AMY ULISSE
Williamsburg
Summary
Dynamic procurement leader with over 18 years of experience in managing multi-million-dollar contracts and driving operational efficiency. Proven track record in small business advocacy, contract administration, and strategic sourcing. Adept at navigating complex regulatory frameworks and optimizing procurement processes to align with organizational goals. Notable achievements include transforming procurement functions into pivotal contributors to strategic growth and value.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
PROCUREMENT ANALYST / SMALL BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL
Department of Health and Human Services
02.2023 - Current
- Led small business advocacy and compliance initiatives for the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) largest institutes and the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) under the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU).
- Spearheaded efforts to maximize small business participation as both prime contractors and subcontractors in federal procurements.
- Provided expert strategic guidance to acquisition teams, ensuring adherence to all applicable regulations, driving improvements in procurement outcomes, and policy compliance.
- Oversaw a small business program that awarded over $2.5 billion to small businesses in FY24, accounting for over 32% of the total spend.
- Led NIH to exceed all five small business goals in FY24—a landmark achievement for NIH.
- Negotiated and reviewed subcontracting plans with large business awardees and ensured 100% compliance with post-award subcontract reporting.
- Delivered tailored training to acquisition staff on market research and acquisition strategy development.
- Led targeted outreach initiatives and industry engagement efforts to boost small business participation and enhance vendor education, driving greater awareness and opportunities.
- Acted as a liaison with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to streamline acquisition strategy approvals and strengthen inter-agency collaboration.
- Leveraged data analysis and reporting tools to assess the impact of small business strategies, presenting actionable insights to senior leadership, and recommending process enhancements to expand small business opportunities.
CONTRACT SPECIALIST/ SMALL BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
06.2022 - 02.2023
- Personally recruited to establish CISA's first formal Small Business Program, providing strategic guidance, developing policies, and ensuring compliance.
- Served as a Contract Specialist, executing critical end-of-FY contract actions to ensure operational continuity during staffing gaps.
- Spearheaded a high-impact program that awarded over $4.7 billion to small businesses in FY23, consistently achieving all five small business goals.
- Delivered exceptional results, earning 15 consecutive 'A' grades on the SBA Small Business Procurement Scorecard, demonstrating unparalleled excellence in procurement performance.
- Led the planning and execution of the inaugural CISA Industry Day, uniting over 1,000 small business representatives to explore key procurement opportunities.
- Organized impactful follow-up matchmaking events, facilitating one-on-one meetings between small businesses and contracting officers, driving a 20% increase in contract awards to small businesses.
- Developed and instituted standardized operating procedures (SOPs) and comprehensive training materials for CISA staff and contractors, streamlining small business practices across the organization, and driving a 15% reduction in Procurement Action Lead Time (PALT).
- Crafted and implemented CISA's small business coordination review policy, enhancing acquisition planning consistency, and driving a 35% improvement in compliance across the organization.
- Created a dashboard to track subcontracting plan compliance from large business prime contractors.
- Delivered targeted outreach, expert counseling, and dedicated support to over 2,000 small businesses, significantly increasing their participation in federal procurement opportunities.
SUPERVISORY PROCUREMENT ANALYST/ ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Mission Installation Contracting Command (MICC)
08.2018 - 06.2022
- Served as the Assistant Director of the MICC Office of Small Business Programs, Field Directorate Office (FDO), Fort Eustis, VA.
- Supervised a high-performing team of four small business professionals, managing the largest FDO in MICC, and overseeing contracts across 10 military installations.
- Guided team members to surpass small business goals, executing over 7,000 contracts valued at $1.9 billion.
- Principal advisor to the Senior Contracting Official (SCO) for matters relating to public law, Department of Defense (DoD), and the U.S. Army programs to ensure small business concerns are assisted to achieve maximum practicable participation in the DoD acquisition process.
- Worked closely with senior leadership to shape acquisition strategies, reviewing acquisition plans, market research reports, and subcontracting plans.
- Provided recommendations to maximize small business inclusion in contract actions, contributing to the achievement of both small business and procurement goals.
- Surpassed all assigned small business contracting goals for five consecutive years, awarding over $900M each FY to small businesses, reinforcing the organization's commitment to supporting small business growth and the nation's industrial base.
- Led the development of the Advanced Planning Briefing for Industry (APBI), organizing large-scale virtual events with over 1,600 industry representatives and facilitating more than 1,000 one-on-one matchmaking meetings between contracting officers and small businesses.
- Authored the Small Business Evaluation Factor used across all MICC solicitations under best-value trade-off processes, and trained acquisition teams agency-wide on evaluation best practices.
