Arlington, VA, Rhode Island
•Speaks English, French, German, Spanish
Acquisition Contract Management | Business Development | Program Analysis | PhD
Monika Cooper works with local, state and Federal agencies in United States to manage program commitments, obligations, and expenditures using her expertise in Acquisition Contract Management, Business Development, and Program Analysis.
Monika has more than 22 years of professional working experience and she pursuing a doctorate at UMGC in Business Administration.
She worked with US Department of Defense as Cost Analyst, Operations Research to conduct cost and price analysis for U.S. purchased and FMS of aircraft, simulators, avionics, and automated weapon systems.
Prior to her current work as Analyst at RAND Corporation, Monika was the Program Manager for Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA).
Monika has more than 22 years of professional working experience and she pursuing a doctorate at UMGC in Business Administration.
She worked with US Department of Defense as Cost Analyst, Operations Research to conduct cost and price analysis for U.S. purchased and FMS of aircraft, simulators, avionics, and automated weapon systems.
Prior to her current work as Analyst at RAND Corporation, Monika was the Program Manager for Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA).
Questions I can answer:
What are best tools and methods to produce life cycle cost estimates to include the process of estimating required source lines of code and other software development costs.
What should I expect during the government source selection process -- and what are the bidding processes and strategies used by major defense contractors?
What is the best methodology for competiting on federal defense contracts related to IT and advanced weapon systems?
How can my organization compete with large defense contractors like Boeing, Raytheon or Thales?
How will other large defense contractors bid -- what will be the pricing strategy and how do I respond and put together a competitive bid proposal that wins?
Keywords
Other
Experience
RAND Corporation • United States (U.S)
Technical Analyst
2020 - Present (3 years, 8 months)
The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decision making through research and analysis.
RAND researchers and analysts continue to be on the cutting edge of their fields, working with decisionmakers in both the public and private sectors to find solutions to today's difficult, sensitive, and important problems. The high caliber of our researchers is well-known, as evidenced by the many Nobel Laureates who have been affiliated with RAND, either as employees, consultants, or in an advisory capacity.
RAND researchers and analysts continue to be on the cutting edge of their fields, working with decisionmakers in both the public and private sectors to find solutions to today's difficult, sensitive, and important problems. The high caliber of our researchers is well-known, as evidenced by the many Nobel Laureates who have been affiliated with RAND, either as employees, consultants, or in an advisory capacity.
Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)
Program Management
2019 - 2020 (1 year, 2 months)
Program Management - Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. Implement systemic evaluation methods to determine progress and accomplishments to include conducting comprehensive evaluations of organizational processes and procedures to identify problem areas;
Major focus on systems engineering and analysis to optimize organizational performance, reduce costs and streamline processes;
Lead the evaluation and reporting of program cost, schedule, and technical performance to include prediction of future program performance and ensure that relevant programmatic information is shared, coordinated and communicated in a timely fashion amongst various functional experts, other stakeholders, and DCMA leadership;
Analyze contracts and ensure the expectations outlined in the program contract (Request For Proposal and Statement of Work) are fulfilled by the prime contractor;
Recommend alternative courses of action in order to mitigate emerging program risks and leading the development of documented agreements between other affected organizations
Major focus on systems engineering and analysis to optimize organizational performance, reduce costs and streamline processes;
Lead the evaluation and reporting of program cost, schedule, and technical performance to include prediction of future program performance and ensure that relevant programmatic information is shared, coordinated and communicated in a timely fashion amongst various functional experts, other stakeholders, and DCMA leadership;
Analyze contracts and ensure the expectations outlined in the program contract (Request For Proposal and Statement of Work) are fulfilled by the prime contractor;
Recommend alternative courses of action in order to mitigate emerging program risks and leading the development of documented agreements between other affected organizations
Advanced International Analysis Organization, (ADVIAO) • United States (U.S)
Principal Acquisition Manager
2014 - 2018 (4 years, 1 month)
