This internship provided the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in all aspects of the federal contracting process. The intern worked directly with a contracting officer, assisting with pre-award planning, solicitation, contract administration, and closeout. Duties included participating in market research, proposal evaluation, and monitoring contractor performance. The intern also took courses to earn a Level 1 certification in contracting. The experience enabled the intern to develop expertise that will support a future career as a procurement professional.

1. National Aeronautics &
Space Administration
Objectives
• Become familiar with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and NASA
FAR supplement and other statutes and regulations that govern the
procurement process.
•
• Obtain a basic understanding of the federal procurement processes and
procedures through hands on experience with the agency.
•
• Learn the different types of government contracts from simplified acquisitions
to negotiated procurements and make strategic decisions regarding the best
method of procurement.
•
• Actually participate in the formation of a contract from market research,
planning, solicitation, evaluating proposals and contract award.
•
• Learn contract cost principles and procedures and perform cost and price
analysis of contractor proposals.
•
• Perform contract administration activities including evaluating contractor
performance, reviewing and approving invoices and reports and contract
closeout.
•
• Obtain a basic understanding of small business and socioeconomic
programs, application of labor laws, procurement integrity and standards of
conduct and ethics.
Summary
This internship provided valuable career development experience for a career as a procurement
professional. I worked directly with the sole IV&V Contracting Officer providing administrative
support while developing expertise in the acquisition field. I was exposed to all aspects of
federal contract management and administration. Hands-on experience was provided to
prepare me for future positions within the acquisition community. Under close supervision, I
gained contracting experience by participating in pre-award planning and documentation;
soliciting, administration and closeout of actual IV&V contracts. My efforts enabled the IV&V
Program to be more efficient and effective. My procurement activities allowed the Contracting
Officer to focus more on the program's complex procurement issues.
NASA’s Vision: “We reach for new heights and reveal the unknown for
the benefit of humankind.”
Mission: “Drive advances in science, technology, aeronautics,
and space exploration to enhance knowledge,
education, innovation, economic vitality, and
stewardship of Earth.”
Assignment: Federal Contracting Internship
Host: NASA’s Independent Verification and Validation Facility
Location: Fairmont, WV
Duration: September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2015, Approximately
700 hrs.
Paul LaMancusa MPA 2015
West Virginia University, Department of Public Administration
Simplified
Acquisition
Procedures
Contract
Planning
Shaping
Smart
Business
Arrangement
s
Contract
Execution
Formal Training
I took 4 courses towards my Contracting Level 1 DAWIA certification, offered by Defense
Acquisitions University. The Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act required the DoD
to establish a formal process through which persons in the acquisition workforce would
recognized having achieved professional status. Since its inception, DAU has been made
available to civilian agencies as well.
3. Contract Administration
Post-Award
Orientation
Contractor/
System
Compliance
Contract
Modifications
Performance
Monitoring
Completion/
Closeout
2. Evaluation and Award
Evaluation and
Negotiation
Selection Award
1. Pre-award and
Solicitation
Acquisition
Planning
Market
Research
Competitive
or Sole
Source
Requirements
Documents
Request for
Proposal
The Contracting Process
Description of Activities
Contracting often requires professionals to work in cross-functional teams. I worked with
members from financial management, operations and maintenance, software engineering, and
senior leadership, in order to support our IV&V program’s mission. In supporting the IV&V
Contracting Officer, I was exposed to a variety of contract scopes, vehicles, amounts, and
complexities. Below are some of the contracts I most regularly dealt with. In addition to
contracts for IV&V support services, I often handled small purchases and/or other procurements
below the simplified acquisitions threshold of 150K.
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is a substantial and complex set of rules governing
the federal government's purchasing process. Its purpose is to ensure purchasing procedures
are standard and consistent, and conducted in a fair and impartial manner (Small Business
Administration). Like any set of federal regulations, FAR is responsive to all legislative statutes
and executive orders issued by our federal government. Large agencies, as is the case for
NASA, have their own FAR supplement policy to guide contracting authorities. Each agency
policy must interpret and apply procurement procedures in accordance with FAR. Failure to do
so can leave agencies vulnerable to protest or even lawsuits.
Volunteer Opportunities
The NASA IV&V Program is committed to charitable giving and community outreach. I took part
in several community service initiatives throughout the duration of my internship. Community
outreach activities I participated in included the MMS Launch Party and NASA’s Day in the Park
which hosted 400+ students grades 6 through 8. Also, I attended numerous fundraising events
in support of the North Central WV, Combined Federal Campaign.
IV&V’s Mission: “To provide our customers assurance that their safety and
mission-critical software will operate reliably and safely and to
advance the systems and software engineering disciplines. In
doing so, we work to standards of excellence, provide
professional engineers, provide national and global leadership,
focus on customer satisfaction, and adhere to and
demonstrate our core set of values: safety, integrity, respect,
teamwork, balance, innovation, and excellence.”