited to 15 students.

NCMA certifications are the gold standard of contract management excellence. They are awarded to candidates who meet rigorous standards including work experience, education, training, and knowledge. The CFCM™ is designed to exhibit knowledge as a contract manager from the perspective of the federal environment, which is heavily focused on the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). It is geared toward federal contract managers, state and local contract managers, and those with a general interest in federal contract management.

The CFCM designation is based on the Certified Federal Contract Manager Study Guide, 4th Edition and is one of NCMA’s prestigious certification. The CFCM requires an undergraduate degree, 80 CPE hours, and a minimum of TWO years of work experience in the contract management (or related) field.

The Certified Federal Contract Manager Study Guide - 4th Edition is required for this course. Students are responsible for procuring their own copy.

If you have any questions about the course, please contact the instructor, Dr. Jayati Sendasgupta, at rumarchi@gmail.com.

NCMA DC is excited to welcome William Roberts, Director of Emerging Technology at ASI Government, as our speaker for the second event in our new Technology Acquisition Series. Please join us on Thursday, March 30 via Zoom, starting at 12:15pm Eastern, as we discuss changing the Contracting Officer’s mindset on technology acquisition.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER:
William (Will) Roberts, the first Chief of Acquisition for the Department of Defense (DoD) Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC), recently joined the ASI team as Director of Acquisition Solutions for Technology. Will led the way for DoD's acquisition of the infrastructure, including several needed contracts, to promote adoption of at scale Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) solutions. These technologies are poised to fundamentally change every domain and use case that they touch, including the world of government work and the experience of citizens as they interact with service providers. Will is a member of the ABA and Florida Bar as of 2011, receiving his law degree from Stetson University College of Law.

NCMA DC invites you to a special dinner meeting celebrating Women’s History Month on Wednesday, March 15 at the Arts Club of Washington. Our esteemed panel (see below) will discuss the unique impacts of women in leadership, as well as how they shaped and continue to shape the future of their organizations and the contracting profession.

• Soraya Correa - President and CEO of Soraya Correa & Associates, LLC, former Chief Procurement Officer at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

• Cathleen Pearl - Chief Impact Officer of the Military Women’s Memorial

• Shanna Webbers - Deputy Director, Acquisition Services Branch, at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

• Nina Ferraro (Moderator) - Deputy Chief Procurement Officer, Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? Your ticket price includes a networking half hour with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet meal, wine during dinner, and free parking in the Arts Club garage (located off 20th street).

ABOUT OUR PANELISTS:

Soraya Correa retired from government service in 2021 after a distinguished career, most recently serving as the DHS Chief Procurement Officer and Senior Procurement Executive. Prior to that, Soraya served in senior leadership positions at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Naval Sea Systems Command, GSA, and NASA. She is now the Principal at Soraya Correa & Associates, LLC.

Cathleen Pearl is the Chief Impact Officer of the Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington, VA. She served for more than a decade in the United States Navy and Air National Guard. After leaving the military, Cathleen has served in numerous advocacy roles, including with The National Guard Association of the United States, the National Defense University Foundation, and Got Your 6.

Shanna Webbers is the Deputy Director of Acquisition Services for the FDIC. Prior to joining FDIC, she was the Chief Procurement Officer for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Shanna also spent five years in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as the Director of Operational Contract Support, Policy, and Execution. She is the recipient of numerous performance awards, most notably the Outstanding Civilian Service Award, Global War on Terrorism medal, and the NATO medal.

Nina Ferraro is the Deputy Chief Procurement Officer for DHS. In this role, she manages the Department’s Procurement Line of Business, which spans nine operational procurement activities. Previously, Ferraro spent nearly three years as a senior procurement executive at the Office of Personnel Management and was director of the Federal Protective Service Acquisitions Division for eight years.

NCMA DC is pleased to announce the Spring 2023 session of its Certified Contract Management Associate (CCMA) Study Group. The CCMA provides a strong steppingstone for those new to the contract management profession and sets you off on a powerful professional journey. Classes will be held virtually via MS Teams and led by Dr. Jayati Sendasgupta. Classes will take place from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM on Tuesday evenings from February 28, 2023- March 28, 2023. As always, the class is free to NCMA members. Non-members may also participate for a nominal fee.

NCMA certifications are considered the gold standard for contract management excellence. These certifications are awarded to candidates who meet rigorous standards including work experience, education, training, and knowledge.

The CCMA is awarded to those who meet education, training, and/or experience requirements and who demonstrate knowledge of the Contract Management Standard (CMS). To be eligible for the CCMA, you should have a Bachelor’s degree OR one year of work experience (must conform with CMS competencies) AND training equivalent to 40 CPE.