Subcontract to ZHL, LLC as a Contracting official specializing in proposal management to include production and review of tenders. Generate and review RFA and RFP bid solicitations and preparing cost proposals with supporting data for conformity with government agencies and company policies;
Negotiating and administering prime and subcontracts, and cooperative agreements, ECO/ECP approvals, extensions, modifications and amendments, supplemental funding requests, key personnel notifications, close-outs and other actions are handled promptly. Monitoring financial activity of prime and subcontracts, including contract, subcontract, and grant closeouts;
Ensuring compliance with appropriate regulations including Federal Acquisition (FAR/DFARs);
Primary contact and interface with international customers for discussions of significant issues, negotiation of major proposals; and assurance that all aspects of programs are considered and evaluated requiring advanced and comprehensive knowledge of international procurement laws and regulations; and an in depth understanding and working knowledge of business development, finance, law, import/export, letters of credit, and other international contractual agreements. Provide subject matter expertise services with in-depth understanding in contractual formation, including associated schedules, contract amendments and legal issues with customers and vendors
Negotiating and administering prime and subcontracts, and cooperative agreements, ECO/ECP approvals, extensions, modifications and amendments, supplemental funding requests, key personnel notifications, close-outs and other actions are handled promptly. Monitoring financial activity of prime and subcontracts, including contract, subcontract, and grant closeouts;
Ensuring compliance with appropriate regulations including Federal Acquisition (FAR/DFARs);
Primary contact and interface with international customers for discussions of significant issues, negotiation of major proposals; and assurance that all aspects of programs are considered and evaluated requiring advanced and comprehensive knowledge of international procurement laws and regulations; and an in depth understanding and working knowledge of business development, finance, law, import/export, letters of credit, and other international contractual agreements. Provide subject matter expertise services with in-depth understanding in contractual formation, including associated schedules, contract amendments and legal issues with customers and vendors
NATO • Belgium
Communication, Command, Control Life Cycle Expert
2010 - 2014 (4 years, 11 months)
NATO Office of Resources (NOR);
Designed and implemented cost control measures for NATO Commands and NATO C3 Agency procurement services resulting in a 2.7M euro annual reduction in staffing expenses;
Budgetary and financial planning, cost control, variance analysis, earned value management reporting, proposal estimating and cash planning within the Acquisition Division and Program Management office;
Presented weekly to NATO Committee Member States, Integrated Product Teams, (IPT) Leads, Program Managers and government officials to report program financial and performance metrics, explain variance and KPIs in support of (15) IPTs, responsible for a budget of over 400 million euros;
Recognized as the Life Cycle engineering subject matter expert of NATO on Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) and supply chain management. Provided detailed cost and schedule analyses and forecasts detail to program team dedicated to the development, implementation and fielding of advanced technological capabilities for DoD and NATO;
Prepared and monitored indirect budgets for NATO Scientific and Technology branches, and prepared proposal estimates for internal and external customers;
Implemented ECO/ECPs, resolved budget and expenses variances with technical staff and customers;
Provided direct cost and contract oversight of 800M euros NATO Full Operational Capability contracts in Afghanistan
Designed and implemented cost control measures for NATO Commands and NATO C3 Agency procurement services resulting in a 2.7M euro annual reduction in staffing expenses;
Budgetary and financial planning, cost control, variance analysis, earned value management reporting, proposal estimating and cash planning within the Acquisition Division and Program Management office;
Presented weekly to NATO Committee Member States, Integrated Product Teams, (IPT) Leads, Program Managers and government officials to report program financial and performance metrics, explain variance and KPIs in support of (15) IPTs, responsible for a budget of over 400 million euros;
Recognized as the Life Cycle engineering subject matter expert of NATO on Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) and supply chain management. Provided detailed cost and schedule analyses and forecasts detail to program team dedicated to the development, implementation and fielding of advanced technological capabilities for DoD and NATO;
Prepared and monitored indirect budgets for NATO Scientific and Technology branches, and prepared proposal estimates for internal and external customers;
Implemented ECO/ECPs, resolved budget and expenses variances with technical staff and customers;
Provided direct cost and contract oversight of 800M euros NATO Full Operational Capability contracts in Afghanistan
NATO C3 Agency • Belgium
