Principal Pricing Analyst
Macfadden, a PAE company, is an international development consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. that offers a wide range of technical services to build the capacity of governments, partners, and individuals to solve some of the world’s toughest problems, often in some of the toughest places. For more than two decades we have been a reliable and trusted partner for USAID, provide responsive and agile services through our cadre of global experts in conflict mitigation, stabilization, citizen security, institutional support services, violence prevention, disaster assistance, and food security. For more information, please visit our website at: https://www.macf.com/
Position Summary:
As an integral member of Macfadden team, the Principal Pricing Analyst will be responsible for leading the preparation of USAID cost proposals, including the proposal budgets and all accompanying financial and required documentation in support of Macfadden bids and proposals. The Principal Pricing Analyst will oversee all aspects of the Price Volume, generating cost schedules, and contractual elements in the development of proposals. This person will also be responsible with the development and providing guidance for the execution of cost strategies for proposals ranging in size from $10M to $5B. The Principal Pricing Analyst is expected to assure that our cost proposals clearly relay the various win themes meeting our customer’s requirements and deliver winning prices as determined during strategic management reviews. This person must continually work to improve our cost proposal processes, develop and administer quality control procedures, and conduct cost proposal peer reviews. In addition, must have the ability to effectively teach and mentor personnel on the best practices. The Principal Pricing Analyst is considered an expert on the interpretation of Request for Proposals (RFP’s) along with the application of various government regulation (FAR, DFARS, DLA SCA and other government regulations). The Principal Pricing Analyst will interact primarily with Capture Managers and Capture Team members, Business Unit personnel and the PAE Leadership Team. This position will report to the Senior Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis.
Responsibilities:
The Principal Pricing Analyst will be responsible for “owning” the entire cost volume from start to finish (e.g., coordinate with functional units such as contracts, procurement and business development) driving development of pricing strategy based on the solicitation and the technical approach, leading the process of obtaining all necessary inputs to develop a compliant, competitive and successful cost volume (spreadsheets with accompanying detailed budget narrative and any other information required by the solicitation for the cost/business volume). Specific responsibilities will include:
- Perform a detailed review of the solicitation and develop questions for submission to customer and ensure information is clear on the requirements of the cost volume
- Perform international travel, as required, to obtain detailed in-country cost information and/or work closely with local consultants to obtain actual cost data to inform cost volume
- Create, own, maintain and update cost spreadsheet and narrative cost volume templates
- Provides cost & pricing support on a full range of proposals to include both domestic and overseas opportunities.
- Perform back of the envelope analysis to inform recruitment strategy and other technical decisions, propose cost objective optimal price points for bids and conduct price-to-win analysis.
- Ensure cost proposals meet profitability rates and targets set by the organization.
- Facilitate accuracy and consistency in how budget data is compiled and presented.
- Prepare and deliver USAID cost trainings to organizational stakeholders and build internal capacity for USAID cost proposal preparation
- Collect cost and pricing data for bids, including in-country cost data, market data for cost line items.
- Utilize and maintain cost and pricing models and narratives, schedules, and technical elements in the development of proposals in accordance with request for proposal (RFP) specifications.
- Determine anticipated direct costs and indirect rates for a variety of proposal types to comply with bid requirements and Macfadden’s costing standards.
- Collaborate with project managers and other Macfadden staff to ensure that all contract pricing activities comply with company requirements and policies.
- Prepare color team review slide information and present cost strategy to executive management
- Actively participates in all proposal color team reviews (Pink, Red, Gold), Post Proposal and Post Award reviews.
- Collect inputs from global supply chain management team on partners, review budgets and integrate into cost volume. Ensure that all required partner documentation is complete and integrated into the cost volume.
- Ensure partners’ budgets and cost proposal documentation are compliant with donor and solicitation requirements.
- Prepares justifications and supporting documentation to request client waivers and approvals for subcontractors, grantees, personnel, etc. at the proposal stage
- Send pricing data calls to subcontractors.
- Responds to pricing data calls by prime contractors and prepare cost when PAE is a subcontractor.
- Review draft and final award documents for consistency of financial and costing data with cost proposals.
- Provide analyses and documentation to project implementation team.
- Assess financial implications of teaming, staffing and procurement decisions for bids and post-award implementation.
- Perform final quality check with business development team prior to proposal submission.
Essential Tasks and Expected Results:
- Establishing and coordinating schedules, analyzing Request for Proposal (RFP) and contract requirements, special provisions, terms and conditions, and Representations and Certifications to ensure compliance with RFP requirements, corporate policies and practices
- Responsible for cost model development, cost narrative and preparation/presentation for management briefings on large complex proposals.
- Review data obtained and develops pricing model(s) for large proposal(s) with no supervision.
- Provide leadership and supervision while coordinating and directing other members of the pricing staff on larger complex proposals.
- Working independently, this position will interact primarily with Capture Managers and the capture team members, Cost Volume Leads, Functional Teams and Leadership.
- Reviews and analyzes estimates for inclusion in cost proposal, maintain complete and orderly files to ensure an audit-ready posture
- Participate in all proposal reviews with management and customer representatives
- Ability to work independently, meet hard deadlines, and work with all levels of the organization
Skills and Qualifications:
- Good working knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations(FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations(DFAR) and Defense Contract Audit Agency(DCAA) Guidelines as well as and considerable experience with US Government contracting and proposal development process
- Experience in cost proposal development for US Government and commercial customers and have a broad-based financial background and knowledge of escalation factors, material costing, equipment costing and equitable adjustments
- Superior skill level in MS Excel and MS Word Office with some knowledge of Power Point and Adobe Acrobat
- Attention to detail with an ability to handle multiple tasks independently
- Excellent mathematical skills
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically in a fast paced team environment
Education and/or Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in business, finance or accounting from a four year college or university and minimum eight years related experience in the development and submittal of spreadsheets and cost proposals to US Government or commercial customers for products and/or services.
- Prior audit experienced/compliance experience required with a knowledge of the principles, methods and practices of cost estimating
- Knowledge of the principles, methods and practices of cost estimating. Knowledge of FAR and CAS preferred.
- Requires experience with CPFF, CPAF, T&M, FFP, and FPLOE contract types. Experience with FPIF and CPIF desired but not mandatory.
- Demonstrated experience preparing and/or managing budgets for USAID and/or other international development agencies.