The Contract Management Standard Publication, Second Edition is required for the Course.

If you have any questions about the course, please contact: Dr. Jayati Sendasgupta at rumarchi@gmail.com. More information on the CCMA certification is available on the NCMA National website.

The NCMA DC Chapter is thrilled to kick off our new Technology Acquisition Series, which will cover critical topics in this rapidly evolving discipline each month. We are honored to welcome Mr. Ed Keller, Director of Contracting for the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, as our first speaker! The virtual meeting will be held via Zoom on Thursday, February 23 from 12:15-1:00pm Eastern.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER: D. Edward Keller Jr. is Director of Contracting for the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) and a member of the Senior Executive Service. Alongside the director, he directs contracting activities executing $4 billion a year for selected study, development, and fielding activities involving 40 programs tasked directly by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Secretary of the Air Force, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Additionally, Mr. Keller is Director of Contracting, Air Force Special Access Programs (SAP). He is responsible for oversight and support of the Air Force SAP and Classified Contracting portfolio at Headquarters Air Force level valued at greater than $40 billion and senior level advocacy and training for 650 military and civilian acquisition professionals. He is the senior adviser to the Service Acquisition Executive on acquisition strategy, execution and policy and procedures for classified and SAP contracting.

Join Mr. Keller during this virtual session for a candid discussion on the RCO background, successes, best practices, resources, and opportunities.

Join NCMA DC on Wednesday, February 15 at the Arts Club or Washington for a dinner featuring former DoD Acquisition Branch Chief, Michael Gruden. Mr. Gruden will survey the evolution of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Version 2.0.  The discussion will overview the rapidly changing requirements and implementation timeline, address what CMMC preparedness looks like, and deconstruct common cyber misunderstandings innate to CMMC compliance.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? Your ticket price includes a networking half hour with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet meal, wine during dinner, and parking in the Arts Club garage (located off 20th street).

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER: Michael G. Gruden is a counsel at Crowell & Moring, where he is a member of the firm’s Government Contracts and Privacy and Cybersecurity groups. He possesses real-world experience in the areas of federal procurement and data security, having worked as a Contracting Officer at both the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the IT, R&D, and Security sectors for nearly 15 years. Michael is a Certified Information Privacy Professional with a U.S. government concentration (CIPP/G). He is also a Registered Practitioner under the CMMC framework. Michael serves as vice-chair for the American Bar Association’s Science & Technology Section's Homeland Security Committee.

NCMA DC is excited to kick off 2023 with a timely discussion on innovation in federal procurement. Join us on Wednesday, January 25 at the Arts Club of Washington as we welcome Polly Hall [Invited], Senior Advisor to the Department of Homeland Security’s Chief Procurement Officer, as our speaker. The networking half-hour starts at 5:30pm, and dinner begins at 6:00pm.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? Your ticket price includes a networking half hour with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet meal, wine during dinner, and parking in the Arts Club garage (located off 20th street).

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER: According to FCW, “[Polly] Hall has had a profound influence on one of DHS’ most powerful internal forces for cultural change — the Procurement Innovation Lab. That “safe space” seeks to transform the agency’s acquisition culture by allowing contracting officers to test new procurement models and take risks on innovative ideas.”

Hall lead the DHS Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL) for close to five years. In FY20, the PIL awarded 37 project valued at $2.9B. The average time to award was only four months and cost savings exceeded $265M. She now serves as the Senior Advisor to the Chief Procurement Officer. She is a recipient of the Federal 100 award, among other honors.

Please save the date for our final dinner meeting in 2022 to be held on Wednesday, December 14 at the Arts Club of Washington for a lively panel discussion on commerciality in federal acquisition. The FAR Council implemented a recommendation of the Section 809 Panel that the commercial item definition be bifurcated into “commercial product” and “commercial service” as a way to provide clarity for the acquisition workforce.  

 Our panel will discuss the revised commercial items definitions and consider issues such as: 

• Whether the definition is beneficial to acquisition workforce and contractors

• Impacts on the shrinking defense industrial base, and innovation from industry.

• Impacts and ramifications from recent rulings at Court of Federal Claims regarding commerciality

The Panel will be moderated by Robert Burton, Partner with Crowell & Moring LLP and former Deputy OFPP Administrator. Panelists represent small business, the legal community, and government backgrounds to offer wide-ranging perspectives on this issue:

• Alan Chvotkin, Partner with Nichols Liu LLP

• David Drabkin, Former Federal Executive and Chair of Section 809 Panel

• Ron Falcone, Executive Vice President of Distributed Solutions, Inc.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? Your ticket price includes a networking half hour with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet meal, wine during dinner, and parking in the Arts Club garage (located off 20th street).