Senior Contracting Officer, Cost & Price Analyst
2002 - 2010 (7 years, 6 months)
Managed successful NATO and DoD telecommunications infrastructure set-up and demolition phase-out of 15 bases/2B in assets in Afghanistan;
Researched, interpreted and applied FAR/DFARS and initiated compliance with policies and procedures associated with negotiations, exemptions, FPR, TINA, CAS and Bona Fide Need Act;
Performed cradle to grave management of various types of contracts to include Cost Type, FFP, T&M, IDIQ and BPAs;
Utilized cost/price analysis techniques, industry practices, and technical and audit assessments to consistently provide accurate cost models, financial proposals and advise on acquisition and contract type approaches in support of source selection and negotiations;
Successful in fast-paced environment via proposal walkthroughs, What-If Analysis, evaluations, management, reviews, and negotiations, addressing all pricing related inquiries and issues promptly with adequate and accurate data;
Led teams that conducted fact-finding, market analysis, studies, analyzed and approved cost proposals, developed NATO and DoD Government price objectives and negotiated NATO contracts worth 500M euros annually;
Conducted detailed cost analysis, developed negotiation objectives, briefed management and negotiated awards. Performed life cycle, basis of estimates and total costs of ownership analysis for major programs as a member of the Contracts Award Board awarding an annual 325 million euros in proposals based on engineering inputs and complex pricing models
Researched, interpreted and applied FAR/DFARS and initiated compliance with policies and procedures associated with negotiations, exemptions, FPR, TINA, CAS and Bona Fide Need Act;
Performed cradle to grave management of various types of contracts to include Cost Type, FFP, T&M, IDIQ and BPAs;
Utilized cost/price analysis techniques, industry practices, and technical and audit assessments to consistently provide accurate cost models, financial proposals and advise on acquisition and contract type approaches in support of source selection and negotiations;
Successful in fast-paced environment via proposal walkthroughs, What-If Analysis, evaluations, management, reviews, and negotiations, addressing all pricing related inquiries and issues promptly with adequate and accurate data;
Led teams that conducted fact-finding, market analysis, studies, analyzed and approved cost proposals, developed NATO and DoD Government price objectives and negotiated NATO contracts worth 500M euros annually;
Conducted detailed cost analysis, developed negotiation objectives, briefed management and negotiated awards. Performed life cycle, basis of estimates and total costs of ownership analysis for major programs as a member of the Contracts Award Board awarding an annual 325 million euros in proposals based on engineering inputs and complex pricing models
United States Department of Defense • United States (U.S)
Cost Analyst, Operations Research
1998 - 2002 (4 years, 1 month)
Conducted cost and price analysis for U.S. purchased and FMS of aircraft, simulators, avionics, and automated weapon systems;
In-depth knowledge and use of quantitative contract pricing techniques such as regression analysis, moving averages, Cost Volume Profit analysis, improvement curves and developing and using cost estimating relationships;
Performed deep dive analyses on prime contractor and major subcontractor efforts including cost and price analysis of complex proposals, integrating technical analyses and building cost models to develop government contract negotiation positions. Post contract negotiation and management of ongoing contracts; issued contract modifications to contracts and issued contract modifications to ensure programs continued to provide assured access to advancing information technology systems;
Established life cycle program costs for DoD advanced technical military systems;
Reviewed contractor forward pricing rates (FPR/FPA) and worked with DCMA and DCAA officials in support of proposal, rate and business system audits and reviews
In-depth knowledge and use of quantitative contract pricing techniques such as regression analysis, moving averages, Cost Volume Profit analysis, improvement curves and developing and using cost estimating relationships;
Performed deep dive analyses on prime contractor and major subcontractor efforts including cost and price analysis of complex proposals, integrating technical analyses and building cost models to develop government contract negotiation positions. Post contract negotiation and management of ongoing contracts; issued contract modifications to contracts and issued contract modifications to ensure programs continued to provide assured access to advancing information technology systems;
Established life cycle program costs for DoD advanced technical military systems;
Reviewed contractor forward pricing rates (FPR/FPA) and worked with DCMA and DCAA officials in support of proposal, rate and business system audits and reviews
Education
Doctor of Science, Business Administration, Management and Operations
University of Maryland Global
2020 - 2023
Master, Business Administration
Bellevue University
1997 - 1999
Bachelor of Science, International Business Management
Bellevue University
1996 - 1997