Acquisition Management and Administration

Administers contract and other acquisition requirements, manages program and contractor relationships, and monitors contract performance for the effective delivery of goods and services.

Key Behaviors
  • Maintains a working knowledge of scientific and technical contracting requirements.
  • Tracks expenditures and reviews documents (e.g., delivery orders, invoices, expense reports) in order to manage the financial aspects of contracting responsibilities.
  • Uses financial analysis to evaluate business (cost and price) proposals.
  • Understands and maintains awareness of the general purpose and benefit of budgeting, the various types of budgeting, basic budgeting terminology, and timing/milestones in the budget cycle.
  • Plans, directs, coordinates, and manages the various contracting functions, including administering, modifying, closing out and terminating contracts.
  • Actively collaborates with others (e.g., AOs, project officers, contracting officers, managers) to monitor and manage the contract, contractor performance, quality, and compliance with contract terms and conditions.
  • Takes appropriate actions and applies remedies to protect the rights of the Government.
  • Monitors expenditure of funds for various contracts.
  • Monitors performance and compliance of contractual terms and conditions.
  • Provides information, analytics, summary status, and recommendations pertaining to acquisitions.
  • Gathers information and performs analyses to make objective and well informed contracting and financial decisions.
  • Serves as a primary point of contact concerning all acquisition matters.
  • Assists managers in recommending pay rates and preparing documents such as task orders.
  • Works closely with customer/partner to ensure contractual obligations are fulfilled in compliance with the terms of the contract and applicable laws and regulations.

Developmental opportunities for this competency are available from the NIH Training Center.