NCMA DC is honored to welcome Katrina Brisbon, the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as the speaker for our November dinner meeting. The event will be held at the Arts Club of Washington on Wednesday, November 16. The networking half-hour starts at 5:30pm, and dinner begins at 6:00pm.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? Your ticket price includes a networking half hour with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet meal, wine during dinner, and parking in the Arts Club garage (located off 20th street).

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER: Katrina Brisbon is a career member of the Senior Executive Service and currently serves as the HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisitions and SPE. In this role, she advises the HHS Senior Executive leadership on matters related to the HHS Acquisition Enterprise while ensuring delivery of transparent, best value solutions across the $40B HHS acquisition portfolio.

Previously, Ms. Brisbon served as the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Contracting and Procurement/Head of the Contracting Activity at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), where she was responsible for the oversight of contract operations, contract policy, business systems, and the strategic planning of TSA’s $3.8B acquisition portfolio. Ms. Brisbon also served as the executive liaison to the DHS Chief of Procurement on all matters related to TSA contracts and procurement, policy legislation, and the workforce.

Prior to TSA, Ms. Brisbon served as the Deputy, Head of the Contracting Activity for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). In this capacity, she provided oversight and strategic planning for the acquisition of telecommunications systems, information technology assets, and associated services for annual obligations of approximately $7B.

Ms. Brisbon holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Science in Human Relations, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and Business Administration.

NCMA DC is pleased to announce a Fall session of its NEW Certified Commercial Contract Manager (CCCM) Study Class. Classes will be held virtually via MS Teams (login details to follow) and led by Dr. Jayati Sendasgupta. The group will run from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM on Tuesday evenings from October 25, 2022 – November 22, 2022. As always, the class is free to NCMA members. Non-members may also participate for a nominal fee.

NCMA certifications are the gold standard for contract management excellence. These certifications are awarded to candidates who meet rigorous standards including work experience, education, training, and knowledge. A CCCM™ certificate holder exhibits knowledge as a contract manager as it relates to the training and knowledge of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC).

Minimum Qualifications for Exam:

• Bachelor’s Degree. Non-degreed candidates with at least five years of verifiable contract management experience plus 24 college credits that align with CMBOK competencies may request a waiver.

• Two years of work experience in contract management or related field.

• A minimum of 80 hours of CPE/CLP (see our Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Guide for details).

Required : The Complete Guide to UCC Terms and Definitions

If you have any questions about the course, please feel free contact Dr. Sendasgupta at rumarchi@gmail.com.

NCMA DC is honored to welcome Karla Smith Jackson, Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) at NASA, as our speaker for the October dinner meeting. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 19 at the Arts Club of Washington.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? Your ticket price includes a networking half hour with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet meal, wine during dinner, and parking in the Arts Club garage (located off 20th street).

Karla Smith Jackson is the SPE, Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer & Assistant Administrator for the Office of Procurement at NASA. In this role, she provides senior executive leadership and oversight of NASA's procurement functions, policy, and initiatives to an acquisition workforce of over 4,000 personnel. Ms. Jackson serves on the FAI Board of Directors and on the FAR Council. She is one of only three signatory authorities that can execute procurement policies and procedures on behalf of the Federal Government.

A seasoned acquisition professional with over 30 years of extensive experience, Ms. Jackson previously served as the Acting Director for Acquisition at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). From 2016 to 2020, she served as the Director of Contracts at MDA, responsible for all agency contracting actions. Previous assignments include Chief/Deputy Chief of Contract Operations for the Coast Guard, Chief of Staff/Executive Officer to the Director of Acquisition at MDA, Chief of Acquisition Operations at DLA, and Deputy Executive Director for Contracts at the Headquarters of DCMA.

Ms. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton University and a Master of Science degree in contract and acquisition management from the Florida Institute of Technology. She also holds a Master of Science degree in national resource strategy with a concentration in acquisition from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (Defense Acquisition University). Ms. Jackson became a Certified Professional Contracts Manager in 1997 and is Level III–certified in the Contracting (Acquisition) Career Field.

Ms. Jackson has received numerous awards and is a recipient of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service, and the OSD Medal for Humanitarian Civilian Service.

NCMA DC is honored to welcome Mathew Blum, Associate Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) [INVITED], as the speaker for our first meeting of the 2022-2023 Program Year. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 21 at the Arts Club of Washington.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE TICKET PRICE? Your ticket price includes a networking half hour with complementary drinks and hors d’oeuvres and parking in the Arts Club garage (located off 20th street).