- Developed and executed processes for evaluating subcontracting plans of large businesses; completed the first program-level assessment, reviewing over 160 contract files, ensuring subcontracting administration compliance, while developing corrective action plans to ensure long-term success.
- Managed and led the FDO small business training program, delivering over 100 training sessions to more than 500 participants per session, ensuring acquisition staff received continuous education on small business laws, regulations, and policies.
- Served as the primary liaison with the SBA, facilitating streamlined acquisition strategy approvals, and enhancing inter-agency collaboration; achieved a 100% approval rate with zero appeals.
- Led and coordinated the FY20 Fort Eustis SBA Surveillance Review, achieving a historic milestone, as the office received a score of 'Satisfactory' for the first time ever.
SENIOR AUDITOR
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)
08.2017 - 08.2018
- Directed internal audits for complex, multi-million-dollar contracts, ensuring strict compliance with financial and procurement regulations.
- Partnered with senior leadership to resolve critical non-compliance issues and implement impactful corrective actions, optimizing resource utilization and operational efficiency.
- Delivered comprehensive internal review services, including full-scope, limited-scope, and rapid-response audits.
- Served as the principal advisor to the Deputy Commanding General (DCG) and G-8 on high-value contracts, driving increased transparency and accountability across procurement and audit operations.
- Leveraged advanced quantitative and qualitative audit methodologies to assess contract risk, uncover compliance gaps, and deliver strategic, actionable recommendations-directly influencing TRADOC leadership's procurement strategies, policy alignment, and audit readiness posture.
- Drove a 20% increase in contract documentation compliance by proactively advising acquisition managers, financial analysts, and program managers, strengthening accountability and streamlining procurement processes.
PROCUREMENT ANALYST / SMALL BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL
Mission Installation Contracting Command (MICC);
04.2016 - 08.2017
- Championed small business advocacy and compliance for the largest FDO within MICC, spearheading the creation of an award-winning small business program that consistently surpassed goals across all categories.
- Strategically expanded procurement opportunities for small businesses, reinforcing MICC’s commitment to inclusive, mission-focused acquisition.
- Led the development of acquisition strategies for a $5 billion aviation maintenance contract—one of the largest MICC procurements in the past decade—driving strategic integration of small business participation, and exceeding small business engagement goals through innovative, mission-aligned planning.
- Consistently delivered key milestones in small business participation by ensuring full compliance with federal acquisition regulations, and strategically maximizing small business opportunities within high-value, large-scale procurements..
- Oversaw end-to-end contract life cycle management—from planning through post-award—providing strategic guidance to acquisition teams on regulatory compliance and industry best practices.
- Leveraged advanced platforms, including eSRS, SharePoint, CPARS, and SAM, to track procurement data and ensure accurate, timely submission of Contract Action Reports (CARs).
- Led in-depth evaluations of prime contractor performance, subcontractor reporting, and small business engagement, utilizing advanced data analysis to uncover procurement trends and challenges hindering goal achievement.
- Delivered strategic, actionable recommendations that directly enhanced contract outcomes, and optimized future acquisition success.
- Spearheaded a dynamic outreach program in support of the MICC OSBP mission, driving strategic acquisition opportunities across all small business categories to enhance Army readiness and cultivate a resilient, competitive industrial base.
PROCUREMENT ANALYST / CONTRACTING OFFICER
Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP)
10.2014 - 04.2016
- Led senior-level contract support for the Acquisition Business Management (ABM) Division, expertly managing the full procurement life cycle—from strategic planning and execution to evaluation and closeout—ensuring rigorous compliance with FAR regulations (Parts 8, 12, 13, 15, and 16.5).
- Spearheaded the development and implementation of streamlined procurement procedures, driving efficiency, and delivering high-impact technical guidance to the acquisition team, optimizing contract administration, and achieving superior acquisition outcomes.
- Handpicked to fill the unexpected Supervisory Contracting Officer vacancy at Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk (FLCN) Regional Support Division, leveraging an unlimited warrant to lead and mentor a team of 12 contract specialists.
- Directed all phases of the procurement process, from pre-award planning and market research to post-award administration, ensuring seamless contract execution and optimal outcomes.
- Managed a diverse portfolio of over 500 service and supply contracts, encompassing IT services, transportation, base operations, consulting services, and administrative support.
- Spearheaded the development of innovative procurement procedures, driving a 15% reduction in cycle times, while enhancing operational efficiency and quality assurance.
- Collaborated with the Quality Assurance Program Manager (QAPM) to design and implement the department’s Quality Assurance Program, delivering training on new policies, and addressing critical issues in the review process. Recommended system improvements to the QAPM, and provided quarterly performance reports to Division personnel.
- Led the FLCN Procurement Performance Management Assessment Program (PPMAP), driving procurement efficiency improvements, and ensuring full alignment with organizational goals and regulatory standards, resulting in a 100% command pass rate.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams—project managers, quality assurance, and engineering—to drive the timely execution of contracts, directly supporting the Navy’s operational readiness and mission success.
Administrative Contracting Officer
Supervisor of Shipbuilding Newport News
03.2012 - 10.2014
- Acted as the Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO) for critical Navy shipbuilding projects at a multi-billion-dollar shipyard, overseeing contract management from negotiations to post-award changes and cost/rate settlements, ensuring seamless execution and compliance.
- Issued calls against blanket purchase agreements, delivery orders under a multiple award contract for shipboard general services, and task orders for lodging through the Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) program, ensuring compliance with FAR Subpart 8.4.
- Managed pre-award and post-award contract actions in line with FAR Subpart 13.5 - Test Program for Certain Commercial Items.
- Led the comprehensive closeout of completed contracts by verifying final deliveries, resolving outstanding invoices, and ensuring all contractual obligations were met.
- Prepared and assembled final settlement documents, conducted de-obligation of excess funds, and ensured files were fully compliant with regulatory requirements prior to archival storage.
- Conducted in-depth cost and price analyses on complex contract proposals-including change orders for new construction, provisional overhead billing rates, forward pricing rate agreements, final indirect rate agreements, and settlements-ensuring cost-effectiveness and compliance.
- Collaborated closely with stakeholders across finance, legal, and program management to drive informed decision-making and ensure alignment with contractual and regulatory requirements.
- Led Contractor Purchasing System Reviews (CPSRs) at three NAVSEA locations, ensuring full compliance with DFARS requirements and strengthening contractor procurement practices.
- Enhanced performance evaluation processes to drive accountability and improve acquisition outcomes.
SENIOR AUDITOR
Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)
01.2007 - 03.2012
- Served as a Senior Auditor, leading audits of a major defense contractor to identify high-risk areas, ensure compliance with federal regulations and corporate policies, and drive improvements in internal controls and accountability.
- Conducted comprehensive audits of proposals, contract modifications, overhead rates, and indirect rate agreements, ensuring pricing accuracy, regulatory compliance, and effective cost control to safeguard government resources.
- Applied advanced analytical methods-including trend analysis, statistical sampling, and regression analysis-to conduct high-impact financial audits.
- Identified critical discrepancies, strengthened compliance with cost principles and contract terms, and delivered actionable insights that improved pricing accuracy over 25% and informed multi-million-dollar contract decisions.
- Developed and tailored audit programs based on comprehensive risk assessments, crafting detailed audit work papers to support findings and drive actionable recommendations for process improvements, enhancing operational efficiency and compliance.
- Led the production of comprehensive audit reports, highlighting key findings, conclusions, and actionable cost-saving recommendations.
- Directed high-level meetings with contractors and acquisition teams, driving collaboration to resolve issues and implement corrective actions that significantly improved efficiency, compliance, and overall performance.
Education
Master of Business Administration -
Saint Leo University
12.2008
B.S - Accounting
Christopher Newport University
05.2004
Skills
- Federal Procurement Expertise
- Small Business Program Management
- Source selection and Contract Negotiation
- Process Improvement and Optimization
- Subcontracting Administration and Compliance
- Vendor Relationship Management
- Leadership and Team Development
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Market Analysis and Strategy Development
- Training and Workforce Development
Certification
- FAC-C Professional Certification, 02/2022
- DAWIA Level III Contracting, 07/2016
- Small Business Credential, 01/2021
- Contracting Officer's Warrant, 01/2012 - 12/2016
Training
- Defense Acquisition University
- Federal Acquisition Institute
Awards
- U.S. Army's Small Business Professional of the Year, 2021
- Department of the Army Civilian Service Commendation Medal, 2022
- Numerous On the Spot Cash Awards, Various
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
PROCUREMENT ANALYST / SMALL BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL
Department of Health and Human Services
02.2023 - Current
CONTRACT SPECIALIST/ SMALL BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
06.2022 - 02.2023
SUPERVISORY PROCUREMENT ANALYST/ ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Mission Installation Contracting Command (MICC)
08.2018 - 06.2022
SENIOR AUDITOR
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)
08.2017 - 08.2018
PROCUREMENT ANALYST / SMALL BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL
Mission Installation Contracting Command (MICC);
04.2016 - 08.2017
PROCUREMENT ANALYST / CONTRACTING OFFICER
Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP)
10.2014 - 04.2016
Administrative Contracting Officer
Supervisor of Shipbuilding Newport News
03.2012 - 10.2014
SENIOR AUDITOR
Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)
01.2007 - 03.2012
Master of Business Administration -
Saint Leo University
B.S - Accounting
Christopher Newport University
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