Mathew Blum is the Associate Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) where he manages a branch that is responsible for the development of policies, regulations, legislation, and associated workforce tools to support federal procurement activities. His branch supports management of the FAR Council, the Acquisition Innovation Advocates Council, the Cost Accounting Standards Board, the Procurement Policy and Attorneys Roundtable, and the AbilityOne Team.

Prior to his work at OMB, Mr. Blum was a law clerk at the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals. Mr. Blum serves as a member on GW Law’s Government Contracts Advisory Board and is a National Academy of Public Administration Fellow. He has published articles on a variety of procurement policy issues and is a member of the District of Columbia and Virginia Bars.

Mr. Blum earned his Bachelors Degree from the College of William & Mary and his Juris Doctor from George Washington University.

NCMA DC is pleased to announce the Fall 2022 session of its Certified Contract Management Associate (CCMA) Study Group. The group will meet virtually via MS Teams (login details to follow) and led by Dr. Jayati Sendasgupta. Classes will take place from 5:30 PM-7:30 PM on Tuesdays from September 13, 2022- October 11, 2022. As always, the class is free to NCMA members. Non-members may also participate for a nominal fee.

NCMA certifications are considered the gold standard for contract management excellence. These certifications are awarded to candidates who meet rigorous standards - including work experience, education, training, and knowledge. The CCMA designation is based on the Certified Federal Contracts Manager Study Guide, 3rd Edition and is one of NCMA’s prestigious certification.

The CCMA is awarded to those who meet education, training, and/or experience requirements and who demonstrate knowledge of the Contract Management Standard (CMS). It is intended to serve as a stepping stone to higher level NCMA certifications. To be eligible for the CCMA, you must meet certain education, training, and/or work experience requirements. You should have an education level of Bachelor’s degree (must be from a regionally accredited institution), one year of work experience (must conform with CMS competencies), and training equivalent to 40 CPE (must conform with CPE Guide).

The Contract Management Standard Publication, Second Edition is required for the course.

If you have any questions about the course, please feel free contact Dr. Jayati Sendasgupta at rumarchi@gmail.com.

NCMA DC is pleased to announce the premier session of its NEW CCCM Study Class will kick off in Summer 2022. Classes will be held virtually via MS Teams (login details to follow) and led by Dr. Jayati Sendasgupta. Classes will run from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM on Tuesday evenings from August 2 - 30, 2022. As always, the class is free to NCMA members. Non-members may also participate for a nominal fee.

NCMA certifications are considered the gold standard for contract management excellence. These certifications are awarded to candidates who meet rigorous standards - including work experience, education, training, and knowledge.

A CCCM™ certificate holder exhibits knowledge as a contract manager as it relates to the training and knowledge of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). Most successful candidates will hold a Bachelor’s Degree and have two years of work experience in contract management or a related field; however, non-degreed candidates with at least five years of verifiable contract management experience plus 24 college credits that align with the CMBOK competencies may request a waiver. Degrees from outside the United States must be evaluated by an independent third party. Candidates must have a minimum of 80 hours of CPE/CLP.

Required : The complete Guide to UCC Terms and Definitions

If you have any questions about the course, please feel free contact Dr. Sendasgupta at rumarchi@gmail.com.

NCMA DC is excited to announce our always-popular Fellows Night is back! The event, hosted by Professor Steve Schooner, will take place on Wednesday, June 22 at the Arts Club of Washington. Please note this special event will be on the fourth Wednesday of June rather than the typical third Wednesday of the month.

MEET YOUR HOST:

Steven L. Schooner is the Nash & Cibinic Professor of Government Procurement Law at The George Washington University Law School. Professor Schooner focuses primarily on federal government contract law and public procurement policy. His dispute resolution experience includes service as an arbitrator, mediator, neutral, and ombudsman. Outside of the US, Professor Schooner has advised hundreds of government officials on public procurement issues in more than 30 countries.

Before joining the law school faculty , Professor Schooner was the associate administrator for procurement law and legislation at the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). He previously served as a trial and appellate attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Professor Schooner also practiced with private law firms and, as an active duty Army judge advocate, served as a commissioner at the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA). Until his retirement as an Army Reserve officer, he was an adjunct professor in the Contract and Fiscal Law Department of the Judge Advocate General’s School of the Army, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

He is a fellow of the National Contract Management Association, a certified professional contracts manager (CPCM), and recipient of the Charles A. Dana Distinguished Service Award. Professor Schooner is the faculty adviser to the ABA’s Public Contract Law Journal and also serves on the Procurement Round Table and the advisory board of the Government Contractor.

Education

BA, Rice University

JD, College of William and Mary

LLM, George Washington University